2. Gezondheidszorg in Nederland — healthcare

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Topic map: GP and dentist → urgent care → consent and bodily autonomy → health insurance.

This is an exam summary, not medical advice. In a real life-threatening emergency, call 112.

What you should be able to do in the exam

You should know whom to contact for ordinary, urgent and emergency problems; understand the roles of the GP, specialist, pharmacy and dentist; distinguish eigen risico from eigen bijdrage; and know the basics of consent, confidentiality, organ donation and compulsory health insurance.

1. Start with the huisarts

For physical or psychological complaints, the usual first contact is the huisarts, or general practitioner. The GP assesses the problem, treats it or gives a verwijzing to another professional.

Choosing a GP

• Find a nearby practice online or through recommendations.
• Ask whether it accepts new patients.
• A practice may refuse because you live too far away or it is full.
• When changing GP, inform the old practice and ask it to transfer your medical dossier.

Who works in a GP practice

At an appointment you describe your klachten. The doctor may examine you, prescribe treatment or advise you to wait and use a simple painkiller. Not every complaint requires antibiotics or hospital tests.

Referral

• Most hospital specialists require a referral from a GP.
• For psychological problems, you may begin with a POH; the GP can later refer you to GGZ or a therapist.
• You can often make your own physiotherapy appointment, although a GP can also refer you.
• A referral may be followed by a waiting list.

2. Medicines, records and language

Medicines

• The doctor sends a recept to an apotheek.
• Many medicines, including antibiotics, are available only on prescription.
• Paracetamol and some other medicines can be bought without a prescription at a pharmacy, drogist or supermarket.

Confidentiality

Healthcare professionals have beroepsgeheim. They cannot simply share your information with other people. Your toestemming is normally required. You have the right to see your own medical record, often through a portal using DigiD.

If language is difficult

• You may take an adult who speaks Dutch well.
• You may ask for a professional interpreter. A child should not normally be used to interpret a medical discussion.
• If you do not understand a diagnosis or instruction, ask for a simpler explanation.

3. Dentist and dental hygienist

You choose your own dental practice if it has space.

• Call the practice when you have toothache or another complaint.
• The dentist treats teeth and performs check-ups.
• A mondhygiënist professionally cleans teeth and gums and helps prevent problems.
• A check-up is normally recommended once or twice a year, even without pain.
• Adult dental care is not automatically covered by basic insurance; separate dental insurance is optional.

4. Whom to call for urgent help

Calling 112

Explain what happened and where help is needed. The dispatcher asks questions and tells you what to do until the ambulance arrives. Call 112 for urgent police or fire-service help as well.

Emergency department

At the Spoedeisende Hulp, patients are treated according to medical urgency, not simply arrival time. A less urgent patient may wait longer.

Core algorithm: life-threatening = 112; urgent but not life-threatening = GP or out-of-hours GP service.

5. Decisions about your own body

An adult decides whether to consent to:

• an examination;
• medicine;
• vaccination;
• a medical procedure;
• kissing or sexual contact.

Physical or sexual contact without consent can be punishable by law. Marriage does not remove the right to refuse.

Abortion and euthanasia

• Abortion is legally possible for an unwanted pregnancy or medical reason, normally until the point of foetal viability, generally associated with the 24th week.
• Euthanasia is possible only at the patient's clear request and under strict statutory conditions, such as unbearable suffering without prospect of improvement.

Prohibited conduct

• rape, including within marriage;
• sexual contact between an adult and a person under 16;
• honour killing;
• female genital mutilation;
• violence and domestic violence;
• abuse or assault.

Male circumcision is not prohibited, while female genital mutilation is treated as abuse and is prohibited.

6. Donor register

After death, organs may sometimes help other patients. This is orgaandonatie.

The Donorregister allows four main choices:

1. yes, I want to be a donor;
2. no, I do not;
3. my partner or family decides;
4. one named person decides.

If an adult does not register a choice after the formal notification process, the record may state Geen bezwaar, meaning no objection to donation has been recorded. The choice can be changed using DigiD.

7. Health insurance

What is compulsory

• People who live or work in the Netherlands generally need a basisverzekering.
• Adults pay a premium.
• Supplementary and dental insurance are optional.
• You can change insurer or policy each year, normally for the new calendar year.

Basic insurance generally covers GP care, hospital treatment, most prescription medicines, pregnancy and childbirth care, and parts of mental and other necessary healthcare. The exact statutory package is set annually.

Eigen risico and eigen bijdrage

In 2026 the compulsory deductible is €385; see the current-facts file. A higher voluntary deductible can reduce the premium, but increases personal costs when care is needed.

Children

Children under 18 do not pay an adult basic-insurance premium and do not have the compulsory deductible. Basic dental care for children is generally covered. A child must still be registered with an insurer.

Healthcare benefit

People with a lower income may qualify for zorgtoeslag from the Tax Administration. The amount depends on income and other conditions. Changes in income or household situation must be reported, otherwise money may later have to be repaid.

Bills and claims

• A hospital or GP often bills the insurer directly.
• Sometimes you pay first and then declareren through an app, website or by post.
• DigiD is often needed to log in.
• Before treatment, it can be wise to ask the insurer whether the cost is covered.

Informal care

Long-term unpaid care for a relative is called mantelzorg. In some situations, support or a persoonsgebonden budget can be requested through the municipality or insurer.

Commonly confused ideas

Common exam traps

• You cannot normally book most hospital specialists without a GP referral.
• 112 is for genuine emergencies and life-threatening danger, not ordinary fever or long-standing pain.
• Use the out-of-hours GP service when the problem cannot wait until office hours.
• A GP consultation does not use the compulsory deductible.
• Supplementary and dental insurance are not compulsory.
• Organ donation is not compulsory; registering your choice is important.
• Consent is required both in marriage and in healthcare.

Active recall

1. Who is normally the first contact for a physical or mental-health complaint?
2. Who can test urine or measure blood pressure in a GP practice?
3. When do you call the huisartsenpost?
4. When do you call 112?
5. Can you normally book most hospital specialists yourself?
6. Where do you collect antibiotics?
7. What does beroepsgeheim mean?
8. How does eigen risico differ from eigen bijdrage?
9. Does a GP consultation count towards the compulsory deductible?
10. What may appear in the Donorregister if no choice is registered?
11. Is supplementary insurance compulsory?
12. Who may qualify for zorgtoeslag?

Based on chapter 2 of the book, printed pages 35–56. Changeable amounts are kept in a separate file.