Mental Health Support for Expats in the Netherlands (2026)

Mental health is something the expat community does not talk about enough. This guide explains how mental health care is organised in the Netherlands, what basic insurance covers, where to find online help and which numbers to call in a crisis. It is general information and not medical advice.

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Crisis contacts

• Immediate danger: call 112.
• Thinking about suicide: call 113 for free, or chat online at 113.nl. You can call or chat anonymously, day and night (113 Zelfmoordpreventie). Their English page is at 113.nl/english.
• Outside office hours: the huisartsenpost provides GP care in the evening, at night and at weekends.

How the Dutch mental health system works

Your huisarts (GP). Most routes start with your GP. The GP treats mild psychological complaints, together with a practice nurse for mental health (praktijkondersteuner, POH-GGZ). If that is not enough, the GP refers you to basic GGZ or specialist GGZ. A company doctor (bedrijfsarts) or youth doctor can also refer you (Rijksoverheid). If you have not registered with a GP yet, see the Dutch health insurance guide for expats and the BSN registration guide.

Basic GGZ. This is care for mild to moderate psychological conditions. It can consist of conversations with a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist, an internet treatment (e-health), or a combination (Rijksoverheid).

Specialist GGZ. This is care for people with severe, complex psychological conditions, for example ADHD, an anxiety disorder or trauma processing. It can take place in a psychiatric institution, a hospital or a private practice (Rijksoverheid).

Within GGZ, when you are passed on to another care provider, you do not need a new referral from your GP. A notification from the care provider to your GP is enough (Rijksoverheid).

Ask your GP practice whether it has a POH-GGZ and whether the staff can help you in English. Practices differ, so ask early.

Online help

For mild complaints you may benefit from online self-help (e-mental health), for example for relationship problems, feeling down, insecurity or problems with work or study. The Dutch government says you can take part anonymously, that the self-tests are often free and need no referral from your GP, and that almost every GGZ institution has information on its website. You can also contact MIND Hulplijn by phone or online (Rijksoverheid).

What insurance covers

The basic package (basispakket) includes GGZ (Rijksoverheid):

• Basic GGZ: care for mild to moderate conditions, for example conversations with a psychologist or an internet treatment.
• Specialist GGZ: care for severe, complex conditions.
• The first 3 years of a stay in a GGZ institution. After 3 years, or if intensive care is needed for life, long-term care is paid from the Wet langdurige zorg (Wlz).

The mandatory deductible (eigen risico) of €385 in 2026 applies to GGZ. GP care (huisartsenzorg, including the huisartsenpost) is exempt from the eigen risico (Rijksoverheid). The GP treats mild complaints together with the POH-GGZ, so ask your insurer how your policy handles it if you are unsure.

Which providers and treatments your own policy covers, and whether supplementary cover (aanvullende verzekering) pays for anything extra, depends on your insurer. Check your policy. Compare options with the best expat insurance guide for the Netherlands and our Health Insurance Wizard:

Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →

While you wait for care

The Dutch government says that waiting lists in GGZ are too long (Rijksoverheid, 2 October 2026). While you wait:

• Ask your GP and the POH-GGZ what support is possible in the meantime.
• Use online self-help and e-mental health, which can be anonymous.
• Ask your employer or company doctor whether support is available through work.
• Use the crisis contacts above if you need urgent help. A waiting list does not apply to a crisis.

Expat-specific challenges

Moving to another country can put pressure on your mental health in ways that are easy to underestimate. Common themes include the effort of adapting to a new country and its bureaucracy, losing your existing social network, relationship strain when partners adapt at different speeds, and money worries. Our guides on Dutch work culture, the cost of living in the Netherlands and the inburgering exam cover some of the practical stress points. Asking for help early is reasonable, and your GP is the right first contact.

Finding people

Social contact with a purpose helps many people settle in. Look for groups around an activity you enjoy, such as sport, language exchange or hiking, and for expat communities in your city. Staying in touch with people back home matters too.

Action steps

1. Register with a GP if you have not already.
2. Check your insurance: know how your eigen risico stands and what your policy covers. Use the health insurance wizard if you are unsure.
3. Save the crisis numbers in your phone: 112 for immediate danger and 113 for suicide prevention.
4. Talk to your GP about how you are feeling, even if it feels premature.
5. Ask your employer what support is available.