Working with municipal personal records database
Every municipal authority in the Netherlands has a Municipal Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie personen, BRP). This database contains personal records on everyone who currently lives or who once lived in the municipality. Persons who stay in the Netherlands for less than 4 months may be registered as non-residents, for instance because they temporarily work or study in the Netherlands. These data are not accessible to the general public.
Access to the BRP
Some governmental agencies such as the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) and the Dutch Social Insurance Bank (SVB) are allowed to work with personal data from the BRP. Other organisations such as hospitals, health insurance companies and research institutions may work with the data as well. Such organisations need to keep to strict rules.
Access to data in the BRP is only granted if it is of importance to society. Permission from the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is also required. First you apply for permission to the National Office for Identity Data (Rijksdienst voor Identiteitsgegevens, RvIG). You must state the data you wish to use, on which persons and for what tasks or purposes.
The computer system you use must satisfy specific security requirements (in Dutch). Then the minster will decide if access is granted (authorisation decision).
Online application procedure via Message Box
You can also request approval to (regularly) perform work in the municipal population register digitally using Message Box. You must submit your application to the Netherlands Personal Records Agency (Rijksdienst voor Identiteitsgegevens, RvIG). Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.
One-time request for BRP data
Do you need data from the BRP once only? For instance, for research or your own data? You can request the information from your municipality. Data from the BRP will not be issued for commercial purposes.