Instanties: which organisation does what
Match everyday problems to the right Dutch organisation, the core skill of many KNM questions.
A2 and B110 minLesson 7 of 9
After this lesson you can
- Know the tasks of the gemeente, DUO, UWV, SVB, Belastingdienst and IND
- Know when to contact the politie, Juridisch Loket, CJG or Veilig Thuis
- Recognise which organisation a letter is probably from
Why this theme matters
Many KNM questions end with Waar kan hij terecht? or Welke organisatie...? If you know which organisation does what, you can answer questions from almost every theme. Most organisations work online with DigiD, your personal login for government services.
The big list
| Organisation | Main tasks |
|---|---|
| Gemeente (municipality) | Registration in the BRP and your BSN, address changes, passport and ID card, driving licence, bijstand, help with debts, Wmo support (help at home), youth care, permits, waste collection, inburgering guidance under the 2021 law |
| DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) | Inburgering exams and study loans for inburgering, student finance (studiefinanciering), diplomas, school funding |
| UWV | WW (unemployment benefit), benefits when you cannot work due to illness or disability, help finding work |
| SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) | Kinderbijslag (child benefit, every three months), AOW (state pension from retirement age), Anw (survivor's benefit) |
| Belastingdienst | Taxes, and the toeslagen: huurtoeslag, zorgtoeslag, kinderopvangtoeslag, kindgebonden budget |
| IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst) | Residence permits (verblijfsvergunning), extensions, family reunification, decisions on naturalisation |
| Politie | Safety, emergencies (112), reporting a crime (aangifte doen), non-emergency number 0900-8844 |
| Het Juridisch Loket | Free legal information and advice, for example about work, rent, debts or divorce; they can refer you to a lawyer |
| CJG (Centrum voor Jeugd en Gezin) | Questions about raising children and growing up; free advice for parents and young people. The name and set-up differ per gemeente |
| Veilig Thuis | Advice and reports about domestic violence and child abuse; you can call for free, also anonymously |
| GGD | Public health: vaccinations, infectious diseases, youth healthcare |
| KVK | Business register for new companies |
Tricky pairs
Some organisations are easy to confuse. Learn the difference:
- UWV vs gemeente: lost your job → UWV (WW). No income and no other benefit → gemeente (bijstand).
- SVB vs Belastingdienst: kinderbijslag (for every child, not based on income) → SVB. Kindgebonden budget and kinderopvangtoeslag (based on income) → Belastingdienst.
- DUO vs IND: exams and study → DUO. Residence permit → IND.
- Gemeente vs IND for naturalisation: you usually submit your naturalisation request at the gemeente, but the IND decides.
- Politie vs Veilig Thuis: acute danger → 112. Worries about violence at home or a child who is not safe, no acute danger → Veilig Thuis.
- Juridisch Loket vs advocaat: first free advice → Juridisch Loket. A lawyer (advocaat) for a court case, sometimes with a government contribution if your income is low.
Letters
Official letters often have a logo. The exam may show a letter and ask where it is from: a blue envelope is the classic sign of the Belastingdienst. A letter about your exam results or study loan is from DUO. A letter about your residence permit is from the IND.
Never ignore an official letter. If you do not understand it, ask for help: the organisation itself, the gemeente, a social worker or volunteers (for example at the library). Be careful with emails and text messages asking for your DigiD or bank details; real organisations do not ask for your password.
Exam logic
First identify the topic (money from work, child, tax, permit, safety, legal advice), then pick the organisation from the table. Ignore options that sound official but do something else.
Useful Dutch
- de gemeentethe municipality
- de uitkering aanvragento apply for a benefit
- de kinderbijslagchild benefit (SVB)
- de AOWstate pension (SVB)
- de toeslagthe (income-based) allowance
- de verblijfsvergunningthe residence permit
- aangifte doento report a crime to the police
- het juridisch advieslegal advice
- de opvoedingraising children
- huiselijk gewelddomestic violence
- anoniemanonymous
- de DigiDpersonal government login
Worked example
A stolen bike
Topic? A crime (theft), but no danger at this moment. Organisation? The police take reports of crimes: aangifte doen. For a stolen bike this can often be done online with DigiD, or at a police station after making an appointment. So C is correct. A is wrong: 112 is for emergencies when every second counts. B is wrong: the gemeente does not take crime reports.
Common mistakes
- Applying for kinderbijslag at the Belastingdienst instead of the SVB.
- Going to DUO for a residence permit; that is the IND.
- Calling 112 for a crime that happened earlier and is not dangerous now.
- Ignoring an official letter because it is hard to read, instead of asking for help.
Check yourself
Answer all three to mark this lesson as done.
1. Bram heeft ruzie met zijn baas over zijn salaris. Hij heeft weinig geld en wil gratis advies over zijn rechten. Waar kan Bram terecht?
2. Leyla hoort elke week geschreeuw en klappen bij de buren. Ze maakt zich zorgen over de kinderen. Er is nu geen direct gevaar. Waar kan zij advies krijgen, ook anoniem?
3. Igor heeft een verblijfsvergunning. Die is bijna verlopen. Waar vraagt hij een verlenging aan?