If you come from a country like the United States or the United Kingdom, you are probably familiar with credit scores — a numerical rating that determines your creditworthiness. The Netherlands has a fundamentally different system. Understanding how Dutch credit history works is essential for expats, especially if you plan to apply for a mortgage.
The BKR System: Not a Credit Score
The Netherlands uses the BKR (Bureau Krediet Registratie), based in Tiel. Unlike FICO or Experian scores, the BKR does not assign you a numerical score. Instead, it maintains a registry of your credit agreements and payment behavior.
Think of it as a database rather than a rating. Lenders check your BKR record to see:
- What credit products you currently have (loans, credit cards, overdrafts)
- Whether you have made all payments on time
- Whether you have any negative registrations (missed payments, defaults)
- Your total outstanding credit obligations
For more details on how this affects specific financial products, see our BKR credit check guide.
What Gets Registered at BKR?
Positive Registrations
The following credit products are registered when you take them out:
- Personal loans (persoonlijke leningen)
- Revolving credit (doorlopend krediet), including credit card limits above €250
- Phone contracts with a device — if your phone plan includes a handset, the device cost is registered as credit
- Buy-now-pay-later arrangements above certain thresholds
- Car financing
- Student loans (through DUO)
Important note: Mortgages are registered separately at BKR but are treated differently from consumer credit.
Negative Registrations
If you fall behind on payments, you may receive negative codes:
- A (Achterstand): payment arrears — you are behind on payments
- H (Herstel): arrears resolved — you were behind but have caught up
- 1, 2, 3: increasingly serious default situations
Negative registrations remain on your record for 5 years after the credit is repaid or resolved. This is significant — a single missed phone payment can affect your ability to get a mortgage for five years.
What Does NOT Get Registered
- Regular bank account usage
- Debit card transactions
- Utility payments (unless they go to collections)
- Rent payments
- Savings accounts
- Investment accounts
Why BKR Matters for Expats
The BKR registration becomes critical in these situations:
Applying for a Mortgage
This is the main reason most expats care about BKR. When you apply for a mortgage in the Netherlands, the lender will:
- Check your BKR record
- Verify you have no negative registrations
- Assess your total existing credit obligations (which reduce your borrowing capacity)
- Factor in your DUO student loan if applicable
Any negative BKR registration can result in a mortgage rejection. Even positive registrations (like a credit card limit) reduce your maximum borrowing amount because lenders must assume you could fully use that credit.
Getting a Credit Card
When applying for a Dutch credit card, the issuer checks BKR. A clean record is generally required for approval.
Phone Contracts
Getting a phone contract with a device included requires a BKR check. Expats who are new to the Netherlands sometimes struggle because they have no BKR history at all — some providers are cautious about lending to people with no track record.
Checking Your BKR Record
You can check your own BKR record at mijnbkr.nl. The service costs approximately €4.95 per check. You can request:
- Digital overview: immediate access to your current registrations
- Detailed report: a comprehensive document showing all historical records
We recommend checking your BKR at least once a year, and always before applying for a mortgage or other major credit product. Errors do occur, and it is much easier to correct them proactively.
Building a Positive Financial Profile
Since the BKR is not a traditional credit score, you cannot "build credit" in the same way as in the US. However, you can create a positive financial profile:
What Helps
- Having a stable Dutch bank account — while not registered at BKR, a long-standing bank relationship helps with mortgage applications
- Maintaining a clean BKR record — no negative registrations is the most important factor
- Consistent income history — lenders look at employment stability, typically wanting 1+ years with the same employer or in the Netherlands
- Paying all bills on time — while utility payments are not BKR-registered, falling behind on any payment can eventually lead to collections, which may appear
- Building savings — a solid savings balance shows financial responsibility. Having funds in savings accounts demonstrates stability
What Hurts
- Missing any credit payment — even once. Set up automatic payments for everything
- Having too many credit products — each registered credit reduces your borrowing capacity for a mortgage
- Phone contracts with expensive devices — that €1,200 iPhone on contract is registered as €1,200 in credit, reducing your mortgage capacity
- Buy-now-pay-later services — these can be registered at BKR and hurt your mortgage application
Common Misconceptions
- "I need to take on debt to build credit" — No. Unlike the US, you do not need credit products to build a positive history. A clean record with no registrations is perfectly fine for mortgage applications
- "My credit score from home transfers" — No. BKR has no connection to foreign credit bureaus. You start fresh in the Netherlands
- "Only big debts get registered" — No. Even small credit amounts (phone contracts, small revolving credit) get registered
- "Checking my BKR hurts my record" — No. Checking your own record has no negative impact. Only lender inquiries are recorded
Tips for Expats Planning to Buy Property
- Minimize credit products — cancel unused credit cards and pay off any revolving credit before your mortgage application
- Buy your phone outright — avoid phone contracts with devices to keep your BKR clean
- Check your BKR 6+ months before applying — this gives you time to correct any issues
- Keep records of everything — bank statements, employment contracts, tax returns. Mortgage lenders for expats often require extensive documentation
- Start the relationship early — open an account with a bank that offers mortgages (like ABN AMRO or ING) well before you plan to apply