The Netherlands

I live in the Netherlands. Do I have access to the Dutch Health Insurance System?

If you want to have access to the Dutch health insurance system, you have to meet the conditions for being included in the Wlz scheme (national scheme that covers long-term care in the Netherlands).

As a rule, if you are resident or employed in the Netherlands, then you are considered to be part of the Wlz scheme, and you will have to take out compulsory health insurance (see “Compulsory health insurance” section below).

Living in the Netherlands but not being covered by Wlz scheme

Please beware that in some cases, even if you live in the Netherlands, you might be not covered by the Wlz scheme and thus will not be able to take the compulsory health insurance.

This might happen, for example, if you live in the Netherlands but work in some other country. Another situation when this might happen is when you live in the Netherlands, but your center of interest (socially, economically, and legally) is in some other country.

I am not sure if I am covered by the Wlz scheme – whom should I contact?

If you want to find out whether you are covered by the Wlz scheme and thus can take a compulsory health insurance, you can apply for an assessment of your Wlz insurance position through SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank, or Social Insurance Bank, the organisation that implements national insurance schemes in the Netherlands).

Note that you can only apply for Wlz assessment for yourself and your children under 18 years of age – other members of your family (e.g., your partner or your children over the age of 18) will have to apply for the assessment themselves.

Find out about possible private health insurance options if, after the SVB assessment, you or your relative are found to be not covered by the Wlz scheme.

Special Case – Students

You are in the Netherlands for the study purposes only:

If you are in the Netherlands for the study purposes only (i.e., you do not work in the Netherlands parallel to your studies), then you will not form part of the Wlz scheme and thus will not be able to take out Dutch public health insurance.

In that case, if you are a student that has a public health insurance from some other EU country, you will be able to use your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) to get the necessary treatment during your temporary stay (e.g., exchange studies).

If you are not affiliated to the public health insurance system of any other EU country, then you are not entitled to an EHIC, and in that case you will need a private health insurance to get access to the healthcare system in the Netherlands.

You are studying and doing an internship in the Netherlands:

If you are a student in the Netherlands, you are doing an internship, and you are paid at least as much as the  Dutch minimum wage, you are then included in the Wlz scheme and will have to take out compulsory health insurance.

You are studying and working in the Netherlands:

If you are a student in the Netherlands and you have a (part-time) job during your studies (meaning that you are in an official employment relationship), then you are included in the Wlz scheme and will have to take out compulsory health insurance.

You are studying and are self-employed in the Netherlands:

If you are self-employed parallel to your studies, then contact SVB for an assessment of your Wlz insurance position.

Compulsory Health Insurance

If you permanently live or work in the Netherlands, then you are part of the Wlz scheme (in case of a doubt as to whether you are part of the Wlz scheme, contact SVB), and you are obliged to take out standard (basic) health insurance by registering with a health insurance company.

This is the case even if you took out insurance for the medical expenses back in your country before arriving in the Netherlands. Health insurers in the Netherlands are obliged to accept anyone who applies for the standard insurance package.

When should I take the compulsory health insurance?

If you come to live or work in the Netherlands, you are required to take a basic health insurance policy with a Dutch insurer with the coverage from the day of your arrival. You have 4 months to take out the insurance.

If you take out insurance within this 4-months window, you will be insured retroactively, meaning that you will have to retroactively pay the applicable premiums, but you will also be reimbursed for the care you received between the date of your arrival and the day you took out insurance.

If you take the insurance after the 4-months window has passed, you will NOT be insured retroactively, meaning that you will not be reimbursed for any care you received between the date of your arrival and the date you took out insurance, but also you will not have to pay the premiums retroactively but rather from the date when you took out insurance.

If you are required to take a basic health insurance but do not do it for too long, CAK (Central Administration Office) will issue warnings for you. If you still don’t take the insurance, CAK will fine you (up to 2 times consecutively).

If you don’t take the insurance after that, CAK will take the insurance for you, withholding standard premiums from your salary, benefits or income for 12 months.

What are the compulsory health insurance premiums?

You will pay a fixed, nominal amount to your health insurance company for the standard health insurance package (insurers are obliged to charge all policyholders the same premium, regardless of age and state of health).

In addition to that, if you are employed, you will also pay an income-related contribution for the standard package (your employer will be paying that contribution directly to the Health Insurance Fund on your behalf).

If you are on low income, you may be eligible for a healthcare benefit to help you pay for the health insurance.

Even though basic health insurance is mandatory for children under 18 years of age, no premiums are paid for such health insurance packages.

What is included in the compulsory health insurance?

The government decides on the cover provided by the standard package, and the standard package offered is the same for all available insurers.

Healthcare costs covered by the basic package include such costs as general practitioner, hospital, psychiatric and pharmacy costs.

Certain costs, such as physiotherapy or dental care, are not included in the basic package (you can take out additional health insurance for such costs, see “Additional health insurance” section below).

What if I don’t want to take a compulsory health insurance?

If you are required to take out basic health insurance, but you have conscientious objections to health insurance, you can apply for an exemption from the obligation to take the insurance from SVB.

If you are granted a dispensation from health insurance, you will be paying income/salaries taxes in lieu of the insurance premiums.

In order to keep such dispensation from health insurance, you are not allowed to take any other health insurance. If you are found taking out insurance, your dispensation will be withdrawn.

Additional Health Insurance

Taking out additional health insurance is not compulsory. Additional health insurance covers the costs that are not included in the standard package, such as physiotherapy and dental care.

Note if you want to take an additional health insurance, you are not obliged to take it from the same insurance company from which you have your basic health insurance.

Also, bear in mind that unlike with the basic health insurance, insurance companies are not obliged to accept everyone who applies for the additional health insurance.

The insurance company can refuse to accept you as a client for the additional health insurance or can ask you about your health before accepting you.

Last updated on 31 January 2025