Healthcare services

Abortions can be performed in the Netherlands up until a fetus is viable outside of the mother's body. This is generally taken to mean the 24th week of pregnancy. If you are considering having an abortion, you can contact your GP, an abortion clinic or an organization that can help you with this decision. Counselling after an abortion is available free of charge. For more information about abortion, go to the website of the unplanned pregnancy information point (Infopunt onbedoeld zwanger). Your GP can also refer you for counselling.

Alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands, and you can find many alternative medications in drugstores. The various forms of alternative medicine (such as manual therapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine) are organized in associations. Health insurance companies cover some types of alternative treatments. Ask your insurer for a list of alternative doctors they cover.

How GPs work

Your GP is your first point of contact for questions about your physical and mental health. GPs treat patients for non-surgical problems, and many also perform minor surgical procedures. They serve as your link to other medical specialists and hospitals.

With a GP’s referral letter (verwijsbrief), you can visit a specialist, either one of your choice or one from a list of specialists with whom your insurance company has a contract, depending on the type of health insurance that you have. Most hospital treatments will not be reimbursed by the healthcare insurance if you do not have a referral letter from your family doctor. 

GPs work on an appointment system and most also offer telephone appointments. Many have online portals for booking appointments, asking questions and ordering repeat prescriptions.

Registering with a GP

You should register with a GP once you know where you will be living. Finding a doctor can be difficult because many doctors have a waiting list. You are entitled to an orientation consultation before deciding which practice you would like to join. Once you have registered with a GP, it can be difficult to change doctors, especially in smaller towns. 

Search for a medical professional or practice, such as a GP or dentist, on www.zorgkaartnederland.nl.

If you have any problems finding a GP, contact your health insurer. They have insight into which general practitioners are still accepting new patients in the area and can place you on the waiting list. In the meantime, you can also visit a GP through your health insurer if necessary.

Thuisarts.nl is an independent website for health information developed and maintained by the Dutch College of General Practitioners. You can search your symptoms and find guidance on when to visit your GP, but this service is only available in Dutch. 

However, a selection of topics are available in English, including information on some of the cultural differences you might encounter in the Dutch healthcare system. 

The Center for Population Screening (Centrum voor Bevolkingsonderzoek, CvB) offers a free and voluntary nationwide screening program for the following cancers:

• Cervical cancer (baarmoederhalskanker) - every 5 years for women aged 30-60
• Breast cancer (borstkanker) - every 2 years for women aged 50-75
• Bowel cancer (darmkanker) - every 2 years for those aged 55-75 

Screening for other cancers is not routine in the Netherlands. If you are in a high-risk group (due to family history or previous illness, for example), you will be monitored and screened regularly, and, if necessary, sent to a specialist.

Other screening tests are not done automatically, and annual check-ups are only part of the basic service when they are necessary. Private clinics offer this service, but they are expensive and are not covered by Dutch insurers.

Homecare (thuiszorg) associations provide all domestic medical services. They are often organized as home nursing associations (kruisverenigingen) where you can borrow medical equipment as well as hire nurses. 

The Netherlands has a large number of hospitals offering excellent medical care. Traditionally, all hospitals in the Netherlands offered the same range of specialist services, but under the new reformed healthcare system, the government is encouraging hospitals to specialize in particular areas of treatment. Although all hospitals offer the same high standards of care, the University hospitals, where medical research is conducted, often have the most up-to-date facilities and use the most advanced medical techniques. For more complex diseases, you may be referred to an academic medical center. 

In some cases, if your condition is serious or requires urgent surgery, the specialist will recommend hospitalization or refer you straight to the emergency department. In other cases, however, you may have to wait some time, even months, for a hospital appointment for some types of surgery or other treatments.

Municipal health clinics are responsible for monitoring, protecting and stimulating health and well-being. Their aim is to allow people to enjoy healthier lives and experience a better quality of life. Almost all residents of the Netherlands visit the GGD at least once in their lives. 

The municipal health clinics cover a wide field of public health activities, including advice and vaccinations for those travelling to the tropics, STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing, ambulance services, and answering questions on infectious diseases. 

Youth healthcare (JGZ) is also organized through the municipal health clinics. At their baby health clinics (consultatiebureaus), every newborn baby and young child up to the age of 4 is checked regularly by specially trained doctors who provide immunizations and other pediatric care. They can refer children to a specialist for specific problems. From the age of 4 to 18, the youth doctor (jeugdarts) or youth nurse (jeugdverpleegkundige) continues to monitor children, who will be invited for health and development checks, and for vaccinations.

GGDs have walk-in hours should you have questions regarding the development of your child, including any questions you may have about upbringing, healthy food and psychosocial development. You are allowed to have an interpreter at these consultations.

There are three Public Health Service groups in Brabant (see below), each with multiple locations.

See Mental health page for more information. 

A chemist or drogist (drugstore) supplies items such as non-prescription medications, baby items, general toiletries, and cosmetics.

An apotheek (pharmacy) is the only outlet for prescription drugs. Pharmacies also sell other items, such as over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and special baby foods. They can also provide advice on taking medication.

Your GP will usually be affiliated with several pharmacies close to the practice and they can send your prescription directly to the pharmacy on your behalf, so long as you are registered with the pharmacy. The easiest time to register with a pharmacy is at the same time that you register with a doctor. Pharmacies have 24/7 coverage, based on the same system as doctors.

The Dutch system is rather restrictive. You may find that a prescription is necessary for medication you were able to buy over the counter in your home country. Antibiotics and other medications are prescribed with great reserve. This has resulted in a very low incidence of antibiotic-resistant infections. 

Prenatal care is usually provided by midwives (you may be referred by your family doctor), who support you throughout your pregnancy and during delivery. 

First-line (primary) midwives train for four years and work according to a strict protocol. You can choose to have your baby in a hospital, under the care of your own midwife (verloskundige). You will only be referred to a second-line midwife in a hospital if there is a medical indication. If this happens, you will be under the care of a gynecologist, but will mostly be seen and cared for by the second-line midwife.

Some screenings (blood tests, ultrasounds or amniocentesis) are done in specialist centers, but they are not always standard. You can find out more about perinatal screening on the RIVM (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu / National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) website. Information materials about perinatal screening | RIVM. The RIVM also offers a maternal whooping cough vaccination at 22 weeks for pregnant women. See 22-week vaccination (maternal whooping cough vaccination) | RIVM

Many Dutch women give birth at home, but more are opting to give birth in a hospital. If you do want to give birth in a hospital, first check that your insurance will cover this. Pain relief is only available in a hospital.

After delivery in a hospital, you are normally sent home relatively quickly. However, you are entitled to kraamzorg (maternity care at home). Remember to register with the Home Care Association or with kraamverzorgingscentra (private nurses). The maternity nurse makes sure you and the baby are doing well, and helps you with the care of your baby, including breast or bottle feeding. They can answer any questions you may have, offer advice and assist with household chores.

The RIVM has produced a comprehensive document in English explaining all about pregnancy in the Netherlands: Brochure pregnant

There is also information on youth healthcare from birth to 18 on the municipal health services page.

Depending on your nationality, you may be required to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test within the first three months of your arrival in order to obtain and maintain / keep your residence permit. You will need to make an appointment at your local municipal health service (GGD) and you will need to complete part of the Tuberculosis Examination Referral Form, which will be attached to your residence permit application form. For more information about the TB test check the website of the GGD.

The Netherlands has a national vaccination program for children up to the age of 18. There is also a vaccination available for pregnant women. You can download a brochure in English and other languages from the government vaccination website: Vaccination schedule 2025 | Rijksvaccinatieprogramma.nl.

If you are travelling to an area that requires additional vaccinations, you can contact your GP or the GGD for advice and vaccination.