Find an English-Speaking Doctor in the Netherlands (2026)

Before anything else: sort out your Dutch health insurance and your BSN number first. You cannot register with a huisarts without both. Use the BSN Planner if you have not done this yet, and the Health Insurance Wizard to find the right policy. Once those are in place, finding a GP becomes much simpler.

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How the Huisarts System Works

The huisarts (GP or general practitioner) is the foundation of Dutch primary healthcare. Unlike the UK’s NHS, where you may have a choice of several practices within your area, or the US system, where you can often walk into many clinics, the Dutch system is built around having one registered GP who knows your medical history and acts as a gatekeeper to all specialist care.

Here is what that means in practice:

• You register with a single huisarts practice for your address
• All non-emergency medical care goes through your huisarts first
• If you need a specialist, your huisarts refers you — you generally cannot self-refer
• The practice has a list of registered patients; they do not see people who are not on their list (with a few exceptions)
• Your insurer covers GP visits in full — there is no eigen risico applied to huisarts appointments

This last point is worth noting. Seeing your GP in the Netherlands is free at the point of use. There is no co-pay. That is not always well publicised for people coming from other countries.

The downside of this system is that practices have a finite capacity. In high-demand areas — particularly central Amsterdam and Utrecht — practices frequently close their lists to new patients. This means finding a GP who is accepting registrations can take effort.

What You Need to Register

When you contact a practice to register, have the following ready:

Most practices will only accept patients who live within a specific postcode area. If you move, you may need to switch GPs, even if you were happy with your previous one.

How to Find an English-Speaking GP

There are several reliable ways to find an English-speaking huisarts in the Netherlands.

Zorgkaart Nederland

zorgkaart.nl is the main Dutch platform for finding and reviewing healthcare providers. You can search by postcode, filter by type of provider (huisarts), and — critically — filter by language. Search for “huisarts” in your area, then look for practices that list English under languages spoken.

Patient reviews on Zorgkaart are generally reliable and give a real sense of whether a practice communicates well with international patients.

Your Health Insurer’s Website

Most Dutch insurers — CZ, Zilveren Kruis, VGZ, Menzis — have a “find a provider” tool on their website. These often let you filter by language and show whether the practice is accepting new patients. Since your insurer has to cover your GP care, they also have an interest in helping you find one.

Expat Community Groups

Facebook groups and Reddit communities (r/Netherlands, r/Amsterdam, r/Rotterdam and so on) are genuinely useful here. Other expats have done the legwork and can point you to practices that are known to be English-friendly and currently accepting patients. Information can go stale quickly in high-demand areas, so always verify with the practice directly.

Your Employer or Relocation Agent

If you are moving to the Netherlands for work, your HR department or relocation agent may have a shortlist of GP practices they recommend to new international staff. This is worth asking about before you arrive.

How to Register: Step by Step

1. Find a practice using Zorgkaart Nederland or your insurer’s website. Check that they are accepting new patients and that you are within their catchment area.

2. Contact the practice by phone or online registration form. Many practices now have a form on their website; if English is listed as a language they support, the form may also be in English.

3. Submit your documents. You will typically be asked for your BSN, insurance details, and address. Some practices ask for your medical history from your previous GP.

4. Wait for confirmation. Once registered, the practice will confirm and you will be added to their patient list. This can take a few days.

5. Attend a first consultation if the practice offers one. Some GPs schedule a brief intake appointment for new patients to get your baseline health information on file.

One thing that surprises many people: you do not usually book your first GP appointment online. You call the practice, explain briefly what the appointment is for (a nurse or assistant called a doktersassistente will ask), and you are given a slot. The appointment itself is typically ten minutes. If you have multiple issues, mention this when booking — they may give you a longer slot.

Tips for Major Cities

Finding a GP in the Netherlands varies significantly depending on where you live.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam has the tightest GP market in the country. Practices in the city centre and popular expat neighbourhoods like De Pijp, Oud-West, and Jordaan regularly have closed patient lists. Tips that work:

• Check GPs in your immediate postcode area first — practices only take patients within a few postcodes of the surgery
• Try practices slightly further from the centre; areas like Noord, Nieuw-West, and Zuidoost often have more availability
• Several international practices in Amsterdam specifically cater to expats and have English-speaking staff. Search Zorgkaart for “international” alongside “huisarts Amsterdam”
• If you are stuck, call your insurer directly — they are obligated to find you a GP

Rotterdam

Rotterdam generally has better GP availability than Amsterdam. The international community is well-established here, particularly in areas like Kralingen and Hillegersberg. Several practices near the Erasmus MC and in the city centre advertise English-language services. Use Zorgkaart and filter by Rotterdam + English.

The Hague

The Hague has a large expat population due to the concentration of international institutions, embassies, and multinationals. As a result, there are several practices with strong English-language capacity, particularly in Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier, and Scheveningen. The Hague is one of the easier cities in the Netherlands for finding an English-speaking GP.

Eindhoven

Eindhoven has a substantial international workforce from ASML, NXP, and other tech companies. English-speaking GPs are relatively accessible here. Check Zorgkaart for practices in Woensel, Strijp, and the city centre. The smaller scale of the city also means you can phone around more quickly.

Utrecht

Utrecht is popular with expats and students, which puts pressure on GP availability in the centre. The Lombok, Wittevrouwen, and Overvecht areas can be difficult. Practices in Leidsche Rijn and Vleuten-De Meern (newer residential areas to the west) often have more capacity. If you live centrally, be prepared to try several practices before finding one with availability.

What to Do If No Practice Accepts You

This happens more often than it should, particularly in Amsterdam and Utrecht. If you have contacted several practices in your area and none are accepting new patients, here is what to do:

Contact your health insurer. Under Dutch law (the Zorgverzekeringswet), insurers are legally required to ensure their policyholders have access to a GP within a reasonable travel distance. If you report to your insurer that you cannot find a GP, they must help you. Keep a record of which practices you have already tried.

Contact your gemeente. Local councils sometimes maintain lists of practices with availability or can direct you to the regional GP coordination service.

Zorgkaart Nederland’s “Huisarts Zoeken” function. The site has a dedicated search function that shows practices currently accepting patients. Filter results by “accepting new patients” if this option is available.

Be persistent and follow up. Patient lists do open up — people move, leave the country, or switch practices. Calling back after a few weeks is not unusual.

Emergency Care vs. Your GP

It is worth being clear on when to go where, because the Dutch system draws a firm line.

The Huisartsenpost (Out-of-Hours GP Clinic)

If you need to see a GP outside normal surgery hours — evenings, weekends, public holidays — you call the huisartsenpost, not the A&E. The number for your local huisartsenpost is usually on your GP practice’s voicemail message. You can also find it at thuisarts.nl.

The huisartsenpost is for urgent but non-life-threatening issues: a high fever that will not come down, a wound that needs attention, sudden severe pain. They triage calls and decide whether you need to come in, receive a phone consultation, or can wait until your GP is open.

Going to the A&E (Spoedeisende Hulp) with a non-emergency will often result in being redirected to the huisartsenpost anyway — and may come with a cost if your situation is assessed as non-emergency. The Dutch system takes triage seriously.

Useful Resources

A Few Practical Notes from Experience

If you have a specific chronic condition or complex medical history, mention this when you register. Some practices have GPs or nurses with particular expertise, and it can make a difference to request a GP who has experience with your condition.

Finally: do not wait until you are ill to find a GP. Register as soon as you arrive. The process takes time even when it goes smoothly, and you do not want to be searching for a practice while you are unwell.

Your First GP Appointment: What to Expect

The first time you see a Dutch huisarts, a few things may feel different from what you are used to — particularly if you are coming from the US, UK, or a private healthcare system.

The GP is a gatekeeper. Dutch GPs manage most health issues directly and refer to specialists only when necessary. If you arrive expecting to be sent to a specialist immediately, you may be surprised. The Dutch GP is trained to handle a very wide range of conditions, and watchful waiting is a legitimate and often evidence-based approach. If you feel a referral is needed, ask directly — GPs respond well to clearly stated requests.

Bring relevant history. If you have a chronic condition, medications, or previous diagnoses, bring documentation. A letter from your previous GP or specialist, translated into English (Dutch GPs read English easily), is the most useful thing you can bring. If you have printed medical records, bring those too. Your new GP will want to understand your baseline.

Language. In cities, most GPs speak good to excellent English. In smaller towns, you may encounter GPs whose English is more limited. If English is important to you, confirm before registering — Zorgkaart Nederland lets you filter by language.

Prescriptions. Dutch GPs prescribe electronically. The prescription is sent directly to your preferred apotheek, and you collect it there. You do not receive a paper prescription to hand in. Set your preferred apotheek with your GP at registration so prescriptions go to the right place.

Understanding the Dutch Healthcare System as an Expat

The Dutch healthcare system works well when you understand how it is structured. A few fundamentals:

The basic insurance (basisverzekering) covers GP care — your GP visits do not count toward your annual deductible (eigen risico). Every Dutch resident is required to hold basic health insurance. If you have not yet set this up, see the Dutch health insurance guide.

Specialists require a GP referral. You cannot book a dermatologist, cardiologist, or physiotherapist directly without a referral from your huisarts. The GP referral is what triggers insurance coverage. Private direct bookings are possible but expensive and not covered by basic insurance.

The GGD (Municipal Health Service) handles public health functions — vaccinations, sexual health clinics, outbreak investigation. If you need an STI test, TB screening, or certain vaccination services, the GGD is where to go. It is separate from your GP.

Mental health access goes via your GP. If you need psychological support or psychiatric care, your GP makes the referral. The Dutch GGZ (mental health service) system has long waiting lists for specialist care. See the mental health support guide for expats for how to navigate this.

For the full picture of how the Dutch healthcare system works — insurance, GP gatekeeping, specialists, hospitals, and what is covered — the Dutch healthcare system explained guide is the comprehensive reference.

What Your GP Actually Handles: A Practical Guide

One thing that surprises many expats used to specialist-first systems is how much a Dutch GP is equipped to manage directly. Understanding this makes the system much less frustrating.

Common conditions treated directly by Dutch GPs (no specialist needed):

• Respiratory infections, bronchitis, sinusitis
• Urinary tract infections
• Skin conditions — eczema, mild psoriasis, rashes, minor infections
• Mental health — depression, anxiety (GP can prescribe medication and refer to psychologist)
• Musculoskeletal complaints — back pain, joint pain (GP can refer to physiotherapist)
• Diabetes management (routine monitoring and prescription)
• Hypertension (monitoring and medication)
• Thyroid conditions (routine monitoring)
• Contraception and reproductive health

When Dutch GPs refer to specialists:

• Cardiology: suspected heart rhythm abnormalities, uncontrolled heart failure, chest pain requiring investigation
• Dermatology: suspected skin cancer, severe psoriasis, conditions not responding to GP treatment
• Gastroenterology: persistent symptoms requiring endoscopy or colonoscopy
• Orthopedics: injuries requiring surgical assessment, chronic joint issues
• ENT: hearing loss, persistent ear infections, tonsil issues in children
• Psychiatry: complex mental health conditions beyond GP capacity

The practical lesson: Come to your GP appointment prepared to explain your symptoms clearly and directly. Ask questions. If you feel a specialist referral is needed and the GP is taking a watchful waiting approach, ask why and what symptoms should trigger a referral. Dutch GPs are generally open to direct clinical conversations.

Chronic Conditions: Getting Care Established

If you have a chronic condition — diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions — getting that care established with your Dutch GP quickly is a priority. Bring:

• A letter from your previous GP or specialist summarising your diagnosis, current treatment, and recent test results
• A current medication list with dosages
• Recent blood test results or relevant diagnostic reports
• Any specialist letters or discharge summaries

Dutch GPs will review this documentation and may want to repeat certain tests to establish their own baseline. This is standard, not a sign of doubt in your records. Within 2-3 appointments, most chronic conditions can be transferred seamlessly to Dutch GP management.

For patients with complex international health histories — multiple countries, specialist treatment abroad — keeping your own organised medical file is the most useful thing you can do. A single PDF document with your diagnosis history, current medications, and recent investigations can be shared with every new provider you encounter. Dutch GPs work with electronic patient records and will add your history to your digital file — this then becomes accessible to any other Dutch provider who treats you with your permission. The Dutch health records system (the LSP or Landelijk Schakelpunt) is opt-in, and you can authorise your GP to share your records with other providers you visit.

Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →

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Related Guides

• Dutch Health Insurance for Expats: Complete Guide 2026
• BSN Registration Guide 2026
• Mental Health Support for Expats in the Netherlands
• Best Expat Health Insurance Netherlands 2026
• Moving to Amsterdam: Complete Expat Guide