Go to the main content Arrow right icon

Medical care in the Netherlands

Emergency Care 

In case you are in immediate need of an ambulance, the police or the fire brigade, call 112. This is the national toll-free emergency phone number. 

Family Doctor/General Practitioner 

If you are in need of medical help, you go to a General Practitioner (GP=family doctor). Do not go to the Emergency Room at a hospital, unless there is an emergency.  You must register with a GP in your area as soon as you are settled, even if you don’t need a doctor right away. We also advise you to register with a pharmacy as soon as you are settled. You can ask the GP for a good pharmacy in the area. If the GP thinks that further medical examination is necessary, they will refer you to a specialist, often located at the hospital. This is customary in the Netherlands. 

If you forget to cancel a scheduled appointment, the GP will charge you for an unattended medical consultation, so make sure you inform the doctor at least 24 hours in advance if you are not able to go! 

More information