How to Register with a GP (Huisarts) in the Netherlands

Registering with a local GP, known as a huisarts, should be one of the very first things on your settling in list in the Netherlands. Dutch GPs act as the mandatory gatekeeper to almost all other medical care, and most practices only take on patients who live within about a 15 minute bike or car ride, so the longer you wait after moving, the fewer options you have nearby.

Why Your Huisarts Is the Gatekeeper to Dutch Healthcare

Unlike countries where you can book a dermatologist or cardiologist directly, Dutch healthcare routes almost everything through your GP first. Your huisarts diagnoses and treats routine illnesses, manages chronic conditions, issues prescriptions that go straight to your pharmacy, and, where needed, writes the referral letter (verwijsbrief) you need to see a hospital specialist or get scans and blood tests. Without that referral, your health insurer generally will not cover specialist treatment.

Many practices also have an in-house mental health nurse (POH-GGZ) who can offer first-line support for stress, anxiety or low mood at no extra cost, again accessed through your GP.

One thing that surprises many newcomers: Dutch doctors tend to take a conservative approach, often recommending rest and paracetamol before reaching for antibiotics. This is standard practice here, not a sign of being dismissed.

What a GP Visit Actually Costs You

GP consultations are fully covered by your mandatory basic health insurance (basisverzekering), and according to the Dutch government, a visit to your GP does not count toward your mandatory annual deductible (eigen risico), which stands at 385 euros for 2026. In practice, that means seeing your huisarts is free at the point of care.

What does count toward your deductible are the downstream services your GP orders, such as:

• Prescription medication from the pharmacy
• Blood, urine or stool tests
• X-rays, MRI scans or a referred specialist appointment

So the visit itself is free, but what follows from it usually is not, until you hit your deductible for the year.

How to Find a GP Who Is Still Accepting Patients

In busy cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam, finding a practice that is open voor nieuwe patienten (open to new patients) can take some searching. A few practical routes:

• Kiesuwhuisarts.nl and Zorgkaartnederland.nl: enter your postcode to see nearby practices, read reviews and check availability.
• Your health insurer: if every practice near you is full, contact your insurer's care mediation service (zorgbemiddeling). Insurers are expected to help you find a GP within a reasonable distance of your home.
• Gemeente and expat centers: many municipalities and local expat desks keep lists of practices with English speaking staff.
• Word of mouth: expat groups and neighborhood forums are often the fastest way to hear which local practices are responsive.

Documents You Need to Register

When you register, either online or in person, you will typically be asked for:

1. A valid passport or EU ID card (a driving licence is usually not accepted as ID for this purpose) 2. Your BSN (burgerservicenummer) or proof of municipal registration 3. Your Dutch health insurance details 4. A completed registration form 5. Where possible, a summary of your medical history or current prescriptions, especially useful if you are transferring from a doctor abroad or elsewhere in the Netherlands

What Happens Outside Office Hours

If you fall ill evenings, weekends or on a public holiday, you contact the regional huisartsenpost rather than your own practice. Being registered with a local GP means your records are easier to share with the out of hours service, which speeds things up when you actually need care. For general medical questions that do not need an appointment, Thuisarts.nl is the official, evidence based Dutch patient information site and a good first stop before deciding whether you need to be seen at all.

Practical Tips for Newly Arrived Expats

• Register before you get sick. Waiting lists for new patients can run days to weeks, and most practices will not take on a new, unregistered patient for anything but a genuine emergency.
• Check which type of policy you hold. If you have an in natura policy, most standard GP practices are already contracted with major insurers, so this rarely causes issues. A restitutie (free choice) policy lets you register at any licensed practice.
• Use the patient portal once you are registered. Most practices now offer online booking, repeat prescription requests and secure photo or text questions (eConsult) through a portal such as Uw Zorgonline.

For the bigger picture on choosing and understanding your Dutch health insurance itself, including how the deductible and coverage levels work, see our guide to Dutch Health Insurance for Expats.

References

• General practitioners (GPs) & doctors in the Netherlands (IamExpat)
• Moet ik de huisartskosten zelf betalen? (Rijksoverheid)
• Thuisarts.nl (Thuisarts.nl, Dutch College of General Practitioners)
• Kies uw Huisarts (Kiesuwhuisarts.nl)