Health System & Insurance

Huisarts and Care

6 Steps to Complete

Follow along for success! ✨

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Get Health Insurance

📌 What

Get your mandatory health insurance (Zorgverzekering). This is MANDATORY, not optional!

💡 Why

Everyone living/working in the Netherlands must have basic insurance. If you don't get it within 4 months of arrival, you'll get a fine of about €530! There's an additional fine for each month without insurance. If you still don't have it after the second warning, they'll forcibly enroll you with an insurer and deduct 120% from your salary. Even if you get your health insurance in your 3rd month, they'll collect the unpaid months retroactively, which can be financially burdensome.

🎯 How

Compare on Zorgwijzer or Independer. If you're healthy, you can increase your 'Eigen Risico' (deductible) and lower your premium. In 2026 basic insurance is around €150-160 per month. There's an annual deductible of €385, you pay the first €385 out of pocket. If you have low income, you get zorgtoeslag (up to €129/month). Supplementary insurance is required for dental and glasses, but not mandatory.

Find a Huisarts (GP)

📌 What

Find a general practitioner near your home who accepts new patients. The Dutch health system is VERY different!

💡 Why

The huisarts is your first point of contact for all health services. You cannot go directly to a specialist! You cannot get a specialist appointment unless the huisarts refers you. It's a system that takes getting used to, but actually makes sense.

🎯 How

Search for GPs near your home on Zorgkaartnederland.nl. Find ones with 'Geen patiëntenstop' (accepting patients). Many can be full, apply to multiple places. If you can't find one, call practices personally and ask. Finding a GP in big cities can be difficult, be patient.

Register with a Huisarts

Many GPs refuse new patients...

📌 What

💡 Why

In the Dutch system, everyone must be registered with a huisarts. You'll have problems even in an emergency if you're not registered.

🎯 How

Visit the practice with your BSN and insurance information or register online. Some GPs require an introductory meeting. Registration becomes active within 1-2 days. After registration, you'll get access to the patient portal (MijnGezondheid).

Find a Dentist

Not covered by basic insurance!

📌 What

Find a dentist for regular check-ups. Dental health is EXPENSIVE in the Netherlands!

💡 Why

Dental care is NOT covered by basic insurance! You pay out of pocket or get supplementary insurance. Delaying treatment will cost you more.

🎯 How

Search on Zorgkaartnederland.nl. If you don't have supplementary insurance, expect €50-100 for an annual check-up and €80-150 for a filling. Dentists can also be full, apply to multiple places. Alternative: Get your dental work done when you go back to your home country (many expats do this).

Learn the Pharmacy System

Dutch pharmacies work very differently

📌 What

Find the nearest pharmacy and understand the Dutch prescription system. Very different from many countries!

💡 Why

Many medications you can buy at a pharmacy in other countries (almost everything except painkillers) require a prescription in the Netherlands. You cannot get medications without a prescription from a huisarts. Call the huisarts before going to the pharmacy in emergencies.

🎯 How

Pharmacies are usually near the huisarts. When the huisarts writes a prescription, they send it digitally to the pharmacy, you just go pick it up. Tell them the first time which pharmacy you prefer. If you use chronic medication, bring it from your home country and show it to the huisarts. For Paracetamol/ibuprofen go to Kruidvat or Etos, cheaper than the pharmacy.

Manage the 'Eigen Risico'

How you can potentially save €20-25/month

📌 What

Understand the Mandatory vs. Voluntary Eigen Risico system. This is the most confusing part of Dutch health insurance.

💡 Why

Everyone has a mandatory deductible (€385 in 2026). This means you pay the first €385 of your healthcare costs yourself. BUT—knowing what falls under this can save you money.

🎯 How

Here's the good news: Your huisarts is always free. It doesn't touch your deductible, so never hesitate to call them if you feel unwell. Your deductible only gets used for things like medications, blood tests, ambulance rides, and hospital treatments. In short, if it goes beyond a simple check-up, you start paying. If you're generally healthy and have some savings, you can voluntarily increase your deductible to €885. This lowers your monthly premium by about €20-25. It's a smart way to save money, but only do it if you can pay the full amount in case of an emergency.