Last updated: 24 September 2026
The Dutch healthcare system is good, but it works very differently from what many expats are used to, and that surprises almost everyone in their first year. You cannot just book a specialist or walk into a private hospital. Almost everything goes through your family doctor, the huisarts, and Dutch doctors are famously careful about prescribing medicine.
This guide explains how healthcare in the Netherlands works: how to register with a GP, what the huisarts does, what the eigen risico is, what to do in an emergency, and what is and is not covered.
Short answer: Register with a huisarts (GP) close to your home as soon as you have an address. The GP is your first stop for everything that is not an emergency, and you need a referral to see a specialist. GP visits are free under your basic insurance, but most other care counts towards your eigen risico (deductible), which is €385 in 2026 and €400 in 2027. For emergencies call 112, and outside office hours call the huisartsenpost first.
Jump to: How the system works | Registering with a huisarts | Eigen risico | After hours and emergencies | What is covered | Medicine and pharmacies | Pregnancy | Tips | FAQ
How the Dutch healthcare system works
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must have Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering). Insurers must accept everyone, and the basic package is the same at every insurer, set by the government. On top of that, you can buy supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) for things like dental care and extra physiotherapy. Read our guide to Dutch health insurance in 2027 for how to choose.
The system is built around the huisarts, the general practitioner. The GP acts as a gatekeeper: they treat most problems themselves and refer you to a specialist or hospital only when needed. Without a referral (verwijzing), specialist care is usually not covered by your insurance.
How to register with a huisarts
- Get your address and BSN first. Most practices ask for your BSN and insurance details. See our guide to getting a BSN.
- Search for practices near your home. Most GPs only accept patients who live within a certain distance, so that they can do home visits.
- Call or check the website. Some practices are full and have a waiting list, especially in big cities. Ask your neighbours or colleagues which practices are still accepting patients.
- Fill in the registration form and ask for your medical records from your previous doctor to be sent over, or bring copies yourself.
- Register your family. Each family member has to be registered, including children.
Do this soon after you arrive, not when you are already sick. Many practices also offer an intake conversation for new patients.
What to expect from a Dutch GP
- Appointments are short, usually around 10 minutes, and often for one problem at a time.
- Your first contact is often with the doktersassistent (practice assistant) on the phone, who decides whether you need an appointment, a phone call or advice.
- Dutch GPs are cautious with antibiotics and strong medication, and will often advise rest, paracetamol and waiting a few days first. This is not neglect, it is the system’s philosophy.
- Many practices have a mental health nurse (POH-GGZ) who can help with stress, anxiety or low mood, and refer you on if needed.
- Most GPs speak good English.
The eigen risico: your annual deductible
The eigen risico is the amount you pay yourself each year before your basic insurance starts paying for most care. It is €385 in 2026 and goes up to €400 in 2027, the first increase since 2016. You can choose a higher voluntary deductible in exchange for a lower premium, but that only makes sense if you rarely need care.
| Care | Counts towards eigen risico? |
|---|---|
| GP visits and treatment by the huisarts | No, it is free |
| All care for children under 18 | No |
| Midwife and maternity care | No (a separate personal contribution applies for maternity care) |
| District nursing at home | No |
| Hospital care, specialists, lab tests and scans | Yes |
| Prescription medicine | Yes |
| Mental health treatment (GGZ) | Yes, except for the intake conversation since 2026 |
After hours and emergencies
- Life threatening emergency: call 112 for an ambulance, police or fire brigade.
- Urgent but not life threatening, outside GP hours: call the huisartsenpost (out of hours GP service) in your region. Always call before going. Your own GP’s voicemail or website gives the number.
- Urgent during office hours: call your own GP and say it is urgent.
- Emergency department (SEH): in most cases you go there via the huisartsenpost or 112. Walking in without a referral for a minor problem can cost you from your eigen risico and a long wait.
Save your GP’s number, the huisartsenpost number and 112 in your phone as soon as you register.
What is and is not covered
The basic package covers GP care, hospital care, specialists, most prescription medicine, maternity care, mental health care, and some physiotherapy. Things that are usually not covered by the basic package for adults, but can be added with supplementary insurance, include:
- Dental care for adults (children under 18 are covered)
- Most physiotherapy sessions, except for certain chronic conditions
- Glasses and contact lenses
- Alternative medicine
- Some vaccinations for travel, including trips back to South Africa
Dentists are not part of the GP system, so you register with a dentist separately.
Medicine and pharmacies
Prescriptions go directly from your GP to the pharmacy (apotheek) of your choice, where you pick them up. Simple medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen are sold at the drugstore (drogist) and supermarket. Some medicines that are available over the counter in South Africa need a prescription here, and some brands are different, so bring enough of your regular medication and a doctor’s letter or prescription in English when you move.
Pregnancy and giving birth
In the Netherlands, a healthy pregnancy is looked after by a midwife (verloskundige), not by a gynaecologist. You contact a midwife practice directly, without a GP referral. Home births are still relatively common, and hospital births without medical need may come with a small personal contribution. After the birth, a maternity nurse (kraamverzorgende) comes to your home for about a week, which many expats say is one of the best parts of Dutch healthcare.
Tips for expats
- Register with a GP and dentist in your first month.
- Bring medical records, vaccination records and prescriptions from home, preferably in English.
- Use your insurer’s app to check what is covered before treatment.
- Keep receipts. Care you pay for yourself may sometimes be tax deductible, although this is set to change from 2028.
- Take vitamin D in winter. Many people in the Netherlands do, and our first Dutch winter guide explains why.
Frequently asked questions
Is healthcare free in the Netherlands?
No. You pay a monthly premium for compulsory basic insurance, plus the eigen risico for most care. GP visits and care for children under 18 are free.
How do I find a GP that accepts new patients?
Look for practices close to your home, call them directly, and ask neighbours or colleagues for tips. In big cities, some practices are full, so start early.
What is the eigen risico in 2027?
The compulsory eigen risico is €400 in 2027, up from €385 in 2026.
Can I see a specialist without a referral?
Usually not. Without a GP referral, specialist care is generally not covered by your insurance.
What number do I call in an emergency?
Call 112 for life threatening emergencies. For urgent problems outside office hours, call the huisartsenpost.
New to the Netherlands? Work through our complete moving guide step by step.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Always contact your GP or 112 if you are worried about your health.
Sources: Zorgwijzer: eigen risico 2026 and 2027, Nationale Zorggids: Prinsjesdag 2026 healthcare plans, Government.nl: health insurance.
