Dutch at the huisarts: medical words and phrases

Dutch at the huisarts in six short game lessons: book an appointment, say what hurts, collect your prescription, get referred and handle an emergency. Every word has audio.

Huisarts means GP (general practitioner) or family doctor. The word is made of huis (house) and arts (doctor). Your GPโ€™s practice is the huisartsenpraktijk. (Wiktionary)

Good to know

Your huisarts comes firstTo see a medical specialist you always need a referral from a doctor, usually your huisarts.Source: Zorginstituut Nederland
No excess for GP visitsVisits to your GP do not fall under the eigen risico (excess): you never pay to see your family doctor.Source: Government.nl
Emergency? Call 112112 is free of charge. For police matters that are not urgent, call 0900-8844.Source: Politie.nl

Dutch at the huisarts: medical vocabulary and phrases

Below is all the Dutch at the huisarts from the six lessons, grouped by situation: the example conversation, then every word with its English meaning. Tap โ–ถ to hear it.

How to make a GP appointment in Dutch

An example call to the practice: you ask for an appointment and the assistant asks about your complaints (klachten).

Example conversation

  • Huisartsenpraktijk De Linde, goedemorgen.De Linde GP practice, good morning.
  • Goedemorgen, ik wil graag een afspraak maken.Good morning, I'd like to make an appointment.
  • Wat zijn uw klachten?What are your symptoms? (literally: complaints)
  • Ik heb al een week keelpijn.I've had a sore throat for a week.

Word list

DutchEnglish
de huisartsGP, family doctor
de praktijkpractice (e.g. a GP practice)
de assistenteassistant (female form)
de klachtcomplaint
het receptprescription
het spreekuurconsulting hours
de verzekeringinsurance
makento make
alalready

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Calling the GP

Dutch body parts

The words you need to say where it hurts.

Example conversation

  • Wat is er aan de hand?What's going on?
  • Ik heb pijn in mijn rug.My back hurts. (literally: I have pain in my back)
  • Al lang?For long?
  • Sinds gisteren. En mijn hoofd doet ook pijn.Since yesterday. And my head hurts too.

Word list

DutchEnglish
het lichaambody
het hoofdhead
de rugback
de armarm
het beenleg
de handhand
de voetfoot
de buikbelly
de keelthroat
de tandtooth
de pijnpain, ache
sindssince

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Where does it hurt?

Describing symptoms in Dutch

Saying you are ill, have a cold or a fever, and calling in sick.

Example conversation

  • Je ziet er moe uit. Ben je ziek?You look tired. Are you ill?
  • Ik ben verkouden en ik heb koorts.I have a cold and a fever.
  • Ga lekker naar bed en drink veel water.Go to bed and drink plenty of water.
  • Ik meld me ziek bij mijn werk.I'm calling in sick at work.

Word list

DutchEnglish
ziekill, sick
moetired
gezondhealthy
verkoudenhaving a cold
de koortsfever
hoestento cough
de griepflu
beterbetter
uitziento look (appear)
ziekmeldento call in sick

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: I'm ill

Apotheek vs drogist: at the pharmacy

Prescription medicine (with a recept from your doctor) is only sold at the apotheek. A drogist only sells some medicines that donโ€™t need a prescription. (Source: Rijksoverheid โ€“ Waar kan ik medicijnen kopen?)

Example conversation

  • Ik kom dit recept ophalen.I've come to collect this prescription.
  • Uw geboortedatum, alstublieft?Your date of birth, please?
  • Drie maart negentienhonderdnegentig.The third of March, nineteen ninety.
  • Neem de tabletten drie keer per dag na het eten.Take the tablets three times a day after meals.

Word list

DutchEnglish
de apotheekpharmacy
de drogistdruggist
de tablettablet
de pilpill
het medicijnmedicine
de geboortedatumdate of birth
ophalento collect
innemento take (medicine)

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: At the pharmacy

At the hospital: Dutch words for a referral

To see a specialist you need a referral from a doctor, usually your huisarts. (Source: Zorginstituut Nederland)

Example conversation

  • Ik ben doorverwezen door mijn huisarts.I've been referred by my GP.
  • Voor welke afdeling?For which department?
  • Cardiologie. Ik heb een afspraak om half drie.Cardiology. I have an appointment at half past two.
  • Volg de blauwe lijn naar de tweede verdieping.Follow the blue line to the second floor.

Word list

DutchEnglish
doorverwijzento refer (to a specialist)
de verwijsbriefreferral letter
de afdelingdepartment
de specialistspecialist
het onderzoekexamination, test
de uitslagresult
volgento follow
de lijnline
opgenomenadmitted (to hospital)

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: At the hospital

Emergency phrases in Dutch

In an emergency call 112. These phrases help you explain what happened. (Source: Politie.nl)

Example conversation

  • Help! Mijn vriend is gevallen!Help! My friend has fallen!
  • Bel 112!Call 112!
  • Hij bloedt en kan niet lopen.He's bleeding and can't walk.
  • Blijf bij hem, de ambulance komt eraan.Stay with him, the ambulance is on its way.

Word list

DutchEnglish
helphelp!
de ambulanceambulance
de politiepolice
de brandweerfire brigade
het ongelukaccident
vallento fall
bloedento bleed
kunnencan, to be able to
gevaarlijkdangerous
snelfast, quick

โ–ถ Practise this as a game: Emergency

How to practise Dutch at the huisarts

Before your next appointment, replay the first lesson and say the phone conversation out loud. Knowing how to make an appointment and describe your complaints in Dutch at the huisarts makes the call much less stressful.

Write down your complaints in Dutch before you go, using the words from the symptoms lesson, like Ik heb al een week keelpijn. You can read them out if you get stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What does huisarts mean?

Huisarts means GP (general practitioner) or family doctor. It combines huis (house) and arts (doctor).

What is a huisartsenpost?

The huisartsenpost is the GP out-of-hours service: it provides GP care at night, at weekends and on public holidays.

How do I make a GP appointment in Dutch?

Say: Goedemorgen, ik wil graag een afspraak maken. (Good morning, I'd like to make an appointment.)

How do I say โ€˜it hurtsโ€™ in Dutch?

Use โ€œIk heb pijn in mijn โ€ฆโ€ or โ€œMijn โ€ฆ doet pijnโ€. For example: Mijn hoofd doet pijn (My head hurts).

What is the difference between an apotheek and a drogist?

Prescription medicines are only sold at the apotheek (pharmacy). A drogist sells some medicines without a prescription, but not all of them (source: Rijksoverheid).

Do I need a referral to see a specialist in the Netherlands?

Yes. You always need a referral from a doctor, usually your huisarts (source: Zorginstituut Nederland).

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Word meanings checked against Wiktionary. Audio uses your deviceโ€™s Dutch voice where available.