You need to have adequate health insurance while you live and work in the Netherlands. It’s required by law so check the insurance you have from back home is valid or if you need to take out insurance with a Dutch provider. Rules differ depending on your situation so make sure you know what applies to you and make sure you’re properly covered. You can find more information on the Nuffic Study in NL website.
Studying only
If you are in the Netherlands for study purposes only, then you need to make sure your insurance from home is valid or take out international health insurance. As an international student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card or an international declaration form. However, an EHIC card only covers essential medical care. Check the AON website to find out if you need additional insurance, such as their Start+ insurance. The Insurance checklist helps you find out whether you are properly insured while studying in the Netherlands.
Studying + part-time work
If you have a job or internship and are paid at least the Dutch minimum wage, you will need to have Dutch health insurance. You can choose from any of the Dutch public health insurers. You also have to be registered with the municipality and have a Dutch social security number (called a BSN).
NHL Stenden arranges health insurance on your behalf for your first year of enrolment through AON, one of the larger health insurance providers in the Netherlands. The costs are €700. You'll get the insurance policy in your NHL Stenden email box as soon we have applied for it. After the first year, you are responsible for arranging your own health insurance. You will be informed about this as well.
Exchange students
If you are coming to NHL Stenden as an exchange student for 6 months, then insurance costs a total of €350. If you are covered by your own country's healthcare system then please let us know at [email protected]. Your insurance needs to cover at least all medical costs (without an applicable maximum), third party liability and repatriation in order to be able to apply for a study residence permit in the Netherlands.
Note: if you plan on driving or using a shared scooter, you have to have good third-party liability. Check your insurance carefully!
Studying + part-time work
Non-EU students with a job in the Netherlands have to consider the following:
- You are allowed to work 16 hours a week during the year or you are allowed to work 40 hours a week only during the 3 month summer period (June, July and August). A combination of these two options is not allowed!
- You have to arrange Basic Health Insurance (obligatory). Your AON insurance, provided by CSA, is not adequate for if you have a job.
If you get a part-time job, you'll need to have Dutch Basic Health Insurance. The AON insurance we arrange for you covers only the basics and you especially need to make sure your third-party liability insurance is adequate. You can choose from any of the Dutch public health insurers. The costs for this type of insurance are at least €150 per month. If you do not have basic health insurance, you will be fined.
You also have to be registered with the municipality and have a Dutch social security number (called a BSN). If you want to change your health insurance, get in touch with us so we can cancel your AON insurance. You'll need to:
- give at least 30 days notice
- share your bank details with us so we can refund your AON insurance
- send us proof of your new insurance policy stating the start date of your new insurance
- remember we'll need up to 5 working days to handle your request
The Dutch healthcare system is a universal, multi-payer system. This means healthcare is funded through a combination of public and private contributions. The system includes a Standard Health Insurance Package (known as the basisverzekering) for all residents which is mandatory if you are aged 18 and over. All Dutch residents, including international students, are free to choose their own private health insurance provider.
Point to note: besides the monthly premium, Dutch health insurance also includes an annual deductible. Mandatory for everyone aged over 18, it basically means that you pay the first €385 of the cumulative medical costs covered by the basic health insurance yourself. Any medical costs that exceed this €385 during the same calendar year, will be reimbursed as normal by the health insurer.
There is no state funded (public) health insurance as such, so it’s a good idea to compare what the different insurance carriers have to offer, but the package generally covers the following services:
GP visits
Specialist treatment and hospital care
Some mental health services
Medication
Dental care up to age 18
Some forms of therapy, including speech therapy
Dieticians
Maternity care
Your doctor (GP)
In the Netherlands, you do not usually go directly to a hospital when you are feeling unwell. Instead, your first point of contact for medical care is a General Practitioner (GP, huisarts). The GP will assess your condition and, if necessary, refer you to a hospital or specialist. It is therefore important to register with a GP as soon as possible after moving to your area.
Please note that some GP practices may have a temporary patient stop. If you experience difficulties registering with a GP, please contact your AON insurance provider for assistance.
Once registered, you can make an appointment by phone or through the practice’s online booking system. Be sure to bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or other proof of health insurance to your appointment.
If you need urgent medical care during the evening, night, weekend, or on public holidays, you should first call the GP emergency service (huisartsenpost) via 0850 820 820, where a triage system will determine the most appropriate care for your situation.
Specialist health care
If you need to see a physiotherapist or other specialised medical practitioner, you will also need to go through your GP first. Although your GP can refer you to a medical specialist, general practitioners in the Netherlands are generally your main source of medical care. Their level of responsibility and the treatment they administer extends beyond that in many other countries. In many cases, they will attempt to treat the problem themselves and refer you only if they are unable to do so.
For dental care, you'll also need to register with a dentist. This is a separate process but works much the same way as with your GP.
Pharmacy (for prescribed medication)
If the doctor or dentist gives your a prescription for medication, you will need to take it to a pharmacy (apotheek) yourself. Often you will need to pay upfront and then claim the costs back from your insurance company. A drug store (drogisterij) only sells toiletries and simple over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol. You might also need to pay upfront if you visit a dentist or hospital. These costs can usually be claimed back from your insurance company.
What to do when you want to claim costs such as doctor's costs:
The doctors listed below will send the invoice to the insurance company. If you go to a dentist or hospital, you usually have to pay the invoice upfront and claim the costs from the insurance company later. For medical expenses, you can submit your claim directly through the AON website.
If you have arranged your own insurance, please check the conditions to avoid extra and unexpected costs.
Students who have a job must have Basic Health Insurance. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Good to know
Dutch doctors are more conservative with prescribing medication than many international students are used to. A prescription is more often 'go home and rest' than actual medication and relatively few patent medicines can be bought without a doctor's prescription.
You can find below contact details of several doctors per location.
| Location | Doctor option 1 | Doctor option 2 | Doctor option 3 |
| Leeuwarden | Dr Sing Joeloemsingh Gezondheidscentrum Albert Schweitzer Componistenstraat 21 8921 SR Leeuwarden T: 058 212 37 00 (press 3 to make an appointment) Call between: 08:00 and 10:00 to make an appointment. 08:00 and 09:00 to request a house call. 09:00 and 10:00 to request a repeat prescription. Before 10:00 for specimen collection, for example urine. 11:30 and 12:30 for a phone consultation. | Huisartsenpraktijk COMPAS Rengerslaan 2 E (first floor) 8917 DD Leeuwarden T: 058 266 22 31 You will first hear a Dutch message, followed by an English message. Call between: 08:00 and 10:00 to make an appointment. | Huisartsenpraktijk Pasteur Coopmansstraat 40 8921 ST Leeuwarden T: 058 212 61 66 (press 3 to make an appointment) Call between: 08:00 and 10:00 to make an appointment. Route: The practice can be reached by buses 3, 5 and 62. |
| Emmen | Please search Google for “huisarts Emmen” and choose a doctor close to where you live. Student Info Emmen can help you make an appointment. | ||
| Meppel | Huisartsenpraktijk Spectrum Scholtstraat 4 7941 CA Meppel T: 0522 745 678 For emergencies during office hours, press 1. Call between: 08:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00, Monday to Friday. Emergency calls: T: 088 050 40 30 For emergencies in the evening, at night and at weekends. | ||
| Groningen | Gezondheidscentrum Hoendiep T: 050 319 28 33 | De Stadshuisarts Gedempte Zuiderdiep Gedempte Zuiderdiep 40 T T: 050 313 96 30 |
Dentist information
You can find below contact details of dentists per location.
| Location | Dentist | |
| Leeuwarden | Tandheelkundig Centrum Bilgaard Brandemeer 98 8918 GJ Leeuwarden Dora de Vries T: 058 266 58 15 W: www.thcbilgaard.nl Call between 08:15 and 17:00 to make an appointment. For urgent situations during office hours, call 058 266 51 10. Please note: in case of an urgent matter, you have to pay directly by cash or debit card. | |
| Emmen | Please check: W: emmentandartsen.nl For urgent situations, call 0900 1515. Student Info can help you make an appointment. | |
| Meppel | Sietsma Tandartspraktijk Schaperstraat 14A 7942 AR Meppel T: 0522 240 474 Call between: 08:30–12:00 and 13:30–16:30 on Monday and Tuesday. 08:30–16:30 from Wednesday until Friday. Emergency calls during office hours: T: 06 25402986 | |
| Groningen | Studentist Groningen Lopendediep 7 9712 NV Groningen T: 050 752 19 11 | Tandartsenpraktijk Heresingel Heresingel 6 9711 ES Groningen T: 050 312 51 41 |