Privacy Statement

When you handle products digitally through the website or request Health, help or support from the municipality, we often use your personal information. You can trust us to handle it with care. All employees must comply with the rules of privacy legislation and our privacy policy. This also applies to the institutions and agencies with whom the municipality cooperates.

This is how we handle your personal information

Personal information is needed to provide help. We want to involve you in this as much as possible and inform you clearly. We never ask for more data than necessary. We never use the data for a purpose other than that discussed with you or permitted by law.

Only with permission or based on legal authority

We only record, retrieve, view or share personal information with others with your permission or based on legal obligations. For example, if you report your move, we are required to automatically pass this on to government agencies and ministerially designated bodies such as your health insurer.

Your privacy as a user of this website

The Municipality of Heerlen respects your privacy as a visitor to our website and we ensure that Health personal information you provide via web forms is treated confidentially and in accordance with the law. Some products can be handled digitally. To do so, you must provide data or use a DigiD. Once you are logged in, the data is automatically encrypted and sent via a 'secure' connection.

Your visit to the website of the Municipality of Heerlen may be completely anonymous. However, the municipality is interested in data that provides insight into visitor behavior of our users. This data includes, for example, which pages are visited most frequently, at what time most visitors come, how long visitors stay on the site, etc. This is completely anonymous and only serves the purpose of continuously improving the website.

Do you suspect that your privacy has been violated?

If you suspect that the Municipality of Heerlen has violated your privacy, please contact our Data Protection Officer. Who can be reached at gemeente@heerlen.nl or tel: 045-5605040.

Privacy Statement

Do you still have questions about your personal data? If so, please see the general privacy statement of the Municipality of Heerlen on the overheid.nl website . There is a supplementary statement for some areas of the municipality's work:

Privacy statement Early signs of debt

Why do we collect personal data? 

The municipality believes it is important for a Heerlen resident to inform us as early as possible of a high risk of financial problems. An unpaid bill for rent, health care premium, energy or water can be a sign of financial problems. That is why landlords, health insurers, energy companies and the water company are obliged to report arrears in payments to the municipality of Heerlen. The municipality then offers you a meeting and help with your money matters. We would like to help you.

We need your personal data for this purpose. Team Schuldhulpverlening of the Municipality of Heerlen will contact you by mail or phone. If we do not have your e-mail address and telephone number, you will receive a letter. Sometimes team Schuldhulpverlening makes a home visit.

What personal data do we use?

Data we use include:

  • Name, address and city
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Administration number
  • BSN
  • Phone number
  • Details of outstanding payments
  • Details of your ongoing debt relief program
  • Data on contacts with the resident
  • Data on the outcome of contact with the resident
  • Data on approving or rejecting the offer of help
  • How we will address late payment
  • Solutions and reports from your caregivers

Why do we use your data?

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

  • Looking at and preventing debts that are causing problems, looming debts, evictions, foreclosures and mounting collection costs.
  • Seeking, informing and talking to (employees of) fixed-income partners and helping organizations.
  • Creating reports to improve our services, goals and rules.
  • Conducting research and measurements.
  • Conducting participant satisfaction surveys.

With whom do we share your data?

We share personal data with reporting parties. We indicate whether you are okay with us helping you. Don't want us to get details of your arrears in payments? Then report this to your landlord, health insurance company, energy and/or water company.

The municipality also cooperates with Buurtteams Heerlen. Buurteams Heerlen have the knowledge to motivate residents in personal situations to accept help. And to guide and support residents in solving one or more problems. Buurtteams Heerlen will contact you by telephone and can come to your home for a visit.

We also share personal data with processors who work for us, such as application administrators.

Personal data always stays within the countries of the European Union, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. We do not transfer them to other countries.

How long do we keep personal data?

We do not retain personal data longer than necessary for our purposes. We retain personal data for up to 6 months if:

  • Resident does not respond to offer, has no request for help or does not like offer of help.
  • During contact with the resident it is clear that the backlog of payments (within 28 days of coming in) no longer exists. Therefore, there is no need for assistance.

What is the legal reason?

In order to use personal data, a law is required. The municipality is required by law to help you identify payment arrears early. 

  • Municipal Debt Relief Act, article 3, 8b, 8c, and 8d
  • Municipal Debt Relief Decree, Article 2(3) and Article 3
  • Municipal debt assistance policy plan

Learn more

Want to know more about privacy policies or how to protect your personal information? Please check the website of authority personal data.

Or are you looking for:

Submit request about personal data based on the AVG