Dutch health insurance — mandatory, private, and less complicated than it looks
Part of: Expat Essentials, Healthcare
Zorgverzekering is health insurance. In the Netherlands, it is mandatory for everyone who lives or works here. You must arrange it yourself — unlike some countries, the Dutch government does not enrol you automatically. If you arrive and do nothing, you get a fine and eventually get forcibly enrolled anyway, at worse terms.
The system is private — you buy insurance from a commercial insurer — but heavily regulated. The government defines what the basic package must cover, and every insurer must accept every applicant for basic coverage regardless of age or health history.
Every insurer sells the same basisverzekering. The contents are set annually by the government: GP visits, hospital care, specialist referrals, medicines, maternity care, mental health. The coverage does not vary between insurers — only the price and service quality do.
What is not covered in the basic package: - Dental care (for adults) - Physiotherapy (except in specific chronic conditions) - Glasses and contact lenses - Most alternative therapies
These require aanvullende verzekering — supplementary insurance, which is optional and where insurers can actually differentiate and refuse applicants.
Every year you pay the first €385 of your own healthcare costs before insurance kicks in (2026 figure). This is the mandatory eigen risico (own risk / deductible). GP visits are exempt — you pay nothing for your huisarts.
You can voluntarily increase your deductible by up to €500 (to a maximum of €885) in exchange for a lower monthly premium. This makes sense if you are young and healthy and rarely use specialist care; it is a bad deal if you have ongoing health needs.
Basic insurance runs €142–€185 per month in 2026, depending on the insurer and which plan you choose within the basic package (some offer restricted networks at lower cost). The average is around €148/month. Switching is possible every January.
If your income is below roughly €38,520 per year (single) or €48,224 (with a fiscal partner), you qualify for zorgtoeslag — a monthly government contribution toward your premium. The maximum is €131 per month in 2026. Apply via the Belastingdienst using your BSN and DigiD. Many people are entitled to it and don't claim it.
You have four months from registering at your gemeente (EU citizens) or receiving your residence permit (non-EU) to take out insurance. Missing the deadline triggers a €528 fine. Arrange it as soon as you have your BSN.
For the basic package, the insurer brand matters less than people think — the coverage is identical. What varies: - Price: shop around at zorgwijzer.nl or independer.nl - Restitutiepolis vs naturapolis: a restitutie policy lets you go to any provider; a natura policy restricts you to a network but is cheaper. If you haven't yet built a network of Dutch doctors, restitutie is often worth the extra cost - Supplementary: if you need dental or physio coverage, compare aanvullende packages — and note that insurers can refuse you for supplementary even if they must accept you for basic
Every year in November–December, insurers announce the following year's premiums. You can switch by 1 January. Websites like Consumentenbond and Zorgwijzer publish comparison tables. Many Dutch people switch every few years; loyalty is not rewarded.
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.