1. Why You Need One

Most specialist hospital care normally requires a huisarts referral. Some healthcare services can be accessed directly without one, depending on the type of care. The huisarts visit itself is among the types of care Rijksoverheid lists as free of eigen risico; the €385 (2026) deductible generally applies to hospital care, specialist care and many medicines when they fall under the basic package.

You can have health insurance and still have no GP. The two are separate. Basic health insurance is generally compulsory if you live or work in the Netherlands, while a huisarts practice can refuse new patients when the practice is full or other valid conditions apply.

Registering with a huisarts is not legally mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. If you are not registered and need urgent medical care outside normal practice hours, you can contact the huisartsenpost (HAP). For life-threatening emergencies, call 112.

2. The 2025–2026 Shortage, in Figures

Capaciteitsorgaan, Huisartsen kernrapport (December 2025), used for the 2027–2030 capacity planning:

LHV describes the shortage as structural and significant, with pressure differing by region. Capaciteitsorgaan also maps differences in GP density between provinces. A national shortage does not mean that every practice or postcode is closed, but it helps explain why many practices have registration stops.

IGJ published findings in 2025 showing that a substantial number of people in the Netherlands were unable to register with a huisarts. The regulator called for regional solutions and stronger cooperation between healthcare organisations and insurers.

3. What You Need Before You Call

Practices that publish a registration checklist commonly ask for some or all of the following:

No BSN yet: A BSN is normally needed for healthcare administration. If you have just arrived in the Netherlands, complete the relevant BRP registration process with the gemeente as soon as possible.

No insurance yet: If Dutch basic insurance is mandatory for you, arrange it within the applicable period. The exact rules depend on your residence and work situation, so use the official government and CAK information for your circumstances.

Children: A parent or guardian normally handles registration for a child. Practices can have additional procedures concerning consent and older children, so check the practice’s own registration rules.

4. Where to Search

Zorgkaart Nederland (zorgkaartnederland.nl): postcode search, reviews and sometimes information about languages or registration status. “Open for new patients” on Zorgkaart is a useful starting point. Confirm the status on the practice website or by phone when you apply.

The practice’s own site: look for inschrijven, nieuwe patiënten and wachtlijst. A practice can have different registration situations for different doctors or locations, so a general website banner does not necessarily describe every room or doctor.

Kiesjehuisarts.nl matches some regions to practices with open lists or waiting lists. The service itself states that its coverage is not nationwide.

Employer or insurer “expat desk” lists can provide additional practices to contact, but they do not give you a right to bypass a practice’s registration policy or waiting list.

English-speaking: Information about English-language care on search platforms can be incomplete. Check the practice homepage and ask directly whether the practice can provide care in English. Language availability does not mean that the registration list is open.

5. Werkgebied

Many practices only register people who live within a stated postcode area or travel distance. Guides often mention 10–15 minutes as a practical distance for home visits and out-of-hours arrangements. This is generally a practice/service-area policy, not a universal registration distance written into Dutch law.

If you move outside the practice’s service area, the practice may ask you to register elsewhere. Register your new address with the gemeente, then discuss the situation with both the old and new practice. Once a new practice accepts you, arrange the transfer of your medical file; practices handle this process differently.

6. How Inschrijven Works

Typical sequence used by practices that still take patients:

1. Confirm the postcode is in the werkgebied.
2. Phone, email or use an online form — “ik wil me inschrijven.”
3. Complete the registration form with information such as BSN, address, insurer, household details, allergies and current medicines.
4. Provide identification if the practice asks for it.
5. Some practices offer a short kennismakingsgesprek.
6. If you previously had a Dutch huisarts, arrange transfer of your medical file after the new practice accepts you.

Arts en Zorg’s published FAQ states that after an online registration form they aim to process the request within five working days and contact the applicant by email. This is a practice-specific processing target, not a national registration deadline.

You generally do not need to cancel your old practice before finding a new one. Once the new practice accepts you, arrange the transfer of your medical file. The exact transfer procedure can vary between practices.

An EU EHIC is not the same as registration with a Dutch huisarts. It can provide access to medically necessary healthcare during a temporary stay, subject to the applicable rules, but it does not create a permanent GP registration.

7. When Every Practice Is Full

Do this in order. None of these steps guarantees an immediate registration.

A practice may refuse to register a new patient when it is full or when other valid conditions apply, such as the patient’s address being outside the practice’s service area. Keep a short written record of the practices you contacted; this can be useful when speaking with your insurer about zorgbemiddeling.

8. Evenings, Weekends, 112

Huisartsenpost (HAP): evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays for urgent medical problems that cannot reasonably wait until the next working day. You normally phone first so the HAP can triage the situation. Whether staff can directly access your GP record depends on the local system and circumstances.

112: Call for life-threatening emergencies such as severe breathing problems, signs of a stroke, serious bleeding, loss of consciousness or other situations where immediate emergency assistance is needed.

Spoedeisende hulp (SEH): hospital emergency departments are not a replacement for a huisarts or HAP. In non-life-threatening situations, Rijksoverheid advises contacting the HAP first. Referral and reimbursement rules can affect how non-emergency hospital care is handled.

9. The 10-Minute Visit

Many huisarts practices schedule short consultations, often around 10 minutes. If you have several problems, tell the assistant when booking so the practice can decide whether more time or a separate appointment is needed. Bring a list of your medicines and relevant medical information.

At the start of the consultation, explain what you need — for example, a verwijzing, a herhaalrecept or medical information for another healthcare professional. These can require different processes.

Assistants (doktersassistente) often triage calls before you see the huisarts. Describe your symptoms and concerns rather than assuming which specialist you need. The POH (praktijkondersteuner) handles parts of chronic-care and mental-health follow-up within many huisarts practices.

Repeat medication: Once you are registered, use the practice’s preferred app, online system or pharmacy link for repeat prescriptions. Do not wait until your medication has completely run out, particularly before weekends or public holidays.