GP in the Netherlands
GPs are the first point of contact
In the Netherlands, GPs are the first point of contact for patients with questions or problems relating to health and illness. If you are unsure whether a visit to a GP is necessary, visit moetiknaardedokter.nl to get an initial recommendation in various languages (including Polish and Romanian) as to whether you should see a GP.
Appointment with a GP
You can make an appointment with a GP by phone. When you call the practice, the doctor’s assistant will be the first person to speak to you. He or she will first ask you a number of questions and is trained to make an assessment of the nature and urgency of your problem. An appointment with a GP lasts 10minutes on average. In exceptional cases, the GP will visit you at home.
Diagnosis and treatment
Following diagnosis, your GP will decide on the method of treatment. The GP may decide to treat the problem him/herself (e.g. with prescription medication available from a pharmacy) or refer you to a specialist at a hospital. In the Netherlands, you always make an appointment with your GP first. If necessary, he or she will refer you to a medical specialist or the hospital.
Registering with a GP
We recommend that you register with a GP in your area (within a 15-minute drive) immediately after your move. This way, you will know where to go if you need care and the GP can be on site quickly in an emergency situation. Sometimes registration is not possible, for example because the GP does not have capacity for new patients. In that case, you should try to register with another GP nearby. You are not required to register with a GP. You can also request a one-off consultation if you need incidental and acute care. The GP will determine whether acute care is needed and then charge a visiting patient rate.
If you are unable to register on your own and you need help finding a GP, contact the ZEM Mediation Team at zorgadvies@zorgenzekerheid.nl. In your email, please state:
- your name
- your date of birth
- customer number with ZEM
- residential address in the Netherlands
- number of family members insured by ZEM
- the names of the five GP practices you have already contacted
Please feel free to write your email in Dutch or English and we will reply accordingly.
GP or after-hours clinic?
View explainer video about the after-hours clinic
When to call a GP
You need medical assistance and you are not critically ill or injured.
If necessary, the GP will refer you to other care providers or to the hospital.
Making an appointment
Call the GP for an appointment.
Where can you find a GP?
You can find a GP in your area or search for a GP using the Care Finder (in Dutch).
When to call an after-hours clinic
You need medical assistance and your GP practice is closed.
You are not critically ill or injured, but your problem cannot wait until the next day.
Making an appointment
If you call a GP outside of working hours, you will automatically be transferred to the after-hours clinic or you will be told which number you can call. The assistant at the after-hours clinic will speak to you over the phone to determine whether you should come in or if it would be better to schedule an appointment with your GP during his or her working hours. The assistant is specially trained to make an initial assessment of the situation.
Medication
GPs in the Netherlands are conservative when it comes to prescribing medication. The majority of medicines are not available over the counter at pharmacies. If a medicine is not available over the counter, that means you need a prescription from your GP. In some cases, your GP will not prescribe you any medication, but will advise you to come back later if the symptoms do not improve. Such a wait-and-see approach is often appropriate for conditions like a sore throat or the common cold. At other times, your GP will recommend taking a mild medicine such as paracetamol for pain relief. These mild medicines are available without a prescription from supermarkets, chemists and pharmacies. Read more about medication at Workinnl.nl.