The Dutch huisarts (general practitioner, or GP) is your usual first stop for a health question, from a stubborn cough to mental-health support or a referral to hospital. If you have moved from a system where you can book a specialist directly, the Dutch approach can feel deliberately cautious. Once you understand how it works, register early and know the urgent-care route, it is a straightforward system to use.
The essentials at a glance
- Register early: you are not legally required to have a GP, but do it as soon as you are settled. A practice may be full or only accept people living nearby.
- GP care is your front door: your GP treats common problems and usually refers you to a hospital specialist or other care when needed.
- Cost: GP consultations are covered by the Dutch basic insurance and do not use your mandatory excess. Prescription medicines, tests and specialist care can be different.
- Urgent but not life-threatening: call your GP during weekday office hours, or the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsen-spoedpost) in the evening, at night, on weekends and public holidays.
- Life-threatening emergency: call 112.
What a Dutch GP does
Think of your GP as the coordinator of your everyday medical care. A GP can diagnose and treat common physical and mental-health concerns, manage long-term conditions, issue prescriptions, arrange tests and make a referral when specialist care is medically appropriate. Most people are registered with one nearby practice, which may have several GPs, a practice nurse and GP assistants.
The assistant is a trained part of the care team, not just a receptionist. When you call, they will ask why you are calling and assess how quickly you need help. You may be given self-care advice, an appointment with the assistant or practice nurse, a telephone/video consultation, or a GP appointment. Explain your symptoms plainly and say early if you are worried, pregnant, immunocompromised, taking important medication, or have a condition that changes the urgency.
Health insurance and costs
People who live or work in the Netherlands generally need Dutch basic health insurance. Every insurer's basic package covers GP care; insurers must accept applicants for that package. If you have just arrived, arrange the insurance promptly and ask the insurer if you are unsure whether Dutch insurance applies to your situation.
| Care | What to expect |
|---|---|
| GP consultation | Covered by the basic package and exempt from the mandatory excess. |
| Mandatory excess (eigen risico) | €385 in 2026 for most basic-insurance care that is subject to it. GP care itself is not; other care arranged through the GP may be. |
| Prescription medicine | Most prescribed medicines are covered under the basic package, subject to the policy rules; covered medicines generally count toward the excess and some can have a personal contribution. |
| Specialist or hospital care | Usually needs a GP referral for planned care and can be subject to the excess. Check your policy and the provider contract before non-urgent treatment. |
Practical tip: take your ID, BSN and insurance details when registering. If your policy is still being processed, ask the practice what it needs; do not postpone urgent care because of paperwork.
How to find and register with a GP
Start once you have a stable address and insurance details. The official patient-information site Thuisarts recommends registering even when you do not currently need a doctor.
- Search close to home. Search for huisarts plus your postcode, neighbourhood or town. The current finder at Huisartsinfo.nl can also show nearby practices and registration information.
- Check the practice website, then call if necessary. Look for inschrijven (registration), nieuwe patiënten (new patients), the catchment area and whether the team works in English. Many practices have an online registration form.
- Have the basics ready. Typically you need your ID, BSN, address, health-insurance name and policy number. Keep a list of your medicines, allergies, diagnoses and vaccinations, ideally with generic medication names.
- Register with a local pharmacy too. Ask the practice which nearby apotheek it works with, or choose one close to home. The GP sends electronic prescriptions there.
- Bring records to your first visit. Ask your previous doctor for a concise medical summary before you move. If you already had a Dutch GP, records are normally transferred with your permission.
What if every practice says it is full?
This is a real issue in some areas. A GP can be unable to accept new patients or may limit registration to a local area so home visits remain possible. Do not stop after one refusal: try the closest practices, ask whether there is a waiting list, and contact your health insurer for care mediation (zorgbemiddeling). Thuisarts specifically says your insurer can help find a GP. Keep a short note of the practices you contacted. If a refusal seems unreasonable, you can also contact your regional patient advocacy organisation (Zorgbelang).
Making an appointment: what real life looks like
For non-urgent concerns, call or use the practice portal during its stated hours. Appointments are often brief, so lead with the main concern, how long it has been happening, what makes it better or worse, what you have already tried, and what you are hoping to decide. It is completely reasonable to say: “I am concerned about X. What signs mean I should call back or seek urgent help?”
Dutch GPs commonly take a “watchful waiting” approach when symptoms are likely to improve on their own. That does not mean your concern is dismissed. It means the plan may be symptom relief plus clear safety-net advice: what to expect, when to call again, and which warning signs change the plan. If you do not understand the explanation or the follow-up plan, ask the clinician to write it down or repeat it in plain English.
You can ask whether an English-speaking clinician is available, although it cannot be guaranteed at every practice. For a complex issue, consider asking for a longer appointment when you book. Bring an interpreter you trust if language could affect safety; confirm the practice's rules first.
Why do GPs suggest paracetamol so often?
“Take paracetamol and wait” is a well-known newcomer experience. It is not intended as a brush-off. Dutch clinical guidance often starts with paracetamol because it is an effective painkiller with relatively few side effects when used correctly, and many minor illnesses and pains improve without stronger medicine. In the Netherlands, paracetamol is also commonly bought over the counter rather than “prescribed”.
Use medicines only as the label, pharmacist or clinician advises. Paracetamol can be dangerous in an overdose and may be present in combination cold/flu products, so do not double up. If pain is severe, unusual, worsening, or not improving as expected, contact the GP again rather than simply continuing to self-treat.
Antibiotics: why “no” can be good care
Dutch GPs prescribe antibiotics cautiously. Antibiotics work against bacterial infections, not viruses such as most colds and flu-like illnesses. Taking them when they will not help can cause side effects and contributes to antibiotic resistance, making future infections harder to treat.
That is why you may receive advice on rest, fluids and symptom relief instead of an antibiotic prescription. Ask three useful questions: “What do you think this is?”, “What should I expect over the next few days?”, and “What symptoms mean I should call back today?” If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it exactly as directed and discuss allergies, pregnancy, other medicines and side effects with the prescriber or pharmacist.
Referrals, tests and second opinions
For planned specialist care, the GP is usually the gatekeeper. They will assess you, may first suggest treatment or tests, and refer you if appropriate. A referral is not just administration: it tells the specialist what question needs answering. If you feel a referral or test is needed, explain the symptoms, duration, impact on your life and what worries you. You can ask why it is not needed now, what alternative plan is proposed, and when the decision will be reviewed.
You can seek another medical opinion. Start by discussing it with your GP or insurer, because the process and reimbursement depend on the type of care and your policy. For routine, non-urgent hospital treatment, also check whether the provider has a contract with your insurer. Some types of care have their own direct routes, for example dentists and midwives, so ask your insurer or GP rather than assuming a referral is always necessary.
Prescriptions and the pharmacy
When a GP prescribes medication, they normally send the prescription digitally to your chosen pharmacy. The pharmacist checks for interactions and explains how to use it. Tell both the GP and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement and allergy, including products you brought from abroad. Brand names differ between countries; the active ingredient, dose and form are more useful.
A pharmacy may dispense a generic equivalent rather than a familiar brand, because insurers commonly reimburse the preferred option. Ask the pharmacist before leaving if the product looks unfamiliar or if you need instructions in English. Never rely on a prescription from abroad being available in the same brand, strength or formulation in the Netherlands.
Urgent care: save these routes now
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Routine or non-urgent problem | Contact your own GP practice during its normal hours. |
| Urgent, but not life-threatening, during weekday office hours | Call your GP practice. The assistant will triage and tell you the next step. |
| Urgent evening, night, weekend or public holiday problem | Call the regional out-of-hours GP service, the huisartsen-spoedpost. Find its number on your GP's website or answering machine; save it in your phone. |
| Life-threatening emergency | Call 112 for an ambulance, police or fire service. Do not wait for a GP callback. |
When you call urgent care, state your location first, then the main problem, the person's age, relevant conditions or medicines, and whether they are conscious and breathing normally. The out-of-hours service handles urgent problems only; it is not a substitute for routine appointments.
Your first-week GP checklist
- Take out Dutch basic health insurance if it applies to you.
- Search for nearby practices and submit registration requests as soon as you have an address.
- Save your GP practice number and its out-of-hours huisartsen-spoedpost number.
- Register with a local pharmacy.
- Store a medical summary, medication list, allergies and emergency contacts in a format you can show quickly.
- Learn the three routes: GP, out-of-hours GP service, and 112.
Official sources and useful links
- Thuisarts: choosing a GP (English)
- Thuisarts: urgent and emergency care (English)
- Government.nl: standard health insurance
- Zorginstituut Nederland: GP care and the mandatory excess
- Thuisarts: antibiotics
- Thuisarts: using paracetamol and other pain relief
- Government.nl: emergency number 112
This is general information, not personal medical advice. Rules, insurance cover and local practice availability can change. For symptoms or a treatment decision, contact a qualified healthcare professional.
Settling into life in the Netherlands?
Health insurance, your BSN and DigiD all make the practical side of your move easier. Read our complete moving checklist and DigiD guide for the next steps.
