It’s important to make sure that you’re aware of the basics of the Dutch healthcare system in case you get sick in Maastricht. Here’s a brief checklist of what you need to take care of when coming to the Netherlands:
It is a legal requirement to have health insurance in the Netherlands. It is your responsibility to make sure you are sufficiently covered during your stay in the Netherlands. You will be fined if you register with an address here, and you do not have health insurance. Check out the companies providing insurance here.
2. Registering with a GP/General Practitioner (huisarts)
It is important to register with a GP office within 15 minutes’ cycling from your home. The GP in the Netherlands is the gate to all other forms of non-emergency healthcare. If you do not register with a GP and you go to the emergency room because you don’t know where else to go, they can refuse to treat you, and you waste your own time and the hospitals. Check out this list of GPs in Maastricht to find one near you.
This depends on where your GP is located. You will need to register with the pharmacy of your choice once you know where you will live.
It is not required to register with a dentist during your time in the Netherlands. It is good to be aware that the basic Dutch health insurance normally doesn’t include dental healthcare unless you add this on to your premium.
