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Published 4 November 2026. The rules and contact details below were checked on 4 November 2026 against Rijksoverheid, Zorginstituut Nederland, MIND and 113 Zelfmoordpreventie. Coverage differs per insurer and rules can change, so check your own policy and your insurer before you book. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
In the Netherlands, mental health care (ggz, short for geestelijke gezondheidszorg) usually starts at your huisarts (GP). You normally need a referral to see a psychologist or psychiatrist through your basic health insurance. According to Rijksoverheid, you do not need a referral for care you need immediately. If you are in crisis right now, jump to section 5.
1. Mental health care at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| First step | Your huisarts, who treats light problems and refers moderate to severe ones |
| Referral | Needed for ggz treatment; not needed for care you need immediately |
| Who is covered | Adults (18+) with a psychological disorder in the DSM-5 classification, if the treatment meets the standard of science and practice |
| Under 18 | Treatment is paid under the Youth Act (Jeugdwet), not the health insurance |
| Own risk (eigen risico) | Applies to ggz, except when your huisarts or the practice nurse for mental health (POH-ggz) treats you |
| Waiting-time norm | First conversation within 4 weeks; treatment within 10 weeks of first contact |
| Not covered | Problems that are not a psychological disorder, such as work problems, burn-out or relationship problems |
Sources: Rijksoverheid and Zorginstituut Nederland, checked 4 November 2026. Your insurer’s policy can differ.
2. How the system works
Rijksoverheid describes two levels:
- Care from your huisarts (eerstelijns ggz). The huisarts treats light psychological complaints, often together with a practice nurse for mental health (praktijkondersteuner, POH-ggz). The huisarts stays responsible for the treatment.
- Referred care (tweedelijns ggz). If you have moderate to severe problems, the huisarts can refer you to a ggz provider. Basic ggz covers light to moderate problems, such as conversations with a psychologist or psychotherapist. Specialised ggz is for severe or complex conditions.
The huisarts looks with you for suitable care. Moving between providers inside ggz does not need a new referral from your huisarts; a notification to the huisarts is enough. Zorginstituut Nederland states that treatment without a referral from a huisarts is not covered.
If you do not have a huisarts yet, see our guide to finding a GP in the Netherlands.
3. What your insurance covers
According to Zorginstituut Nederland, geneeskundige ggz is part of the basic package if you are 18 or older and have a psychological disorder that falls under the DSM-5 classification, and the treatment meets the standard of science and practice.
Not covered:
- treatment without a referral from a huisarts;
- problems that are not a psychological disorder, including work problems, overstrain and burn-out, and relationship problems;
- adjustment problems, for example after a divorce, grief or job loss;
- treatment that does not meet the standard of science and practice.
Zorginstituut Nederland adds that lighter problems are generally better suited to the huisarts or the POH-ggz.
Own risk (eigen risico)
The costs of geneeskundige ggz fall under the compulsory own risk. The exception: the own risk does not apply when your huisarts or the POH-ggz treats your complaints. Zorginstituut Nederland also says that from 2025, the “verkennend gesprek” (exploratory conversation) with a ggz professional is reimbursed, and no compulsory own risk applies to it. The amount of the own risk is set per year; see our guide to the 2027 health insurance switch window and eigen risico.
Rijksoverheid says that each insurer can arrange the reimbursement differently, so read your policy conditions.
4. Waiting times and what to do
Rijksoverheid gives these norms for ggz:
- a first conversation with a ggz provider within 4 weeks;
- treatment within 10 weeks of your first contact with the provider.
Ggz providers must publish their waiting times for outpatient care on their websites. If you wait too long, report it to your health insurer. The insurer has a duty of care (zorgplicht) and is responsible for care mediation (zorgbemiddeling): it checks whether you can get care sooner elsewhere. For ggz delays, the page says the insurer must offer an alternative or, if needed, reimburse non-contracted care. If your insurer cannot help, you can report it to the Dutch Healthcare Authority (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit, NZa).
5. Help you can reach without a referral
If someone is in immediate danger, call the emergency number 112.
- 113 Zelfmoordpreventie. For people who think about suicide, and for people worried about someone else. The site offers a free call to 113 and an anonymous chat. The MIND helpline page also lists 0800-0113 for 113 Zelfmoordpreventie. The sites do not say whether English is supported.
- MIND Hulplijn. Phone 0900-1450 (normal call rates), Monday to Friday 09:00–21:00. WhatsApp 06-13 86 38 03 (Monday to Friday 09:00–17:30). Chat Monday to Friday 09:00–20:30. Email hulplijn@wijzijnmind.nl. MIND helps people with mental health problems, people who feel stuck and people worried about someone else. The page is in Dutch and does not mention English support.
- De Luisterlijn. MIND lists 088-0767000 as an emergency contact outside its opening hours.
- Online self-help. According to Rijksoverheid, low-threshold self-tests and online treatments for light complaints exist, for example through Mentaal Vitaal and Trimbos, and they can be done anonymously.
The government pages we checked do not list English-speaking providers. If you want treatment in English, ask the practice before you book.
6. What the government plans to change
On 2 October 2026, the Dutch cabinet presented measures for mental health and ggz in a news release from Rijksoverheid. The release says:
- scarce ggz capacity should go more precisely to people with serious psychiatric problems;
- group and hybrid treatment get preference “where possible”;
- reimbursement of non-contracted care will be abolished;
- the cabinet wants to make clearer when treatment for light care needs is still effective.
The release gives no start dates. Until the details and dates are known, the current rules in this guide apply. Non-contracted care is care from a provider that has no agreement with your insurer; check your policy before you book such a provider.
7. Step by step: getting a psychologist
- Make an appointment with your huisarts. Describe your complaints. Light problems may be treated at the practice, with the POH-ggz.
- Ask about a referral. If your huisarts suspects a psychological disorder that the practice cannot treat, you get a referral to a ggz provider.
- Check your policy. See whether the provider has a contract with your insurer and how your insurer reimburses ggz. Remember the own risk.
- Look at waiting times. Providers publish them on their websites. The norm is 4 weeks to a first conversation and 10 weeks to treatment.
- Call your insurer if you wait too long. Ask for care mediation.
- Use support in the meantime. MIND Hulplijn and online self-help are available without a referral.
For the broader picture of insurance, your GP and care in a crisis, see our healthcare survival guide for the Netherlands.
8. FAQ
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist in the Netherlands?
Yes, for ggz treatment through your basic insurance. It usually comes from your huisarts. You do not need a referral for care you need immediately, according to Rijksoverheid.
Does my health insurance pay for a psychologist?
If you are 18 or older, have a psychological disorder in the DSM-5 classification, and have a referral, the basic package covers it under conditions. Problems such as burn-out, work problems and relationship problems are not covered. Check your own policy.
Do I pay the eigen risico for ggz?
Yes, for geneeskundige ggz, except when your huisarts or the POH-ggz treats you. The “verkennend gesprek” is also free of the compulsory own risk, according to Zorginstituut Nederland.
How long do I have to wait?
The norm is 4 weeks to a first conversation and 10 weeks to start treatment. If you wait longer, report it to your insurer.
Can I find help without a referral?
Yes. MIND Hulplijn, 113 Zelfmoordpreventie and online self-help are available without a referral. In immediate danger, call 112.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de huisarts | GP (family doctor) |
| de verwijzing | referral |
| de ggz (geestelijke gezondheidszorg) | mental health care |
| het eigen risico | own risk (deductible) |
| de wachttijd | waiting time |
| de zorgverzekeraar | health insurer |
Sources
- Rijksoverheid – Wie vergoedt mijn hulp bij psychische problemen? (referral, insurer reimbursement)
- Rijksoverheid – Psychische hulp door huisarts of andere zorgaanbieders binnen ggz (huisarts, POH-ggz, basic and specialised ggz)
- Rijksoverheid – Krijg ik te maken met wachttijden als ik zorg nodig heb? (4 and 10 weeks, insurer duty of care)
- Rijksoverheid – Waar vind ik hulp bij psychische problemen? (online help, MIND)
- Rijksoverheid – Kabinet presenteert maatregelen voor mentale gezondheid en ggz (2 October 2026)
- Zorginstituut Nederland – Geneeskundige ggz (Zvw) (who is covered, exclusions, eigen risico, verkennend gesprek)
- MIND Hulplijn (phone, WhatsApp, chat, email, opening hours)
- 113 Zelfmoordpreventie (call and chat)
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