Information for Ukrainian refugees

Check ggdkennemerland.nl/vaccination-against-covid to see where you can get your corona vaccination. Don’t forget to bring your ID with you.

We have several locations available where we house Ukrainian refugees like yourself. Get in touch with someone who can help you via phone number +31 255 567200 or by mail vluchtelingen.oekraine@velsen.nl. Due to high demand, the location where you will be staying will be allocated to you. Therefore, you cannot choose.

If you happen to know someone in our municipality or elsewhere in the Netherlands, you're also allowed to stay with them.

The municipality will not automatically arrange for you to be transferred from a host family to a municipal shelter. Or vice versa. 

Would you like to make use of a shelter offered by the municipality? Then call the regional phonenumber +31 255 567200. The municipality will arrange a shelter for you. Shelters are spread across the Kennemerland region. Therefore, it's possible that you will be accommodated outside the municipality of Velsen.

You need to arrange your own transport to your new shelter. The municipality does not provide this.

Not immediately. It is within European Union regulation to travel and stay in European countries without a visa for a period of 90 days. You can apply for a short-stay visa, which allows you to stay for a 180-day period. However, this will not enable you to get work in the Netherlands.

Better option: registration
In order to find work, get health assurance and open a Dutch bank account, you can best apply for registration in the Personal Records Database of our municipality.

Get work, health insurance and a bank account
You can register yourself (and your family) in the Personal Records Database. Through this process you receive a citizen service number (BSN). This will enable you to get work, health insurance or a Dutch bank account.

Get in touch

If you are staying with a (Dutch) family, you can make a registration appointment by calling +31 255 567200 .

Important documents

Please bring the following documents to your appointment:

1. A valid international passport. If you do not have a valid international passport, a proof of identity from the Ukrainian embassy will suffice.
2.  Your birth certificate, if you are able.
3. Your marriage certificate, if you are married and if you are able.
4.  A Ukrainian residence permit, if you are a third-country national who lived in Ukraine.

Safe handling of information

Rest assured, we handle your personal information with the utmost care. Your information will only be reviewed by municipality employees and will not be shared with third parties.

Moving within Velsen or moving abroad

Are you Ukrainian and moving within Velsen or are you leaving the Netherlands? It is important to let the municipality know. You can call to +31 255 567200 to make an appointment or for more information. 
 

Under normal circumstances you would need a valid passport to register in Velsen municipality. However, given the current situation you can contact the Ukrainian Embassy in the Hague to receive a proof of identity. There are multiple ways to get in touch with the embassy:

1. Visit the embassy, which is located at Zeestraat 78 in the Hague. From Monday to Friday you can visit from 9.00 AM to 1.00 PM. Please use this form to inform the embassy of your proof of identity application.
2. Give them a call on +31 70 362 6095.
3. Send an email to emb_nl@mfa.gov.ua.

If you do not have enough money to live on, you can apply for a living allowance.

Yes, once you have a citizen service number (BSN). You can receive urgent medical care without health insurance.

Health is a fundamental human right. That is precisely why you can receive healthcare if you require urgent medical care. Both in our municipality and across the Netherlands. When you visit a general practitioner or hospital you are entitled to the right care. You do not need to be a registered civilian or have insurance to get the treatment you need, albeit psychological  or physical care.

More information about healthcare you can find at Refugeehelp or at Zorgverzekeringslijn.

If you are registered with the municipality of Velsen and you need medical care, you can contact your General Practitioner. If the GP thinks you need more care, you will be referred.

General Practitione

• Ukrainian refugees who are taken in by host family's can visit the host family's GP.
• Ukrainian refugees who are staying in the municipal (emergency) shelter in the municipality of Velsen can visit Arene online GP practice from 4 July.

You can download the Arene app. Through this app you can contact Arene and they can contact you. 

Arene can be reached by phone and via the app from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 for (healthcare) questions. Arene offers (video) phone consultations and the option of online consultations with a doctor's assistant or nurse. They help you with questions about healthcare that do not require a physical assessment. 

 If they think you should see a GP, Arene will arrange an appointment with a GP in the municipality of Velsen.

Pharmacies

Ukrainian refugees can get a prescription for medication through their GP. The pharmacy is familiar with the regulations that apply to this.

Children that are aged between 4 to 17 years old, who have come to the Netherlands from Ukraine have the right to education.

Children that are aged between 4 and 5 years old can be registered at a regular primary school. This can be any school in the area of the address you are staying. Education is free.

Children that are aged 6 years and older can go to newcomers’ classes, where they learn, among other things, the Dutch language.

Locations International Language Class and Bridging Class

There are 4 locations where children can go to. Parents can register their children themselves. Education is free. After your child has been registered, the school will help you with (if requested) transport to and from school.

Primary school education 6 to 12 years

• Children from Velsen-Noord can be registered with the ITK De Fakkel: Bachstraat 20, 1962 BD Heemskerk. Phone number 0251 231093. E-mail: rinket@tabijn.nl.
• Children that are living in other parts of Velsen can be registered with the ITK Haarlem: Pr. Beatrixdreef 6, 2033 TX Haarlem. Phone number 023 7078260. E-mail: itk@twijs.nl.

Secondary education (12 to 17 years)

• Children from Velsen-Noord can be registered at the ISK: Van Riemsdijklaan 103, 1965 BE Heemskerk. Phone number 0251 241 944. E-mail: j.duvalois@kennemercollege.nl.
• Children that are living in other parts of Velsen can be registered at the ISK: Schoterstraat 4, 2021 HH Haarlem. Phone number 06 46227731. E-mail: info@ISKHaarlem.nl.

There is a lot to do in Velsen. Beside visiting the beaches and the dunes there are several events in the area. At UITagenda of Velsen (only available in Dutch) you can find our what kind of events are upcoming. 

You can go to one of the three large playgrounds in Velsen for free with your child (up to 10 years). If your child is between 10 and 18 years old, your child is eligible for a free 10-bath card. Read the conditions below.

Swimming pool Heerenduinen

If your child is between 10 and 18 years old, your child can receive a free 10-bath card. Send your request by mail, in English to vrijetijdsbesteding@velsen.nl. Please let us know in your request the address of your stay. We will send you a paper form by post. Hand in the form at the reception of Heerenduinen Swimming Pool to receive a 10-bath card.

Please note! Does your child do not have a swimming diploma? Then your child will only be admitted to the swimming pool accompanied by an adult. The adult must pay an entrance fee for the swimming pool.
The house rules of the swimming pool can be found at www.zwembadvelsen.nl/huisregels. The house rules are also available in English at the bottom of the page.

Playgrounds

Children up to the age of 10 are eligible for a free season ticket at one of the following playgrounds:

• Stichting 'De Veilige Haven', Heerenduinweg 6a, IJmuiden 
• Speeltuin Santpoort, Valckenhoeflaan 2, Santpoort-Noord 
• Speeltuin Zeewijk Natuurlijk, Dennekoplaan 96, 1974 VC IJmuiden

Send your request by mail in English to vrijetijdsbesteding@velsen.nl. Please let us know in your request the address of your stay. We will send you a paper form by post. Hand in the form at the reception of the playground where you want to receive a season ticket. You can only receive a free season ticket for one playground. You do not need to fill in the form, the receptionist of the playground will do this for you. The season ticket is intended for the whole family.

Registering with a sports club is goes directly via the sports club. Check the website of the sports club where you want to work out how you can register. This can often be done via a registration form or to contact them via email.
Still having trouble getting in touch with the sports club? Then we are happy to help you. Send an email (preference in English) to vrijetijdsbesteding@velsen.nl. Tell us how the name of the sports club you want to sign up. To speed up the process, please let us know:

• How many persons you want to register at the sports club?
• How old are you? How old are they?
• What is your gender? What is their gender?

If you want to return to your country or keep traveling to another country, you can get help of the IOM or DT&V. 

You can find a lot of practical information on the website of RefugeeHelp. The information is available in Ukrainian, English or Russian.

You also can contact the Dutch branch of the Red Cross by sending a WhatsApp (voice) message to +31 6 48 15 8053. You can leave a message in Ukrainian, English or Russian. Someone will then contact you in your preferred language.
 

Yes, but this is a paid service. You need a charged OV chip card. In the bus you can also buy a ticket directly from the driver with a debit card. Cash payment is not possible.