Health Insurance in the Netherlands
Moving to the Netherlands to work or study? Arranging Dutch health insurance is one of the first things you need to sort out. The Dutch healthcare system is privatised, so you are free to choose your own insurer, but basic health insurance is mandatory for almost everyone who lives or works here. In this guide we explain who needs Dutch health insurance, how to arrange it, what it costs in 2026, and how the deductible and healthcare allowance work.
Is health insurance mandatory in the Netherlands?
When you move to the Netherlands to live or work, it is mandatory to take out health insurance with a Dutch insurer, starting from your day of arrival. You have up to 4 months to arrange this insurance. Registering with a Dutch municipality is also compulsory, regardless of whether you have secured health insurance yet.
Once you take out a policy, your cover is backdated to the date you became insurable (your registration or arrival date), so you pay premiums from that moment. In the Netherlands you cannot be uninsured.
What if you arrange health insurance after 4 months?
If you wait more than 4 months to take out health insurance, your coverage will not be retroactive. You will start paying premiums only from the date you sign up for the policy, and there will not be any additional retroactive charges. However, any medical expenses incurred between your arrival and the insurance start date will not be reimbursed.
Good to know: If you have registered with a municipality but have not arranged health insurance yet, the Central Administration Office (CAK) will notify you. They make sure that everyone in the Netherlands is covered. Do not delay taking out health insurance, to avoid potential fines.
Do international students need Dutch health insurance?
As an international student studying in the Netherlands, you might already have medical expense insurance from your home country. However, in certain situations you must take out health insurance with a Dutch provider. This depends on your nationality and on any additional activities you do besides studying, for example having a part-time job.
Can I keep my foreign health insurance?
If you already have medical expense insurance from another country, you still need to take out Dutch health insurance, unless your employer is based outside the Netherlands. In that case your existing foreign insurance may be enough, but specific rules apply. For details about working for an employer located abroad, contact the Social Insurance Bank (SVB).
EU civil servants working exclusively for an EU institution are covered by the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) and can often extend this cover to immediate family members. They do not need Dutch health insurance and can provide proof of JSIS cover when necessary. If they do additional work in the Netherlands, or if their family members have different insurance arrangements, Dutch health insurance is required.
What do you need to take out Dutch health insurance?
Before you apply for a Dutch health insurance policy, you will need the following three things:
- A BSN number (citizen service number), which you receive when you register with your municipality.
- A valid passport or ID.
- A Dutch bank account.
How do you take out health insurance in the Netherlands?
There are around 65 basic policies from dozens of insurers, such as Zilveren Kruis, FBTO and Menzis. To find out which insurer fits you best and offers the best price, use an independent comparison site. Follow these steps:
- Compare policies based on premium, the level of free choice of care provider, and any supplementary cover you want.
- Take out the basic insurance (basisverzekering). Every insurer offers exactly the same basic package, so the differences are in price, service and supplementary options.
- Register with a General Practitioner (huisarts). Your GP is your first point of contact for almost all care. You can find one for free via Zorgkaart Nederland.
Compare current policies and premiums at Independer. Premiums are set anew each year (around mid-November), so always compare again at the end of the year.
How does the Dutch health insurance system work?
The system is regulated by the government and runs through private health insurers. It is built around a mandatory basic insurance and optional supplementary insurance, with a deductible (eigen risico) on top.
Basic insurance (basisverzekering)
The basic insurance is mandatory for everyone aged 18 and over, and every insurer offers the exact same basic package, because it is defined by the government. It covers standard, essential care such as visits to your GP, hospital treatment, most medicines and specialist care.
The deductible (eigen risico)
The deductible is a fixed amount set by the government that you pay yourself before your basic insurance starts reimbursing. In 2026 the deductible is €385 and it applies to everyone aged 18 and over. You pay the first €385 of eligible costs yourself; only after that does your insurer pay.
- Care that counts towards your deductible: medical specialists, ambulance, medicines, medial devices, and most hospital care.
- Care that does not count towards the deductible: your GP (huisarts), maternity and pregnancy care, home nursing, and care included in supplementary packages.
You can voluntarily raise your deductible in steps of €100 (up to €885) in exchange for a lower monthly premium, but you then pay more yourself if you unexpectedly need care.
Looking ahead: the deductible stays at €385 for 2026. It is expected to rise for the first time since 2016, to around €400 in 2027.
Supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering)
On top of the basic insurance you can take out supplementary insurance for costs the basic package does not reimburse. This is where insurers compete with each other, so packages and prices vary. Common examples include dental care, physiotherapy, glasses and contact lenses, hearing aids, birth control, and extra cover for emergency help abroad. Supplementary insurance is not mandatory. Always check the exact conditions with your own insurer.
Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag)
The healthcare allowance is a government contribution that helps cover your health insurance costs if you have a lower income. You become eligible from the moment health insurance is mandatory for you. You can estimate it and find more information on Over Toeslagen. For most students, the healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) pays for most of the insurance.
What does health insurance cost in the Netherlands in 2026?
There is no single "cheapest" or "best" health insurance, because everyone has different healthcare needs. But here is what basic insurance costs in 2026:
| 2026 basic insurance | Monthly premium |
| Average premium | about €159 |
| Cheapest policies from | about €142,40 |
| Most expensive policies up to | about €185 |
| Mandatory deductible (eigen risico) | €385 per year |
Premiums barely changed compared to 2025 (the average rose by less than €1 per month), but the gap between the cheapest and most expensive policy is about €500 a year, so comparing and switching still pays off. Two things mainly determine how cheap a policy is:
- Free choice of care provider. Policies that let you go to any provider (restitutiepolis) are more expensive than "internet" or budget policies that use contracted providers.
- Your deductible. Raising your voluntary deductible lowers your premium.
If you rarely need care, a budget policy with less free choice is usually enough. Always compare policies at the end of the year, when the new premiums are announced. You can compare the most recent premiums on Independer.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in the Netherlands
Is Dutch health insurance mandatory?
Yes, if you live or work in the Netherlands for longer than 4 months, basic health insurance with a Dutch insurer is mandatory for almost everyone aged 18 and over.
When do I have to arrange health insurance after arriving in the Netherlands?
You have up to 4 months from your arrival to take out insurance. Your cover is then backdated to your registration date, so arrange it as soon as possible. Costs made before you are insured are not reimbursed.
What does health insurance cost in the Netherlands in 2026?
The average basic insurance premium in 2026 is about €159 per month. The cheapest policies start around €142,40 and the most expensive reach about €185 per month, on top of the €385 deductible.
What is the eigen risico (deductible) in 2026?
The mandatory deductible in 2026 is €385 per year for everyone aged 18 and over. You pay this amount yourself before your basic insurance reimburses eligible costs. It is expected to rise to around €400 in 2027.
Do international students need Dutch health insurance?
It depends on your nationality and whether you do more than study. A part-time job, for example, usually makes Dutch health insurance mandatory. Check for your situation.
Can I keep my foreign health insurance?
You can only keep your foreign health insurance in specific cases, mainly if your employer is based outside of the Netherlands, or if you are an EU civil servant covered by JSIS. Otherwise you need Dutch health insurance.
What documents do I need to take out health insurance?
You need a BSN number, a valid passport or ID, and a Dutch bank account.
What is zorgtoeslag and can I get it?
Zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) is a government contribution towards your premium for people on a lower income. You can check your eligibility and apply online.
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