If you have applied for a credit card, loan, or phone contract in the Netherlands, you have probably encountered the term "BKR check." The BKR (Bureau Krediet Registratie) is the Dutch credit registration bureau, and understanding how it works is essential for managing your finances as an expat.
What Is the BKR?
The BKR is a foundation based in Tiel that maintains the central database of credit agreements in the Netherlands. Unlike credit scoring systems in countries like the US (FICO) or the UK (Experian), the BKR does not assign you a numerical score. Instead, it records the existence and status of your credit agreements.
Think of it as a factual register: it shows what credit products you have, how much you borrowed or can borrow, and whether you have fallen seriously behind on payments. Lenders then use this information to make their own lending decisions.
What Gets Registered?
The following financial products are registered with the BKR:
- Credit cards with a revolving credit — The credit limit, if it is more than EUR 250. A standard card you pay off in full each month, such as an ICS card, is not registered unless you fall behind (why most Dutch cards are charge cards)
- Personal loans — The full amount borrowed
- Overdraft facilities — If above EUR 250
- Phone contracts with a device — The financed value of the phone, if it is more than EUR 250
- Mortgages — The mortgage on the home you live in is only registered if you fall 3 months behind on payments. A mortgage on a second home is registered straight away
- Store credit and financing — For example, financing a laptop or furniture
Not registered: buy-now-pay-later (achteraf betalen) and DUO student loans. New EU rules bring buy-now-pay-later under AFM supervision from 20 November 2026.
Important for expats: If you pay off a phone through your contract and that loan is more than EUR 250, it is registered as a credit agreement. A EUR 600 phone paid off in monthly instalments shows up on your BKR record as a EUR 600 loan. This can reduce your borrowing capacity for other products.
Positive vs. Negative Registrations
BKR entries come in two flavours:
Positive registration: Simply shows that you have a credit agreement. This is normal and not problematic. It shows lenders how much credit you have taken on.
Negative registration (codering): This is added when you are behind on payments. Negative codes indicate serious problems:
- A code: Payment arrears (achterstand)
- H code: The arrears have been paid off (herstel)
- 1 code: A repayment plan was agreed after the arrears
- 2 code: The lender demanded repayment of the remaining or full debt
- 3 code: The lender wrote off EUR 250 or more
A negative registration stays on your record until 5 years after the debt is paid off. During this time, many lenders will turn you down: ICS, for example, does not accept applications from people with a negative registration.
How to Check Your BKR Record
You can view your BKR overview on mijnkredietregistratie.nl, BKR's website for consumers. The process is straightforward:
- Create an account on mijnkredietregistratie.nl
- Verify your identity once with iDIN through your bank. If your bank does not support iDIN, send BKR the paper request form with a copy of your ID
- View your overview online, which is free
- If you need a certified (gewaarmerkt) overview, you can order one by post for a fee
It is a good idea to check your BKR record at least once a year, especially before applying for a mortgage or significant credit product. Errors do occur, and correcting them takes time.
The Expat Challenge: No History
When you first arrive in the Netherlands, your BKR record is blank—no entries at all. That is not a negative mark. BKR says a positive registration can work in your favour, but each lender makes its own decision, and card issuers such as ICS mainly ask that you have no negative registration.
What shows up on your BKR record:
- ICS credit cards, like the ICS Visa World Card, are not registered at BKR as long as you pay the full bill on time, so a card will not build BKR history on its own
- A phone paid off through your contract adds an entry only if the loan is more than EUR 250, and that entry lowers how much you can borrow for a mortgage
- Always make payments on time. If you fall two months behind on a loan, or three months on an overdraft, the lender reports it to BKR after warning you in writing
BKR and Mortgages
When applying for a mortgage in the Netherlands, the BKR check is crucial. Mortgage advisors will review your BKR record as one of the first steps. Any negative registrations can disqualify you entirely, and high levels of existing credit (credit card limits, phone financing) reduce the maximum mortgage amount you can get.
Pro tip: Before applying for a mortgage, consider reducing your credit card limits and paying off any phone financing. Even unused credit card limits count against your borrowing capacity. See whether a credit card affects your mortgage.
How Long Do Records Stay?
- Active credit agreements: Shown as long as the agreement is active
- Completed agreements: Removed 5 years after completion
- Negative registrations: Removed 5 years after the debt is paid off
Understanding the BKR system is essential for any expat planning to access financial products in the Netherlands. Keep your record clean, check it regularly, and factor it into your financial planning. For your first credit product, explore our credit card comparison to find options that are expat-friendly.