Netherlands Mental Health Crisis: Long Waits, Young People, and a System Under Strain
The Netherlands mental health crisis is one of the country’s most pressing but least visible social challenges. Around 78,000 people are currently on waiting lists for mental healthcare (GGZ), more than half of them waiting longer than the legally acceptable standard of 14 weeks. Young people are disproportionately affected. And in April 2026, a patient advocacy group filed an unprecedented lawsuit against the Dutch State, accusing it of violating human rights by allowing the situation to persist.
For expats navigating the Dutch healthcare system, understanding how mental health services work, and what their limitations are, is essential.
The Scale of the Problem
The figures from the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) are stark. At the end of 2023, nearly 100,000 people were on waiting lists for mental healthcare, with the NZa estimating around 78,000 unique patients after accounting for those on multiple lists. More than half had been waiting longer than the 14-week standard that healthcare institutions, patient organisations, and insurers agreed on back in 2005.
Research by VU University Amsterdam found that every additional month spent on a waiting list reduces the chance of a patient returning to work by two percent. One researcher calculated that reducing waiting times by just one month would generate over €300 million per year in economic benefit.
The situation is worst for those with complex mental health needs. As Martin Buijsen, Professor of Health Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam, put it: “Within our healthcare system, it is most difficult to arrange care for the people who need it most.”
Young People Are the Most Affected
The mental health deterioration among Dutch young people predates the pandemic but accelerated sharply during it. According to CBS Statistics Netherlands, 18 percent of young people aged 12 to 24 were classified as mentally unhealthy in 2021, up from 11 percent in 2019. Girls and young women were disproportionately affected.
Research by RIVM, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health, found that more than half of young adults aged 16 to 25 reported experiencing mental health problems in 2022. Emotional loneliness, described as a lack of close relationships, was reported by 70 percent of respondents. Social loneliness, a lack of contact with friends, family, and acquaintances, was reported by 60 percent.
For young people already on waiting lists, the system has at times been even harder to navigate. Children under 18 fall under the Jeugd GGZ (youth mental healthcare) system rather than adult GGZ, and waiting times for youth care reached ten months in 2021.
The Lawsuit Against the State
In April 2026, the foundation Recht op GGZ (Right to Mental Healthcare) filed a lawsuit against the Dutch State and health insurers, the first of its kind in Dutch history. The foundation argues that the government has violated patients’ fundamental rights, specifically the right to life and the right to access healthcare, by standing by while waiting lists grew to unacceptable levels.
At the heart of the case is an accusation that health insurers have been purchasing insufficient mental healthcare despite having the budget to do so. When the previous government added €30 million to the mental healthcare budget, waiting lists immediately shortened, the foundation notes. The implication is that the problem is not simply one of capacity but of how the system is financed and managed.
The State has not yet formally responded to the case. The outcome could force a structural reform of how mental healthcare is funded in the Netherlands.
What the Government Is Doing
The Dutch National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) announced in late 2025 that group-based mental health therapies and preventive mental health support would be priority focus areas under the 2026 to 2028 appropriate care agenda. The aim is to ensure patients receive earlier support rather than waiting untreated for individual therapy slots.
The Jetten government has committed to increasing healthcare spending and shelving planned cuts to health budgets. However, the planned increase in the eigen risico (health insurance deductible) from €385 to €460 in 2027 has drawn criticism from mental health advocates, who argue it will deter people from seeking help precisely when access is already a barrier.
What It Means for Expats
For expats in the Netherlands, accessing mental healthcare involves several steps that are worth understanding in advance.
Your first point of contact is always your huisarts (GP). They assess your situation and refer you to the appropriate level of care. For mild to moderate symptoms, a POH-GGZ (mental health practice nurse) is usually attached to the GP practice and can provide short-term support without a long wait.
For more complex or specialist care, referral to a GGZ provider is required. This is where waiting times become significant. Waits of six months or more for a first appointment with a specialist are common. If you are on an expat package, check whether your employer’s health insurance includes additional mental health coverage beyond the basic basisverzekering.
Language is also a practical barrier. Not all GGZ providers offer services in English. Online therapy platforms, several of which operate in English, can bridge the gap while waiting for a Dutch-language appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mental healthcare covered by Dutch health insurance? Yes, mental healthcare for adults is covered under the basisverzekering, but the eigen risico (annual deductible of €385) applies before coverage kicks in. This means the first €385 of mental healthcare costs in any year is paid by you.
Are children covered for mental healthcare? Children under 18 are covered under the Jeugd GGZ system, which is funded separately through municipalities rather than health insurers. This means the standard health insurance deductible does not apply, but waiting times can be very long and provision varies significantly between municipalities.
What if I cannot wait months for an appointment? If you are in crisis, contact your huisarts immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. The crisis team (crisisdienst) of your local GGZ organisation is also available 24 hours a day. If you are in acute distress, call 112.
Are there English-language mental health services? Several private providers and online platforms offer English-language therapy. Expat-focused providers operate in major cities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. Your GP can advise, and your health insurer’s website should list contracted English-speaking providers.
Summary
The Netherlands mental health crisis is structural, affecting tens of thousands of people and disproportionately hitting young adults. Waiting times far exceed legal standards, a landmark lawsuit is testing whether the State can be held liable, and the government is working on reforms that will take years to filter through. For expats, the system is navigable but requires patience, early action, and in some cases supplementary private coverage to access timely help.
