Mental Health Care in the Netherlands: A Guide for Expats

Adjusting to life in a new country brings its own pressures. A new language, an unfamiliar bureaucracy, a different social culture, and the distance from your existing support network can all take a toll. The Netherlands has a well-developed mental health system, but it works differently from what most expats are used to, and knowing how to navigate it makes a significant difference. This guide covers how the system is structured, what your insurance covers, what to expect around wait times, and where to find English-speaking support.

How the Dutch Mental Health System Is Structured

Mental health care in the Netherlands operates under the umbrella of GGZ, which stands for Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg, or Mental Health Care. It is fully integrated into the national health insurance system and divided into two main levels: primary care and secondary care.

Primary mental health care covers mild to moderate conditions such as anxiety, mild depression, stress, and adjustment difficulties. It is shorter in duration, usually lasting less than a year, and focuses on specific complaints rather than long-term complex treatment. Secondary mental health care is for more complex or severe conditions, including personality disorders, severe depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, and psychosis. Treatment at this level is longer term and typically involves a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

In the Netherlands, you cannot access specialist mental health care without a referral from your huisarts, or general practitioner. This is the same whether you are Dutch or an expat. Your GP is the gatekeeper to the entire system, and registering with one shortly after arriving in the Netherlands is essential. Do not wait until you need help to find one.

When you visit your GP with mental health concerns, they will assess your situation and decide on the appropriate next step. For mild to moderate issues, they may refer you to a POH-GGZ, which is a mental health support worker attached directly to the GP practice. This is the first rung of specialist care, is covered by your basic insurance, and typically has a waiting time of one to three weeks. It is a practical and often underused option that many expats do not know exists.

For more serious concerns, your GP will refer you to a contracted GGZ provider or specialist clinic. At this point, your insurer’s network becomes relevant, as explained below.

Dutch basic health insurance, the basisverzekering, covers mental health treatment provided by BIG-registered professionals, which means psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists who hold formal registration under the Dutch individual healthcare professions act. Coverage applies to both primary and secondary GGZ care, subject to the annual deductible.

The annual deductible, known as the eigen risico, is set at 385 euros in 2025 and is reviewed by the government each year. Once you have paid this amount in a given year across any healthcare costs, your insurer covers the remainder for contracted care. If you have not yet spent your deductible on other healthcare, your first mental health appointments will count toward it.

The important distinction to understand is the difference between contracted and non-contracted providers. If you use a GGZ clinic or therapist that has a contract with your health insurer, your costs after the deductible are covered in full. If you use a provider without a contract with your insurer, the insurer will only reimburse a percentage of what they define as the average contracted rate, which is usually less than what the provider actually charges. You may then be liable for the difference. Before committing to any provider, check whether they hold a contract with your specific insurer. Your insurer’s website or Zorgzoeker tool will allow you to search this.

Supplementary insurance, known as aanvullende verzekering, can extend coverage to additional therapy sessions, alternative treatments, or providers outside the contracted network. Whether this is worth taking out depends on your individual needs and how much mental health support you anticipate requiring.

Wait times are one of the most discussed aspects of the Dutch mental health system, and they are a genuine challenge. The system came under significant strain during the pandemic period and has not fully recovered. Wait times at public GGZ facilities can range from several months to over a year in some cases, depending on the institution and the condition being treated. Wait times vary significantly between insurers as well, with some having contracted providers offering eight-week waits while others have lists exceeding sixty weeks for the same level of care.

Private clinics and independent psychologists generally have shorter wait times, but many do not hold contracts with health insurers, which means higher out-of-pocket costs. If you are considering a specific clinic, check both whether it has a contract with your insurer and what the current wait time is before visiting your GP to request a referral, since your GP will typically base their referral on this information.

Registering with a GP as soon as you arrive in the Netherlands, and discussing any mental health history or concerns early, puts you in a much better position than waiting until a situation becomes urgent.

English-language mental health support is widely available in the Netherlands, particularly in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, and The Hague. Many therapists and psychologists in larger cities have oriented their practices specifically toward international clients and offer sessions in English and sometimes other languages. A significant number are expats themselves and bring personal understanding of the adjustment challenges involved in relocating.

For expats looking for English-speaking or multilingual professionals, the Government of the Netherlands website at government.nl provides general guidance on accessing care. The GGZ network website lists providers across the country. Access NL is an organisation that provides on-call counselling services specifically aimed at expats and internationals, without requiring a GP referral, which makes it a useful first point of contact.

Online therapy has also expanded considerably and can be a practical option, particularly for expats who have not yet settled in a city with a strong network of English-speaking practitioners. Some online platforms hold GGZ contracts and their costs can therefore be reimbursed through your basic insurance in the same way as in-person care.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the main emergency number in the Netherlands is 112. For suicide risk or acute psychiatric distress, the dedicated crisis line is 0800 0113, which is available around the clock and free of charge. Regional GGZ crisis teams can also be contacted directly in a psychiatric emergency and do not require a GP referral. For situations involving risk to children or domestic abuse, Veilig Thuis can be reached at 0800 2000, also free and available at all hours.

The Compulsory Mental Healthcare Act, known in Dutch as the WVGGZ, provides a legal framework that ensures people who may pose a risk to themselves or others can access care and that their rights are protected throughout the process.

Register with a GP as soon as you arrive, not when you need one. Bring any existing mental health history, diagnoses, or medication records with you from your home country, and have an English summary available to share with your huisarts. If you have a specific GGZ clinic or provider in mind, check their contract status with your insurer before asking for a referral. If you are not satisfied with your insurer’s network or the available wait times, you can switch health insurer each year before the 31st of December for coverage starting the following January.

Mental health care is taken seriously in the Netherlands and seeking support is normalised in Dutch society in a way that may feel different from your home country. The system has its frustrations, particularly around wait times, but the quality of care once accessed is generally high.

For more on navigating the Dutch healthcare system as an expat, see our guide to Dutch health insurance for expats. Our moving to the Netherlands guide also covers the practical steps involved in registering and settling in.