Dutch healthcare in practice 2026
GP access, referrals, waiting lists and everyday care explained for expats
Dutch healthcare is high quality but organised very differently from what many expats expect, particularly around the huisarts (GP) as gatekeeper, mandatory basic insurance, and the eigen risico deductible. This guide explains how the system works in everyday life so you can get the care you need without frustration. For costs and which insurer to choose, see our dedicated Dutch health insurance guide.
Before anything else: register with a GP (huisarts) as soon as you arrive. Reddit is full of people who skipped this and then struggled to find care when they suddenly needed it. Practices fill up and you may only be seen as a non-registered patient in genuine emergencies. Also make sure you have your BSN and Dutch health insurance sorted within four months of arrival.
At a glance
- Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering); children are covered for free under a parent's policy.
- You must take Dutch insurance within four months of registering with the gemeente or of your residence permit starting.
- In 2026 the compulsory annual deductible (eigen risico) is €385 per adult. GP consultations and most maternity care are not charged against this.
- Typical basic premiums in 2026 range from €147 to about €160 per month at €385 eigen risico, depending on insurer and policy type.
- The GP is always your first point of contact and the legal gatekeeper for referrals to specialists; you cannot normally go straight to a hospital consultant.
- For urgent problems outside office hours, call the regional huisartsenpost. For life-threatening emergencies, call 112.
Get Dutch health insurance from €147,40/month
Mandatory within 4 months of arrival. All insurers must accept you and the basic package is identical by law. Fines up to €1,584 if you miss the deadline.
FBTO
€148,75/mo
Achmea brand, excellent digital tools, online-only service
ASR Zorg
€149,80/mo
Large Dutch insurer, good supplementary coverage options
Unive
€147,40/mo
600K+ customers, alternative medicine covered, English support
💡 Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of contents
How Dutch health insurance is structured
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is legally required to hold standard health insurance (basisverzekering). The government determines what the basic package must cover, and every insurer must accept you regardless of age or health. For a full cost breakdown and comparison of insurers, see our Dutch health insurance guide.
What the basic package covers in 2026
All GP visits and GP out-of-hours services
With a GP referral
Most medicines on the reimbursed formulary list
Midwifery, standard ultrasounds, medically necessary births
Medically necessary mental health treatment
Up to Dutch tariff rates
Supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering)
Supplementary policies are optional and cover items not in the basic package. Unlike the basic package, insurers can decline you or apply conditions for supplementary coverage. For most expats, supplementary coverage is mainly relevant for:
- Adult dental check-ups, fillings and crowns.
- Regular physiotherapy beyond what is covered for chronic conditions.
- Glasses, contact lenses or alternative medicine if used frequently.
- Maternity extras such as a private room or additional kraamzorg hours.
The eigen risico (deductible) in 2026
You pay the first €385 of most basic-package care yourself each calendar year. You can voluntarily raise this to €885 for a lower monthly premium. GP consultations, maternity care, community nursing and care for children under 18 are all exempt from the deductible.
Important: Tests, imaging and medications ordered by your GP often do count against your eigen risico. This is why you can receive a hospital or lab bill even though the GP visit itself cost you nothing.
When you must take Dutch health insurance
If you come to live or work in the Netherlands, you are required to take out Dutch health insurance as soon as possible and no later than four months after you become resident or your residence permit starts. The insurance should start from the day you became subject to the Dutch system, even if you arrange it later.
Triggering the obligation
You must register with your municipality and obtain a BSN. Starting work or long-term residence (four months or more) normally triggers the obligation to insure. See our BSN registration guide for the municipality process.
Consequences of missing the deadline
The CAK monitors who is registered but uninsured and can issue warning letters, fines totalling up to €1,584, and eventually arrange a policy for you at a higher premium. If you take insurance after four months, you generally will not be insured retrospectively and care received before your policy start date will not be reimbursed.
Short assignments (under 4 months)
If you are staying fewer than four months and not registering, you are normally not allowed to take a domestic basic policy and must rely on international coverage instead. Check with your employer and the SVB if you are on a short assignment.
Compare Dutch health insurers
FBTO is currently one of the cheapest Dutch basic policies at €148,75/month. ASR Zorg offers €149,80/month. All insurers must accept you, and the basic package is identical by law.
💡 Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Registering with a huisarts (GP)
Why you must register proactively
GPs are paid on the basis of registered patient lists and are the legal first point of contact for almost all non-emergency care. Practices limit patients to a catchment area so the doctor can make home visits when needed. Because of this, many practices show "no new patients" on their websites. Non-registered patients may only be seen for absolute emergencies, which is why it is worth registering as soon as you arrive rather than waiting until you are ill.
How to find a GP in 2026
Start with your insurer's website or a general GP finder. Many insurers maintain updated lists of practices accepting new patients in your area.
Expand your search radius a few kilometres beyond your immediate neighbourhood if local practices are full.
If you have no luck, call your insurer's customer service. Insurers have a legal duty to ensure reasonable access to care and can help match you with a practice.
When contacting practices, mention that you live in their postcode area and already have Dutch insurance. This removes two common obstacles.
What most practices will ask for
- Your BSN and a valid ID document.
- Your Dutch address, which must be within their catchment area.
- Your Dutch health insurance details.
- A summary of past medical history, medications and allergies if you have them.
Note on children: Register children with both a GP and an insurer as soon as possible after arrival or birth. Children under 18 pay no premium and have no eigen risico under a parent's basic policy.
What to expect at GP appointments
Consultation style and "watchful waiting"
Dutch GPs are trained as broad generalists who handle a wide spectrum of problems themselves and only refer when there are red-flag symptoms or proven need for specialist expertise. This keeps costs under control and avoids overtreatment, but can feel like gatekeeping or minimisation if you come from a more interventionist system. Typical experiences include:
What is normal in the Dutch system
- Short, focused consultations (around 10 minutes).
- Conservative treatment first: "come back if it doesn't improve."
- Heavy use of national guidelines (NHG-richtlijnen) defining when tests and referrals are appropriate.
- Limited routine imaging or lab panels unless specific red flags are present.
How to get the most from a 10-minute appointment
- Write down your main complaint and 2-3 key questions before you go.
- Prepare a brief timeline of symptoms, triggers and previous treatments.
- Mention relevant family history (cancers, heart disease at young age).
- Bring medication lists or test results from your home country.
If you feel your concern was not taken seriously
- Ask explicitly: "What diagnosis are you considering?" and "When should I worry and come back?"
- If symptoms persist or worsen, book a follow-up and mention this history. A pattern of symptoms over time changes the GP's assessment.
- You are entitled to a second opinion from another GP or specialist. Your insurer can advise about the process.
- Ask which NHG guideline the GP is following and under what conditions a referral would be indicated.
Referrals, diagnostics and waiting lists
What requires a GP referral
| Care type | GP referral needed? |
|---|---|
| Hospital specialists (cardiology, orthopaedics, etc.) | Yes — always |
| MRI, CT scans, non-urgent ultrasounds | Yes — usually |
| Mental health specialists beyond POH-GGZ | Yes |
| Physiotherapy (basic amount) | Yes for reimbursement |
| Emergency department (spoedeisende hulp) | No — but call 112 first |
| Huisartsenpost (out-of-hours GP) | No — call directly |
| Private clinics (self-pay) | No — but insurer may not reimburse |
Typical waiting times
Private clinics and cross-border care
If you strongly want a test or quicker access and the GP does not consider it medically necessary, options include paying privately at independent clinics for certain diagnostics (blood tests, imaging), or travelling to Belgium or Germany for private care when waiting times in the Netherlands are long. Always check in advance whether your insurer reimburses costs for cross-border or private care, especially if you hold a budget natura policy that restricts non-contracted providers.
Tip on waiting lists: Ask your GP or insurer whether a different hospital or clinic in your region has shorter waiting times for the same treatment. This is a standard option within the Dutch system and your insurer's helpline can often identify faster alternatives.
Emergency care and out-of-hours services
Call 112 for:
- • Chest pain or severe breathing problems
- • Stroke signs (FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time)
- • Major accidents or heavy bleeding
- • Unconsciousness or collapse
- • Any situation that feels life-threatening
Ambulance and emergency department care are covered by basic insurance but count toward your eigen risico.
Call for urgent but non-life-threatening problems when your GP practice is closed:
- • High fever in children that won't come down
- • Sudden severe earache or eye infections
- • Urinary tract infections needing same-day treatment
- • Moderate injuries not requiring ambulance
- • Prescription refills that cannot wait
Visits do not count toward your eigen risico. Number is on your GP's website and answering machine.
What the huisartsenpost can do
Pregnancy, birth and women's health
Pregnancy care in the Netherlands is midwife-led by default. Healthy pregnancies are handled primarily by midwives, with gynaecologists involved mainly for complications or higher-risk pregnancies. Many expats from more interventionist systems are surprised by the fewer routine ultrasounds and tests unless medically indicated.
What basic insurance covers
- Midwife consultations throughout pregnancy.
- Standard ultrasounds (12-week dating scan and 20-week anomaly scan).
- Medically necessary hospital births and gynaecologist involvement.
- Standard kraamzorg (postnatal home care) hours.
- Maternity and delivery care is exempt from the eigen risico.
What is not standard
- Additional scans or tests beyond the standard programme require medical indication.
- A private room or extra kraamzorg hours may require supplementary insurance or out-of-pocket payment.
- Elective caesarean sections are not routine and require clinical justification.
Women's preventive care
Preventive screenings such as cervical smears and breast cancer screening are offered at specific age intervals through national programmes, not at every annual check-up. Ask your GP which national screening programmes apply to your age group. If you want more frequent checks, discuss the pros, cons and possible out-of-pocket costs with your GP.
Mental health care
Mental healthcare is structurally part of the basic insurance but can involve long waiting times for specialist treatment. The standard pathway runs GP → POH-GGZ (practice mental health worker) → basic GGZ → specialist GGZ. See our dedicated wellness and routines guide for a full walkthrough of the pathway, SAD management, and vitamin D in Dutch winters.
First contact for all psychological complaints. Rules out medical causes, decides next steps. GP visits exempt from eigen risico.
Practice-based mental health nurse. Short-term counseling (4-7 sessions) for stress, mild depression, anxiety. Billed under GP care.
Mild to moderate disorders. Time-limited treatment packages. Covered by basic insurance, subject to €385 eigen risico.
Severe or complex conditions (psychosis, eating disorders, severe depression). Multidisciplinary teams. Waiting times can be months.
Given current waiting times in the GGZ system, many expats combine GP and insured mental health care with private English-speaking therapy for faster access. See our expat mental health guide for finding English-speaking therapists and understanding the full costs.
Complaints, second opinions and switching
If you are unhappy with your GP
- 1Discuss the issue directly with your GP or practice manager.
- 2If unresolved, contact the practice's external complaints officer, often connected to SKGE (Stichting Klachten en Geschillen Eerstelijnszorg).
- 3As a last resort, submit to the independent GP disputes committee via SKGE, whose binding decision can require apologies, process changes or limited compensation.
You can switch to another GP if a practice accepts you, though capacity constraints can make this difficult in some regions.
If you are unhappy with your insurer
- 1File complaints via the insurer's own complaints service.
- 2Escalate to Kifid (Dutch Financial Services Complaints Institute) if unresolved.
- 3Switch insurer during the annual switching period (mid-November to 31 December).
Switching insurers every January is normal in the Netherlands when networks or customer service disappoint.
First-year healthcare checklist
Register at the gemeente and get your BSN. See our BSN registration guide.
Take out Dutch basic health insurance within four months. Choose a policy type (natura/restitutie) and deductible that match your situation. See our Health insurance guide.
Register with a nearby GP practice and note the huisartsenpost number for out-of-hours care.
If applicable, register children on your policy within four months of birth or arrival. No premium, no eigen risico for under-18s.
Check whether you qualify for zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) if your income is moderate. See our Tax allowances guide.
Learn how your insurer's app or portal works for digital GP consults, e-prescriptions and tracking your eigen risico usage.
For ongoing conditions, request copies of previous medical records and share them with your GP.
Note the SKGE complaints process and your insurer's medical advice line before you need them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really have to take out Dutch health insurance if I already have international coverage?
Yes. If you live or work in the Netherlands for longer than about four months and fall under the Dutch social-security system, you are legally required to take out Dutch basic health insurance, even if you have an international policy. International plans generally do not satisfy this legal requirement. Arrange Dutch insurance within four months of registering with your gemeente or of your residence permit starting.
What happens if I miss the 4-month Dutch health insurance deadline?
The CAK checks who is registered in the BRP but uninsured and can send warning letters, issue fines, and ultimately register you with an insurer at a higher premium deducted directly from your income. Fines can total €1,584 (three monthly CAK premiums). You also risk having to pay earlier care costs yourself, as late-registered policies are generally not backdated for reimbursement purposes.
Are GP visits in the Netherlands really free?
You do not pay a separate co-pay at the GP, and GP consultations do not count toward your annual €385 eigen risico deductible. However, tests, imaging and medications ordered as a result of the visit usually do count against your eigen risico unless specifically exempt. This is why you can receive hospital or lab bills even though the GP visit itself cost you nothing.
Why does my Dutch GP refuse to refer me to a specialist?
Dutch GPs follow national guidelines (NHG-richtlijnen) that define when referrals and tests are appropriate, emphasizing treatment by the GP first and referral only when red-flag symptoms are present or conservative treatment has failed. This gatekeeper role keeps costs low and avoids unnecessary testing, but can feel dismissive if you are used to a more interventionist system. If symptoms are serious or persistent, ask explicitly what diagnosis the GP is considering and under what conditions a referral would be indicated.
Can I go straight to a specialist without a GP referral in the Netherlands?
You can pay privately at some clinics without a referral, but your basic insurance may reimburse little or nothing depending on your policy type and the provider's contract status with your insurer. Always check with both the clinic and your insurer before booking to confirm whether costs will be reimbursed and at what rate.
What is the huisartsenpost and when should I use it?
The huisartsenpost (GP out-of-hours centre) handles urgent but non-life-threatening complaints when your GP practice is closed, typically evenings, nights and weekends. Call them first rather than going to the emergency department. They can give phone advice, see you in person, or refer you to hospital when needed. Visits do not count toward your eigen risico deductible. The number is on your GP's website and practice answering machine. Call 112 only for genuine life-threatening emergencies.
How long are waiting lists for specialists in the Netherlands?
Waiting times vary widely by specialty and region. Urgent GP issues can usually be seen same-day or next-day. Specialist appointments, especially for mental health, orthopaedics, and dermatology, often take several weeks to months. You can ask your GP or insurer whether a different hospital or clinic in your region has shorter waiting times. Some expats also choose to pay privately at independent clinics for faster access to certain diagnostics.
Are children automatically covered by Dutch health insurance?
Children under 18 must be registered with an insurer but are covered under a parent's basic policy at no extra premium cost and have no eigen risico deductible. Many vaccinations and child health checks are included in the basic package. Register your child with an insurer within four months of birth or arrival in the Netherlands.
What does pregnancy care look like in the Netherlands?
Pregnancy care in the Netherlands is midwife-led by default for healthy pregnancies. Gynaecologists are involved mainly for complications or higher-risk pregnancies. Basic insurance covers midwife consultations, standard ultrasounds and medically necessary hospital births. Maternity care and delivery are exempt from the eigen risico. Many expats from more interventionist systems are surprised by fewer routine scans and tests unless medically indicated.
Can I get financial help with my Dutch health insurance premium?
If your income is below certain thresholds and you hold a Dutch basic policy, you may qualify for zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) from the Belastingdienst. In 2026 the maximum is around €131 per month for singles and €250 per month for couples. Income limits are roughly €41,163 for singles and €51,630 for couples. Apply via toeslagen.nl with your DigiD. Applications can be backdated up to four years.
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