Arriving without a BSN (citizen service number) turns into a chicken-and-egg problem fast: employers want an account for salary, and several account-opening routes want the number first. Which banks genuinely allow a BSN-free start, and how long the grace period to supply it runs, is the practical detail newcomers need in week one.
bunq is the standout option: fully remote signup through the app with just a passport, no need to be physically in the Netherlands yet, and it issues a Dutch IBAN immediately. You're expected to add your BSN and Dutch address once you have them — banks commonly reference a roughly 90-day window to supply that information after opening. The traditional big three (ING, ABN AMRO, Rabobank) are less consistent on this: some let you start an application before your BSN comes through, but in practice they generally want you physically present with ID, and a BSN sooner rather than later, before or shortly after account opening. Policies on this shift periodically and aren't always applied identically branch to branch, so if you're relying on having a working Dutch account for something time-sensitive — like your first paycheck — it's worth confirming directly with the specific bank rather than assuming based on what worked for someone else last year.