Healthcare in Amsterdam

One of the two academic medical centres in Amsterdam. A full-service university hospital with emergency care, maternity services and specialist clinics across all medical fields. The largest hospital in Amsterdam. Metro connection to Holendrecht station.

The second Amsterdam academic medical centre, based in Amsterdam South near the Zuidas. Full range of medical and specialist services. Has an international health department with English-speaking GPs, particularly useful for newly arrived expats who have not yet registered with a huisarts.

The main general hospital for central and east Amsterdam. Emergency care, maternity services and a full range of outpatient clinics. Often shorter waiting times than the university hospitals for non-complex conditions. Well-located for central and east Amsterdam residents.

The main general hospital for Amsterdam West. Full emergency care and specialist services. Well-located for expats living in the Jordaan, Oud-West or Amsterdam West.

A well-regarded mental health practice in Amsterdam with English-speaking therapists and psychologists. Offers therapy, psychiatric consultations and treatment for anxiety, depression and other conditions. Both insurance-covered and private options available. A good first port of call for expats seeking mental health support.

Several Amsterdam-based counsellors and therapists specialise in expat-specific issues – relocation stress, identity challenges, relationship strain from international moves and culture shock. Search the NBVP (Dutch Association of Psychologists) directory filtering by English language and your area.

The main public mental health service in Amsterdam. Accessed via a referral from your GP. Covers a wide range of mental health conditions. Waiting lists can be long for non-urgent cases – if you need support sooner, ask your GP about private options or independent practitioners (vrijgevestigd psychologen).

The Netherlands has a unique maternity system where midwives (verloskundigen) lead low-risk pregnancies and home births are common and fully supported. Register with a verloskundige as soon as you are pregnant. The Kraamzorg (postnatal maternity care at home) is fully covered by insurance and provides a kraamverzorgster for 8-10 days after birth – a wonderful system that most expat parents come to love.

The Jeugdgezondheidszorg provides free preventive health checks and vaccinations for children from birth to 18. You will be automatically contacted after your child’s birth. The national vaccination programme is free and one of the most comprehensive in Europe.

Adult dental care is not covered by basic health insurance. Register with a dentist (tandarts) shortly after arriving – practices can have waiting lists. Children’s dental care up to age 18 is covered by insurance. Many practices offer aanvullende verzekering (supplemental plans) that cover annual check-ups and basic treatments.

Dutch pharmacies (apotheken) are linked to your GP practice and hold your prescription history. You are registered at a specific apotheek when you register with your huisarts. Most prescription medications are covered by insurance after the eigen risico is met. Over-the-counter medications are more limited than in many countries – paracetamol, ibuprofen and antihistamines are available without prescription; stronger medications require one.

One pharmacy in each area is open outside normal hours on a rotating basis. To find the nearest open pharmacy outside hours, check apotheek.nl or call your GP out-of-hours line. The out-of-hours pharmacy is called the dienstdoende apotheek.

If you arrive with ongoing medication prescribed abroad, bring the original prescription and packaging. Your Dutch GP will assess and reissue a Dutch prescription where appropriate. Some medications available over the counter in other countries require a prescription in the Netherlands. Allow time for this process when you first arrive.

Request your medical records from your previous GP or doctor before leaving your home country. A summary letter (medical history overview) in English or Dutch is the most useful format. Your Dutch GP will add this to your file. For specialist conditions, a full referral letter from your previous specialist is helpful.

The Amsterdam Municipal Health Service handles sexual health (free, no GP referral needed), travel vaccinations, public health and mental health referrals. All services available in English. The sexual health clinic (SOA-poli) is free, confidential and does not require a GP referral or insurance.