Tick bites in the Netherlands — where ticks are, what to do, and when to call your GP
Part of: Expat Essentials, Healthcare, Environment
Ticks are a normal part of Dutch outdoor life. If you spend time in forests, dunes, parks, heaths, or even some gardens, this is not a remote risk.
That surprises some newcomers because the Netherlands does not look like a "wild" country. But ticks are found all over the country, and the official advice is simple: if you have been in green areas, check yourself afterwards.
Official source:
According to RIVM, ticks are found across the Netherlands:
They mostly live in tall grass, near bushes or trees, and in leaf litter. You usually do not feel a tick bite when it happens.
RIVM says ticks are usually only 1 to 3 millimetres when they have just attached. At first they can look like a tiny black dot on the skin, which is why people miss them so easily.
After feeding for several days, they swell up and can start to look like a small brown or grey ball, roughly the size of a pea.
Official page:
A tick bite can make you ill. In the Netherlands, ticks can spread:
RIVM’s English tick-bite page says that two or three out of every hundred tick bites lead to Lyme disease. That is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to take tick checks seriously.
Check your body and clothing after visiting green areas.
RIVM says ticks often prefer places like:
If you are alone, use a mirror.
RIVM also says not to forget your clothes. Remove ticks from clothing too. If they are attached, wash the clothes at 60°C for at least 30 minutes or use a dryer.
One useful detail from RIVM: children are often bitten in different places from adults. In children, bites are more common on the head and neck, while in adults they are much more common on the legs. That is one more reason not to do a lazy half-check after a day outside.
Remove it quickly. The longer a tick stays attached, the higher the risk of disease transmission.
RIVM’s advice is:
RIVM’s video text also suggests taking a photo of the spot after removal. That is practical if you later need to compare whether the skin is changing.
RIVM also says that if the tick may have been attached for more than 24 hours, you should contact your doctor to discuss whether treatment is needed.
Official how-to pages:
Go to your The Huisarts System if you get symptoms after a tick bite.
RIVM specifically says to see your GP if you develop:
RIVM also says to keep an eye on the bite location for three months.
This is one of those Dutch topics where the official advice is calm and routine rather than dramatic.
The pattern is:
That fits the wider Dutch style in health and environment: practical, procedural, and not especially theatrical. See Environment and The Huisarts System.
For current guidance, use the official pages rather than relying on memory:
These guides are written to help you understand the Netherlands — not to replace professional advice. We do our best to be accurate but we make mistakes and information goes out of date. For anything that affects your legal status, taxes, finances, or health, verify with an official source or a qualified advisor.