Quick guide to the Dutch healthcare system
Dutch healthcare insurance is mandatory
Health insurance in the Netherlands is compulsory for all who live or work in the country. All foreign citizens are obliged to acquire this insurance within four months from registering at city hall or obtaining a residence permit, regardless whether they already have one in their native countries.
The health insurance system in the Netherlands is based on the principal of social solidarity, where all inhabitants carry the overall health care costs contributing, for example, also in maternity and geriatric care.
Basic insurance & obligatory deductible
also called standard insurance, is the insurance that everyone has to obtain him or herself. It covers medical care like consultations with GP, hospital treatments, certain medications, some treatments by specialists, some forms of mental health care, maternity care etc. The content of basic insurance is set by Dutch government and is revised every year. An insurance company is obliged to accept every person who applies for basic insurance regardless the age or state of health and charge the same premium. There might be a very slight difference in premiums for this insurance amongst companies which provide it. The monthly contribution is divided in two parts – one, paid by the employer, and the other, which is paid by the person self. The employer pays approximately 7% of the monthly salary. The part the person has to pay self is about EUR 125 per month.
Obligatory deductible
Each insurance policy has the category of the obligatory deductible ("own risk", eigen risico), designed to raise the awareness about the health care costs. This is the amount, set every year by the Dutch government, which the person has to pay first for certain medical services before the insurance company starts to cover the medical costs. In 2024 this amount is EUR 385. Most medical services provided by GPs are excluded from the deductible, as are most maternity care costs.
Additional & long-term healthcare insurance
Additional insurance
The coverage of many dental treatments, physiotherapy and other additional services is not covered by basic health insurance. To have covered also most of these costs, one has to obtain additional insurance (aanvullende zorgverzekering). The content of this insurance is set by the insurance company and can vary greatly from one to another company. Additional insurance is not mandatory and may be purchased at another insurance company than the one where person has basic insurance. The insurance company is also not obliged to accept every person applying for it and may ask for your health condition before considering the application.
Long-term health insurance
covers long-term nursing and care. This insurance is mandatory and provided automatically by Dutch government for all residents in the Netherlands. The contribution is deducted from the monthly salary in the amount of approximately 10%.
How to use the healthcare system
Once you are insured you need to register with a general practitioner (GP, huisarts), who is the first point of contact in order to receive medical care. GP gathers all patient medical records and oversees all medical treatments. A visit to a specialist is only possible with the GP’s referral. In case you need a GP here you can register for our practice.
General Medical Practice Service Center
If you are in need of any medical help outside opening hours of our practice, you have to contact General Medical Practice Service Center, in Dutch Huisartsenpost. This Service Center may be contacted only in cases that require immediate medical attention and cannot wait until our practice is open again. In order to use their services, you need to contact the Service Center in advance by phone.
In case of a life-threatening situation, please call emergency number 112 (for ambulance) or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (Spoedeisende Hulp, SEH).
Prescription-only medication is available in the pharmacies (apotheek). The pharmacies in the vicinity of our practice are Leidsestraat Apotheek in Leidsestraat, BENU Apotheek Nassau at Nassaukade and Wittop Koning at Overtoom.