Huisnummer

Huisnummer is a component of a postal address in Dutch-speaking regions, referring to the number assigned to a building along a street. It uniquely identifies a building on that street in combination with the street name, city or town, and postal code. The term is used in the Netherlands and in the Flemish part of Belgium (Flanders) and in some Dutch-speaking communities elsewhere.

Numbering conventions: On most streets numbers increase sequentially; odd numbers appear on one side and even numbers on the other. Multi-use buildings (business complexes, apartment blocks) may bear additional designators such as 12A, 12B, etc., to distinguish separate entrances or units. In city centers, numbering schemes may be irregular due to historic growth. In some cases a single street address may be shared by several units if the complex has one main entrance.

Administrative and data: The authority that assigns house numbers is the local municipality. In the Netherlands, addresses and buildings are collected in the national BAG (Basisregistratie Adressen en Gebouwen), which serves as the official source for address data across government and services. In Belgium, municipalities maintain the official address register, coordinated at the federal or regional level as part of national geospatial and cadastral systems. The huisnummer is distinct from the cadastral parcel number, which identifies the land parcel on which the building stands.

Use and purpose: The huisnummer is essential for mail delivery, emergency response, utilities, navigation, and statistical analyses. It supports linking a residence or business to its geographic location and to property ownership.