Apps You Should Download to Live in the Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands as an international student is exciting, but it also comes with a lot of practical things to arrange. Very quickly, you will notice that Dutch daily life is highly digital. From logging in to government services and managing your bank account to checking train delays, tracking parcels, finding housing, and ordering food, the right apps can save you time, stress, and money.

If you are planning to study in the Netherlands, these are some of the most useful apps to install as early as possible. They will help you settle in faster and make your life much easier as a student and new resident.

1. DigiD

DigiD is one of the most important apps in the Netherlands. It is your digital identity for accessing online services from the government, educational institutions, healthcare institutions, and even pension-related services. To apply for a DigiD, you generally need a BSN, a Dutch municipal registration address, and a mobile phone. Once activated, the DigiD app becomes one of the easiest and most secure ways to log in.

Why is it important? Because many essential things in the Netherlands are linked to DigiD. You may need it for municipality matters, tax matters, health insurance, student administration, and other official procedures. In simple terms, if you live and study in the Netherlands, DigiD is not optional. It is a basic tool of daily life.

2. Bunq

For many internationals, opening a Dutch bank account is one of the first headaches after arrival. That is why Bunq is popular. Bunq specifically promotes its service to expats and states that you can open a Dutch bank account without a BSN, with no paperwork, and with full English support.

This matters because a Dutch bank account makes everyday life much smoother. You will need it for rent, subscriptions, salary, insurance payments, and sometimes even simple online purchases. For students who have just arrived and do not yet have every Dutch document in place, Bunq can be a practical starting point.

3. Tikkie

Tikkie is one of the most Dutch apps you can install. It allows you to send payment requests easily, often through WhatsApp, without needing to know the other person's bank account number. According to ABN AMRO, the app is free to use, works through iDEAL, and is available to anyone with a bank account in the Netherlands.

Why is it important? Because splitting costs is part of everyday life in the Netherlands. Dinner with friends, shared groceries, train tickets, birthday gifts, rent balances between housemates, or club activities often end with someone saying, "I'll send you a Tikkie." If you do not have this app, you will feel behind almost immediately.

4. Funda

Housing in the Netherlands can be competitive, especially in student cities. Funda is one of the key platforms for finding homes and apartments for sale or rent, and it presents itself as offering the largest selection of houses for sale and rent in the Netherlands. Funda also supports saved searches and notifications when listings matching your criteria become available.

That is why Funda is worth downloading even before you move. It helps you understand the Dutch housing market, compare neighbourhoods, monitor prices, and react faster when suitable accommodation appears. Even if you are not ready to sign a contract yet, Funda is useful for learning how the market works.

5. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is not just for experienced professionals. In the Netherlands, it is also highly useful for students, recent graduates, and internationals looking for internships, part-time jobs, and career opportunities. LinkedIn's own help pages highlight that users can search and apply for jobs, while job alerts can notify them daily or weekly about new vacancies that match their preferences.

This makes LinkedIn especially important if you want to build your future in the Netherlands. A strong profile can help you connect with recruiters, universities, companies, alumni, and fellow students. It is one of the easiest ways to start building a professional network in your new country.

6. NS Train

If you will be taking trains in the Netherlands, the NS app is essential. NS offers journey planning, disruption information, and notifications about delays, cancellations, and transfers. The app also helps users plan parts of their journey involving other public transport.

Many people use Google Maps for general navigation, but when there is a sudden accident, delay, cancellation, or platform change on the Dutch rail network, the NS app is usually the better first app to check. That is because it is built specifically for Dutch train travel and gives direct journey notifications about disruptions. For students commuting to class, internships, or weekend trips, that can make a real difference.

7. OV-chipkaart or OV-pay

The Dutch public transport system is gradually moving toward OVpay, but the OV-chipkaart is still very relevant. The personal OV-chipkaart lets you travel across train, bus, tram, and metro, and the related account lets you view travel history, report a lost card, order balance, and set up automatic reload. Officially, some travel products still require the OV-chipkaart, including certain season tickets and, importantly, student travel products.

Why should you care? Because if you are a student in the Netherlands, public transport will become part of your routine very quickly. Even with the transition to OVpay, the OV-chipkaart remains important for many people who travel frequently or use subscriptions and student-related transport products.

8. PostNL

Once you start living in the Netherlands, you will almost certainly deal with deliveries regularly. PostNL's tracking tools and app let you follow parcels, see the delivery date and location, and in many cases choose a different delivery time or have the parcel delivered to a PostNL point instead.

This is especially useful for students and expats who order essentials online, receive residence-related documents, or are often not home during the day. The PostNL app makes it much easier to avoid missed deliveries and to pick up your parcel at a convenient nearby point.

9. Your Health Insurance Provider App

Once you have Dutch health insurance, download your insurer's app immediately. Major insurers such as Zilveren Kruis and CZ allow users to keep a digital health insurance card or EHIC in the app, submit claims, and check reimbursements.

This matters more than many students expect. In the Netherlands, healthcare administration is quite digital, and the insurer app can save you a lot of time. Whether you need your insurance details at a clinic, want to upload a bill, or check what is covered, having the app on your phone is simply practical. Even if your provider is not Zilveren Kruis or CZ, most major Dutch insurers offer similar app-based functions.

10. Marktplaats

Marktplaats is one of the best apps for saving money in the Netherlands. It is the country's biggest classifieds platform, and its app lets you browse millions of listings, contact sellers directly, and place ads quickly from your phone.

For international students, Marktplaats is incredibly useful during the first months. You can find second-hand bikes, desks, kitchen items, lamps, chairs, shelves, and other essentials for a fraction of retail prices. It is also useful when you leave the Netherlands and want to sell your own items instead of throwing them away.

11. Bol.com

Bol.com is one of the biggest online shopping platforms in the Netherlands and Belgium. According to Bol, it serves around 14 million active customers and offers tens of millions of items through a very large network of sales partners.

Why is this useful for students? Because Bol is one of the easiest places to order everyday items in the Netherlands. From electronics and notebooks to kitchen tools, home items, gifts, and study essentials, it is often the first online shop people check. When you are setting up your student room or replacing something quickly, Bol is extremely convenient.

12. Thuisbezorgd

Thuisbezorgd is one of the main food delivery apps in the Netherlands. The platform offers takeaways, groceries, and more, and lists more than 15,000 professional restaurants and stores across the country.

This is not just about convenience. For busy students, newcomers without a fully equipped kitchen, or anyone arriving late after a long train journey, Thuisbezorgd can be a lifesaver. It is also very useful during exam periods, rainy days, or your first week in the Netherlands when you are still figuring everything out.

13. MyWheels

The Netherlands is famous for trains and bicycles, but sometimes you still need a car. That is where MyWheels becomes useful. MyWheels offers car sharing throughout the Netherlands, and its service is app-based and all-inclusive, covering costs such as insurance, road tax, roadside assistance, and maintenance.

For students and expats, this can be much smarter than owning a car. You can use a shared car for moving, shopping for furniture, visiting places that are harder to reach by public transport, or taking a weekend trip — without taking on the full cost and responsibility of private car ownership.

Final Thoughts

If you are coming to the Netherlands to study, downloading the right apps early can make your transition much smoother. Some apps help you handle official life, like DigiD and your health insurer's app. Others make everyday life easier, like Bunq, Tikkie, NS, OV-chipkaart, and PostNL. Then there are apps that help you build a comfortable life here, such as Funda, LinkedIn, Marktplaats, Bol, Thuisbezorgd, and MyWheels.

At StudyPath, we help internationals not only explore and apply to Dutch schools, but also understand what life in the Netherlands really looks like. We are a one-stop solution platform for future students who want practical guidance on studying in the Netherlands, settling in smoothly, and living here like a smart, confident expat.

If you are interested in coming to the Netherlands to study, contact StudyPath. We are here to help you choose your path, prepare your application, and start your Dutch student life the right way.