Finally 18, and thus finally an adult! You definitely need to celebrate your 18th birthday with friends, family, and possibly acquaintances. When you turn 18, some things change, but what exactly?

What changes when you turn 18?

When you turn 18, several things change. You are no longer automatically covered by your parents’ health insurance, although you can usually stay insured through them. If you take out your own health insurance, you’ll have to pay the premiums yourself; otherwise, your parents will pay. Check if you qualify for health insurance subsidies and see if you need other types of insurance, like travel insurance.

Most clubs have an 18+ entry policy. So, at 18, you can legally enter most clubs. You can also finally legally drink, and now you can buy your own drinks. Gambling is allowed at 18, so you can go to the casino or buy a lottery ticket.

From your 18th birthday, you can also drive if you have a driver’s license. You can start taking driving lessons at 16.5, and take your practical test at 17, but you can take the theory test as early as 16. You can only drive alone once you’re 18.

Lastly, from your 18th birthday, you have the right to vote. This means you can vote for a party during elections. You can also run for a public office.

What do you do on your 18th birthday?

18 is definitely a milestone and should be celebrated big! You can choose to invite all your friends and celebrate your 18th birthday with them. If you have it on a Friday or Saturday, it’s also a lot of fun to go out because it’s the first night you can legally enter certain clubs. If your birthday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, that’s extra special because you can celebrate at midnight and drink legally for the first time.

It’s really fun to have photos from your 18th birthday party. Nowadays, there are cool party photo apps for this. With a party photo app, everyone can take photos at the party, and these photos will be displayed live on a screen. This ensures fun and funny moments and pictures. The person who bought the app can later view, select, and download all the photos. Then they can send the photos to the people who were at the party. This way, you avoid unwanted social media posts.

If you don’t want to celebrate your 18th birthday in a big way, you could opt to have a barbecue or a fondue with a few friends, which will always be a hit and will definitely be cozy. You could also simply celebrate your birthday quietly if you don’t want any fuss. Get some tasty snacks and drinks, or just go for coffee and cake. This way, everyone can still congratulate you.

What to give someone turning 18?

It’s always tricky to come up with something to give someone who is celebrating their 18th birthday. A standard gift for someone turning 18 is alcohol, as many people give this gift because you can legally drink at 18.

Most people, especially family and close friends of the birthday person, want to give something special for the 18th birthday. If you don’t want to give a standard gift, consider giving a day out. Think about a day at the spa, an amusement park, or going out to eat and then to the movies. If you want to give a more expensive gift, you could also go on a weekend trip together, perhaps to Scheveningen or a small city trip to Prague or Paris.

A piece of jewelry usually goes down well. Most jewelry is timeless and can be worn forever. Some pieces of jewelry can also be engraved, which gives the gift an extra special meaning and will always remind you of your 18th birthday.