When you arrive in the Netherlands, it is important to register with a doctor as soon as possible. It is wise to do that because when you need a doctor you can call the practice straight away. Registering with a doctor takes a few days. If you do not register on time, you will be too late when you need to see a doctor.

How to find a good doctor

Perhaps you know someone who can recommend a doctor in your place of residence. Or it just happens that you pass by a doctor's office while walking through town. If this is not the case, it is best to search the internet for possible doctors in your place of residence. You can also ask your municipality which doctors are available in your area. You may choose any doctor you like, as long as they are no more than a 15-minute drive away from your home. This is the rule to follow, as it`s mandotory. 

Registering with a doctor

Once you have found a doctor you would like to register with, you can register yourself via the website of the doctor's practice. Within a few working days you will receive an email or a phone call to see if you have been accepted. Some doctor's practices are full and do not accept new people. Then you have to look for another doctor.

It is also possible that you first meet a doctor before registering. You can make an appointment by telephone with the assistant. You will then have some time to talk to the doctor face to face. In this way, you can decide whether you feel comfortable with this doctor. Then you can decide whether or not to register with the doctor. Once you have registered with a doctor, you can make an appointment whenever you need to.

Making an appointment

If you are ill or have health problems, you can easily make an appointment with the doctor. You can often schedule an appointment via the doctor's website. You can also call the doctor's office to schedule an appointment. It is important to call in the morning. In most cases you have to call before 10.00 in the morning to make an appointment. Then you can almost always see the doctor the same day. Normally, you go and see a doctor. In very serious cases, the doctor will visit you at home. 

Time schedule for reaching out the doctor

At most doctor's surgeries you can call for the below cases. The times vary from one doctor's office to another.

 8.00 - 10.00 Call the doctor's assistant to make an appointment for the same day

10.00 - 12.00 Call the doctor's assistant for advice or information

12.00 - 12.30 Break

12.30 - 13.30 Doctor's available by phone. You can speak to the doctor directly by calling him.

13.30 - 17.00 Call the doctor's assistant for advice or information

At the doctor's appointment

A doctor's appointment normally lasts 10 minutes. If several things need to be discussed, you can indicate this to the doctor's assistant when making the appointment. She will then schedule a double appointment, so 20 minutes.

At the doctor's you talk about your health problems. In most cases, the doctor only makes a diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor will treat you directly on the treatment table. This only happens for minor issues. Normally, the doctor will refer you to a specialist or prescribe medication.

• A doctor will refer you to, for example, a physiotherapist, a psychologist or a specialist in a hospital. You have to make an appointment with this specialist yourself. The specialist sees the referral from your doctor in his computer. So you do not need to take any papers with you.
• A doctor prescribes a medicine. You can often pick this up the same day at the pharmacy to which the doctor is affiliated. That is in your place of residence. If there are several pharmacies in your hometown, you can ask the doctor or the doctor's assistant which pharmacy you should go to.

Doctor`s costs

A doctor's visit is free. It is fully covered by the basic insurance of your healthcare insurance. It does not matter how often you visit the doctor. There is also no own risk/excess.

A referral is sometimes also free of charge. If you are referred to a hospital or psychologist GGZ, this is fully covered by the basic insurance. Take into account that you have an own risk/excess from 385 to 885 euro as written in THIS ARTICLE. 

A referral to a physiotherapist is not free and not covered in the basic insurance. If you have additional health insurance, it is covered. Read here for more information HERE.

Doctor in the evening, night or weekend

It sometimes happens that you urgently need a doctor, but it is evening, night or weekend. The doctor's surgery is closed. You might think about going to the hospital or calling an ambulance. Try to avoid that as much as possible. There is always a doctor open in your area during the evening, night and weekend. This is called the HAP (Huisartsenpost). If you search for HAP on the internet, you will find the HAP in your area. A HAP is often situated in a hospital. The HAP is free of charge. You can usually go straight to the HAP when you need care or you call them for help before.

Ambulance

When there is an accident and you are not able to move and can`t go to a doctor or HAP, or when a life threatening situation arises, you need to call an ambulance. The phone number is 112. The ambulance is quick and often arrives at your place within a few minutes. The costs of the ambulance are covered by your basic health insurance. Please also take into account the own risk/excess.

Hospital

You usually never go directly to the hospital on your own initiative. Always call the doctor, the HAP or the emergency line 112 first.