Healthcare

The Netherlands ranks as one of the world’s happiest countries. The high quality of life is in part due to the quality, universal accessibility and affordability of the healthcare system. Across the Netherlands, you have access to international-friendly healthcare providers, advanced treatments and care. Understanding how the healthcare system works, and how it differs from your home country, helps you navigate it more easily and make full use of its benefits. 

General practitioners (GPs)

In the Netherlands, the general practitioner (GP) or family doctor (huisarts) serves as the first point of contact for healthcare. Registering with a local GP shortly after arriving is important. Your GP writes out prescriptions and provides referrals to specialists and hospital care. Without referral from your GP your health insurance might not cover the costs. In most cases, you will need to register with a GP within a 15-minute travel distance from your home to ensure they can visit your home if needed. Most GPs speak English and have experience in assisting international residents, making it easier to navigate healthcare. You can find the closest GP surgery to you by checking an online listings website, for example Independer.nl, by contacting your local international centre or asking your health insurance for help.

Healthcare providers

The GP can refer you to specialists in over 10 hospitals in South Holland, including regional servicing hospitals (such as Haga, HMC, Reinier de Graaf and Alrijne) and specialised academic hospitals with the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) and Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. For stronger treatments and medication, a prescription is needed from a GP or specialist. You can pick up your prescription at a pharmacy (apotheek). Local drugstores (drogist) like Etos and Kruidvat sell pain killers but cannot provide stronger medications. In general, medications are prescribed more cautiously in the Netherlands, especially for antibiotics. 

Dentistry is privatised in the Netherlands and not covered under basic health insurance policies (except for children under 18 and specialised dental care). For most people, paying out of pocket for a routine check-up annually is more cost-effective than taking out an additional insurance. 

Mental healthcare is available through your GP and often covered by your health insurance. You may be referred to primary care (eerstelijnszorg) for a social worker or a psychologist from the municipal mental health services (GGZ) or for more serious or complex conditions to a psychiatrist, hospital or mental health facility (tweedelijnszorg). In some cities you can also find specialised mental health services for internationals. 

Health insurance 

Healthcare is part of the social security system in the Netherlands. You contribute to the healthcare system through insurance premiums and taxes. Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally obliged to take out a basic health insurance policy within four months of registering. Your health insurance will take effect from the registration date. You will be charged retroactively to cover the period before your insurance came into effect. If you are in the Netherlands only to study, do a PhD, work for a foreign employer or as diplomat you may not be eligible for Dutch health insurance and need to use an international coverage (European Health Insurance Card or private insurance). You can check this with the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). 

The terms and conditions of the basic health insurance are set by the government and available to everyone regardless of age, health condition or background. The basic package covers essential medical care, such as the GP, hospital treatment, mental health support, emergency transport and maternity care. You can chose from lots of different insurance providers. They all provide slightly different insurance premiums and coverage (contracted health providers, internet-only, higher excess). In general, you can expect to pay around €120 per month for a basic package. Depending on your income you may be entitled to health care benefits to cover part of the monthly costs. 

Health insurance policies carry an excess component (eigen risico, literally ‘own risk’). You pay the first €385 of medical costs you incur per year yourself, although visits to GP are exempt from this. Next to the basic package, you can take out a supplemental package for dentistry, physiotherapy, optician and other specialised care. For such treatments, insurance companies are not obliged to accept every applicant. You can register your children free of charge under your own health insurance policy until they turn 18. You can switch your health insurance policy once per year, and you must make sure to do this before the end of the year.