1. Start with your huisarts (GP)
In the Netherlands you can't book a hospital specialist directly. Your huisarts is the gatekeeper, and without their referral (verwijzing) basic insurance generally won't pay for specialist care.
- Register with a GP first. Practices near your home may have waiting lists for new patients, so register as soon as you arrive. A practice can refuse to register you if you live too far away, if the practice is full, or in rare cases over a conflict with a specific care request — distance is the one that catches most expats out.
- Prepare the appointment. Standard appointments are short — traditionally around 10 minutes, and since 2025 the NZa has funded practices to move toward about 15 minutes. Either way, that's enough for one issue or two small ones. Bring a written list of symptoms, how long you've had them and how they affect daily life. Book a double appointment (dubbel consult) if you have a lot to discuss.
- Ask directly for a referral if you want a specialist opinion, and say why. Dutch GPs often try conservative treatment first. That's a system norm, not a dismissal.
- GP visits are free at the point of care. A visit to the GP doesn't count toward your eigen risico — but tests the GP orders (like blood work) or medication they prescribe usually do.
Source: rijksoverheid.nl, "Ben ik vrij om zelf een huisarts te kiezen?" (grounds for refusal); rijksoverheid.nl, "Moet ik de huisartskosten zelf betalen?" (eigen risico exemption, direct quote: "een bezoek aan de huisarts gaat niet ten koste van uw verplichte eigen risico"); Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit (NZa), "Structurele bekostiging van meer tijd voor de patiënt per 2025" (appointment length) — checked 2 October 2026.
2. Check what your insurance covers
Check coverage before the surgery, not after. Most disputes happen because people assume a procedure is covered.
Basic vs. supplementary. Basic insurance (basisverzekering) covers medically necessary care, and its content is the same at every insurer. Cosmetic procedures aren't covered. Supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering) sometimes partly covers extras, and the eigen risico doesn't apply to it.
Your deductible (eigen risico) is €385 in 2026. Any hospital treatment usually uses up all of it.
Your policy type matters if your hospital isn't contracted by your insurer:
| Policy type | Contracted provider | Non-contracted provider |
|---|---|---|
| Naturapolis | Fully covered | Commonly 65–80% of the average contracted rate, varying by insurer and policy tier |
| Restitutiepolis | Fully covered | Reimbursed up to the market rate |
| Combinatiepolis / budgetpolis | Fully covered | Varies by insurer; budget policies can reimburse less |
Source: insurers' own 2026 policy terms — Zilveren Kruis (70–75% of the average contracted rate), VGZ (70–80%), CZ (65–75%) — checked 2 October 2026. There's no single fixed statutory percentage: under Dutch case law (the "hinderpaalcriterium", Zorgverzekeringswet Article 13 — Nysingh (legal) explainer) a naturapolis insurer's reimbursement for non-contracted care can't be so low it effectively blocks you from choosing that provider, which is why insurers set their own percentages rather than one being fixed by law.
Prior approval (machtiging). For some procedures, especially those that can be cosmetic, like eyelid or breast surgery, your insurer must approve in advance. The hospital usually sends photos and test results. Ask whether they've requested it, and don't schedule surgery until it's granted.
Where to check: your insurer's policy conditions (polisvoorwaarden) and customer service. Ask for the answer in writing.
3. Choose a hospital and check waiting times
You can choose which hospital your GP refers you to, and waiting times can differ by weeks or months.
- Compare waiting times. Hospitals publish waiting times per specialty on their websites and via ZorgkaartNederland's waiting-time tool; look for "wachttijden".
- Know the standard limits (Treeknormen). The agreed maximums for medical specialist care are 4 weeks for a first outpatient visit or diagnostics, and 7 weeks for treatment.
- Ask your insurer for help. If the wait is longer than those limits, your insurer must help you find a provider with a shorter wait (zorgbemiddeling). It's free, and few expats know about it.
- Check experience. Patient reviews are on ZorgkaartNederland. For specialised procedures, ask how many the surgeon does per year.
- Check the hospital is contracted with your insurer (see step 2).
Source: Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit (NZa), "Regeling Wachttijden en wachttijdbemiddeling medisch specialistische zorg"; ZorgkaartNederland, Wachttijden-assistent — checked 2 October 2026.
4. Get a second opinion if you're unsure
A second opinion from another Dutch specialist is generally covered in full by basic insurance (your eigen risico still applies), as long as you have a referral and see a specialist in the same field as the first opinion. Ask your GP or the first specialist; Dutch doctors are used to this.
Source: Menzis, "Vergoeding second opinion"; PZP, "Vergoeding second opinion" — checked 2 October 2026.
Request copies of your records, scans and test results first, so tests aren't repeated. You're entitled to see your own medical file.
5. Consider treatment abroad, with eyes open
Getting treated abroad is possible, but reimbursement and aftercare are where it usually goes wrong.
| Route | How it works | Reimbursement |
|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA, arranged yourself | You pay, then claim back under EU cross-border care rules | Whichever is lower: the Dutch rate for the same treatment, or what you actually paid |
| EU/EEA with an S2 form | Your insurer approves in advance and issues the S2 | Treated on the same terms as a local patient in that country's public system |
| Outside the EU | You arrange and pay privately | At most the Dutch rate; nothing for cosmetic care that wouldn't be covered here either |
Source: Your Europe (official EU citizen portal), "Organising planned medical treatment in another EU country" (EU/EEA routes); Zorgwijzer, "Medische kosten in het buitenland"; Zilveren Kruis, "Krijg ik zorg in het buitenland vergoed?" (outside-EU route) — checked 2 October 2026.
Before you book abroad:
- Get your insurer's agreement in writing, including any machtiging.
- Plan aftercare: who removes stitches, and who treats complications? Some Dutch doctors are reluctant to take over complications from surgery done elsewhere.
- Belgium and Germany are often the practical choice for shorter waits, close enough for follow-up.
Dutch terms you'll meet
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Huisarts | GP, your first point of contact |
| Verwijzing | Referral to a specialist |
| Basisverzekering | Basic, mandatory health insurance |
| Aanvullende verzekering | Optional supplementary insurance |
| Eigen risico | Annual deductible, €385 in 2026 |
| Polisvoorwaarden | Your policy conditions |
| Machtiging | Prior approval from your insurer |
| Wachttijden | Waiting times |
| Zorgbemiddeling | Your insurer's help finding faster care |
This guide explains how the Dutch healthcare system works. It isn't medical, legal or financial advice. Always confirm coverage with your insurer and medical decisions with your doctor. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@zorglane.com.