General practitioners (GPs) & doctors in the Netherlands

Your first point of contact for accessing healthcare in the Netherlands is a type of doctor known as a general practitioner (huisarts or GP). This page explains what a general practitioner does, and how to find and register with a GP in the Netherlands. 

General practitioners in the Dutch healthcare system

In the Netherlands, the general practitioner holds a central role when it comes to healthcare. If you have any questions regarding your physical and mental health, your GP should be the first person you ask.

Dutch GPs are specialists in healthcare; they have received a general six-year medical education and three years of specialist training. By law, a GP is required to regularly update their skills, and they also have to re-register every five years. Your GP will normally be able to speak English. 

As well as answering any health questions you may have, a GP can also perform minor surgical procedures and carry out pediatric and gynecological examinations. 

Furthermore, a GP is your link to any specialist you may require, as they are trained to determine whether you need the help of a specialist. A GP does not however provide dental treatments. For any issues related to your teeth or gums, you should go to a dentist. 

How to find a GP in the Netherlands

You should register with a GP soon after arriving in the Netherlands, after you have taken out your health insurance. You are not obliged to register, but doing so gives you peace of mind that, should you fall ill, you know where to go. 

Having a regular GP also enables your doctor to get to know and monitor changes in your health. 

Finding a general practitioner

In the Netherlands, you can freely choose your own GP. 

Most neighbourhoods have at least one or two GP practices. To find a general practitioner in your local area, you can:

• Visit the ZorgkaartNederland website
• Ask friends, relatives or colleagues for recommendations 
• Try a web search for huisarts 
• Ask your health insurer for help

Note that you need to live in the so-called “service area” of the GP in order to register. This normally means you need to live within 15 minutes of the practice. Note also that some doctors’ surgeries may be oversubscribed and not accepting new patients. 

Online doctor's offices

Certain providers in the Netherlands offer telemedicine services, which allow you to access health professionals from the comfort of home. For example, you can find an English speaking doctor on Mobidoctor for an online consultation, seven days a week, between the hours of 9am to 9pm (no need for any insurance).

How to register with a GP in the Netherlands

When you have found a GP to your liking, you will need to register with them. Some GP practices allow you to register online. Generally, you will need the following documents to register:

• A form of ID (not a driving licence)
• Your BSN number
• Information about your health insurance

Your GP may wish to have a consultation with you to go over your medical history. This is a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have about healthcare in the Netherlands. 

If it’s your first visit, you should also bring along any medical records you have from your home country and, if applicable, a list of medications you are taking.

When do you see a GP in the Netherlands?

You can make an appointment with your GP for various reasons, such as:

• Urgent medical problems (although you should call 112 in the case of life-threatening situations)
• Questions or advice regarding your health or that of your child
• Physical complaints
• Mental health issues
• First aid or minor surgical procedures such as stitches
• Support and treatment for chronic diseases
• Preventative medicine such as vaccines
• How do I make a doctor’s appointment?

There are various ways you can make an appointment with your doctor in the Netherlands:

By phone

You can call your GP directly to make an appointment. The receptionist will ask you some questions about your condition and then make you an appointment, sometimes on the same day. In the case of simple complaints, you may be offered a telephone appointment with the doctor. Some GPs even offer specific telephone consultation hours.

By e-consultation

Some GP practices offer e-consultations. This means you can ask your GP questions via a secured internet connection. Note that not all questions are suitable for an e-consultations, especially if they are urgent or if a physical exam is necessary.

Walk-in consultation hours (spreekuur)

Many practices have a spreekuur (walk-in consultation hour), usually early in the morning, where you can speak to your doctor without an appointment. This is usually reserved for short, simple questions and ailments.

Home visits

Some GPs also make house calls if you are too ill to visit, usually after hours or during a specifically allotted time. If you want your doctor to make a home visit, let the receptionist know. Together with the doctor, they will discuss whether it is necessary.

What to expect

Usually, a GP appointment takes place during office hours and lasts between 10 and 15 minutes. If you think you need more time, you can discuss this with the receptionist when making the appointment. 

During the appointment, your GP will ask you questions about your medical problem, and perform a physical examination (if necessary). They will then be able to advise you about possible treatment options. 

What do I do if my GP is not available?

If you are unable to reach your GP, for instance if they are on holiday or it’s outside of usual working hours, here is what you should do:

Emergency dokterdienst

If your doctor is away, they will leave an answer phone message with the number of another doctor and possibly the number of the emergency dokterdienst. The actual doctor varies from area to area, so the service will give you the name and number of a doctor on duty near you, or have the doctor call you.

Huisartsenpost

Your other option is to call your local huisartsenpost. The huisartsenpost will tell you whether you should come to the emergency huisartenpost in hospital or whether you should wait for your own doctor to return. For more see our guide to medical emergencies.

Making appointments with a specialist

If you wish to see a specialist in a hospital, you will need a referral from a general practitioner. You will also need to show this referral to your insurance company if you wish the costs to be covered. You should contact your regular GP for a referral. 

Once you have a referral, you can make an appointment with the specialist directly. If you know the specialist you wish to see, you may request a referral to that person.

Government health checks

The Dutch government offers various (voluntary) free health checks as part of the population screening programmes. Speak to your GP about getting any of the following preventative checks:

Mammograms

Women between the ages of 50 and 75 get an invitation to have a mammogram done every two years to screen for breast cancer.

Cervical smear test

Women between the ages of 30 and 60 receive an invitation every five years to have a cervical smear test to check for cervical cancer. It’s possible to self-test as well.

Faecal test (bowel cancer)

Everyone between the ages of 55 and 75 will get an invitation every two years to have their faeces tested for bowel cancer.

Complaints about your doctor?

If you are unhappy about the care you have received from your doctor, you should discuss your concerns with them. If you fail to find an adequate resolution, you can submit a complaint with the complaints officer. Find out more about healthcare consumer rights.