Dutch healthcare works differently from many other countries: almost everything starts with the huisarts (family doctor). Here you can read how it works, and what to do in an emergency.
Machine translation: this page was translated automatically from the reviewed Dutch text and has not been checked by a person.
In short
This is the theme with the most eindtermen (final attainment targets): five. They follow the path of a patient.
4.1
Using care without a referral
4.2
Using care with a referral
4.3
Acting in a medical emergency
4.4
Handling the financial and administrative side correctly
4.5
Using welfare facilities
The KNM eindtermen for the theme Health and healthcare are: using care without a referral; using care with a referral; acting in a medical emergency; handling the financial and administrative side correctly; using welfare facilities.
Source: Staatscourant 2024, 15802 — Regeling inburgering 2021 — accessed 23-08-2026
This is the most important rule of Dutch healthcare. The huisarts (family doctor) is the gatekeeper: he or she treats what can be treated there, and refers you on if that is needed. You do not go to a hospital specialist by yourself.
So register straight away with a huisarts in your neighbourhood, even if you are not ill. Do not wait until you need one: many practices are full.
This is eindterm 4.1: for this care you do not need a referral.
Your first point of contact for everything: complaints, medicines, doubts, mental health problems. You make an appointment by phone or online.
You choose one yourself. Note: for adults, the dentist is usually not included in the basisverzekering.
This is where you collect prescription medicines. You register with one pharmacy, so that it knows your full medicine list.
Are you pregnant? Then you go directly to a verloskundige, not to the huisarts first.
You may usually visit one yourself, but check whether your insurance covers it.
For babies and young children: growth, vaccinations and advice. Free, and you receive an invitation automatically.
This is eindterm 4.2. Think of a hospital specialist — a cardiologist, a dermatologist, a surgeon — and of much psychological care. The huisarts then writes a verwijsbrief (referral letter). Without that letter, your insurance usually does not pay.
In the Netherlands the huisarts is the first point of contact for health complaints and refers you to a specialist if needed. Thuisarts.nl is the public information site of Dutch huisartsen.
Source: Thuisarts.nl — informatie van huisartsen — accessed 23-08-2026
Amber van der Zalm · NT2 teacher
Students often ask me: "Why does my huisarts not give antibiotics?" In many countries you get them quickly. Here only if it is really necessary. That is not unwillingness and not cost-cutting — it is policy, because otherwise bacteria become resistant. Feel free to ask for an explanation, that is what the huisarts is there for.
Eindterm 4.3, and the question the exam asks most often. Remember these three situations.
Someone is not breathing, is unconscious, has had an accident, has heavy bleeding, or shows signs of a stroke or heart attack. 112 is free, day and night, and you get the ambulance, fire brigade or police.
In the evening, at night and at the weekend, the huisartsenpost (HAP, out-of-hours doctors service) takes over from your own huisarts. You call first; you do not just walk in.
Call the practice. If you are unsure how serious it is: you may always call, also just to ask. That is what the assistant is there for.
In an emergency, do not go to the hospital Spoedeisende Hulp (accident and emergency department) yourself without calling. In the Netherlands almost all emergency care goes through 112 or through the huisartsenpost, and without a referral you can be sent away — or receive a high bill.
Call 112 if there is immediate danger to life or health, in the case of a crime happening at that moment, or in a suspicious situation. For situations that are not urgent, the number is 0900-8844.
Source: Politie.nl — Wanneer bel ik 112? — accessed 23-08-2026
Eindterm 4.4. In the Netherlands a zorgverzekering (health insurance) is compulsory for everyone who lives or works here. You arrange it yourself, within four months after you become liable for insurance. If you do not, you get a fine and in the end you are insured compulsorily.
Compulsory, content determined by the government
What it includes
Huisarts, hospital, medicines, verloskundige, emergency care
Price
Differs per insurer, the content does not
Refusal
An insurer may never refuse you for this
Voluntary
What it includes
For example dentist, physiotherapy, glasses, alternative care
Price
You choose a package yourself
Refusal
For this an insurer may refuse you
For most care from the basisverzekering there is an eigen risico (own risk, or deductible): you pay the first part of the costs in a calendar year yourself. The amount is set by the government every year, so check it.
Two things fall outside it, and that is exactly what the exam likes to ask:
Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands is obliged to take out a basisverzekering; the government determines its content and it is the same at every insurer. For care from the basisverzekering there is a compulsory eigen risico, with exceptions such as the huisarts; children under 18 pay no eigen risico and are insured free of charge.
Sources: Rijksoverheid — Zorgverzekering · Rijksoverheid — Eigen risico — accessed 23-08-2026
If you have a low income, you can apply for zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) at the Belastingdienst (tax administration). That is a monthly contribution towards your premium. You have to apply for it yourself, and report changes in your income yourself.
Zorgtoeslag is a contribution from the Belastingdienst towards the costs of health insurance, for people with an income below a certain limit. You apply for the allowance yourself and report changes yourself.
Source: Belastingdienst — Zorgtoeslag — accessed 23-08-2026
Amber van der Zalm · NT2 teacher
Do not forget to stop your allowance if you start earning more. I have had students who had to pay back thousands of euros after two years. That is one of the most unpleasant things you can do to yourself, and one phone call prevents it.
Eindterm 4.5 is about facilities that are not medical, but that do concern your health. Almost all of these go through your gemeente (municipality), under the Wmo.
What the gemeente is for
What the gemeente is not for
You report to the Wmo-loket (Wmo desk) or the sociaal wijkteam (social neighbourhood team) of your gemeente. After that there is a conversation — the "keukentafelgesprek" (kitchen table conversation) — in which they look at what you need.
Under the Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning (Wmo 2015), municipalities are responsible for supporting people who cannot manage on their own, for example with household help, guidance, day activities and home adaptations.
Source: Rijksoverheid — Wmo 2015 — accessed 23-08-2026
Almost always as a complaint with a question: someone has a fever, someone falls off a ladder, someone receives a bill. The question is then who you call and in what order.
If you remember only one thing from this theme: huisarts first, 112 only when life is in danger. That already covers most questions.
Practise this theme with exam questionsReal situations: huisarts, emergencies, insurance and the gemeente. With an explanation after every answer.
Start a free practice examNo, usually not. You first go to your huisarts (family doctor). He or she treats what can be treated there and gives you a verwijsbrief (referral letter) if a specialist is needed. Without a referral, your health insurance normally does not pay for the hospital visit. The tandarts (dentist), verloskundige (midwife) and consultatiebureau are exceptions: you may go there yourself.
Call 112 only if there is immediate danger to someone's life: unconsciousness, a serious accident, heavy bleeding, signs of a heart attack or stroke. If it is urgent but not life-threatening, and your own huisarts is closed, then you call the huisartsenpost. During the day you simply call your own practice.
The first part of your healthcare costs in a calendar year that you pay yourself, before the basisverzekering pays. The government sets the amount every year. Important: the huisarts does not fall under it, and children under 18 pay no eigen risico.
Yes, for everyone who lives or works here. You take out a basisverzekering yourself, and you must do this within four months after you become liable for insurance. If you do not, you get a fine and in the end you are insured compulsorily. Children under 18 are insured with their parents free of charge.
At your gemeente (municipality), through the Wmo-loket or the sociaal wijkteam. After you report your situation there is a conversation in which they look at what you need and what you can do yourself or with help from people around you. The gemeente deals with household help, guidance, day activities and adaptations in the home — not with medical treatment.
Reviewed by Amber van der Zalm, certified NT2 teacher — August 23, 2026 This page is a translation of that reviewed Dutch text; the translation itself was not reviewed. The Dutch version is the source.