As a student at Erasmus University Rotterdam, you may need medical care during your stay in the Netherlands. On this page you will find how Dutch healthcare works, what to do in different situations, and how to find a GP (family doctor) in Rotterdam.
An introduction to Dutch healthcare
The Dutch healthcare system is known for its high quality, accessibility and innovation. Healthcare in the Netherlands is based on a few key principles: access to care for all, solidarity through health insurance (which is compulsory for everyone, including international students), and high quality health services.
The system may work differently from what you are used to in your home country. Please read the information on this page carefully so you know what to expect while you study at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Your GP (huisarts): first point of contact
A General Practitioner (GP, in Dutch: huisarts) is your first point of contact for almost all health questions, both mental and physical.
Your GP can help you with:
- Physical and mental health problems;
- (Renewal of) prescriptions;
- Referral to a specialist and or hospital.
If you need or want to see a specialist, your GP usually has to refer you. If you go directly to a hospital or specialist without a referral, you may:
- Pay a much higher bill;
- Experience long waiting times or be turned away.
What to expect from a Dutch GP
Dutch GPs are generally careful with tests and medication. This means:
- They may not immediately prescribe antibiotics or other medication;
- They will only refer you to a specialist or request blood tests if there is a good medical reason in their opinion;
- They may advise you to take paracetamol (acetaminophen), rest for a few days, and come back if your symptoms do not improve.
In some countries, annual check ups and routine blood tests for minor complaints are common. In the Netherlands this is usually not standard practice. You normally need clear symptoms or a strong medical reason before a GP will arrange such tests or referrals.
Urgent care and emergencies
GP practices have fixed opening hours on weekdays that differ per practice. Outside these hours (evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays), you can contact the Huisartsenpost (HAP). This is an after hours GP clinic for urgent but not life threatening problems. If your condition is not urgent, the HAP will refer you back to your own GP.
More information on the HAPs in the Rotterdam region is available on the website of Huisartsenposten Rijnmond. For The Hague region, you can consult Huisartsenspoedpost Hadoks.
For life-threatening situations always call 112
Examples: serious accidents, severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding.
Register with a GP before you need one
We strongly recommend that you register with a GP soon after your arrival in the Netherlands. You can also save the contact details of one or more of the practices below in your phone, so you know who to contact when you need help.
Huisarts31 is a hybrid practice that is suitable if you are used to using digital tools. Their medical team will first try to help you via the app. If you need physical healthcare, they will refer you to a partner practice in your area.
Information
- Address: Your first consultation will be online. If an in person consultation is required, you will be referred to a practice in your area (see the practice website for locations in Rotterdam).
- Opening hours: 8:30 to 21:00 via the Cory.Care app
- Contact info:
- Telephone number: + 31 85 341 0105
- Website: www.huisarts31.nl/erasmus
- Mail: huisartsenpraktijk@huisarts31.nl
- Accepted insurance/Direct billing: Insure to Study, AON and Dutch basic health insurance providers.
- Other insurance/payment options: If your insurance is not directly accepted, you pay the bill yourself and request reimbursement from your insurance provider.
- Registration required: Yes
- Languages spoken: Dutch and English
Huisartspraktijk Fonderson is a modern general practice located in Hoogvliet, Rotterdam. The practice provides accessible, patient focused primary care, including general consultations, chronic disease management and mental health support. With digital services such as e consults and online prescription requests, the practice offers a holistic and innovative approach to healthcare.
Information
- Address: Stelle 6-A, 3191 KE Hoogvliet, Rotterdam
- Opening hours: 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:00 to 12.30 on Friday
- Contact info:
- Telephone number: + 31 10 416 22 44
- Website: huisartspraktijkmsf.nl
- Mail: info@huisartspraktijkfonderson.nl
- Registration required: Not required, but possible
- Accepted insurance and direct billing: Insure to Study, AON and Dutch basic health insurance providers.
- Other insurance and payment options: If your insurance is not directly accepted, you pay the bill via credit and debit card payment or via an online payment link and request reimbursement from your insurance provider.
- Languages spoken: Dutch, English, French and Polish
HuisDoc is a practice for international students, expats and tourists offering personal care in various languages. HuisDoc is licensed for travel vaccinations, is a licensed yellow fever vaccination centre and can issue or sign health certificates required by exchange universities.
Information
- Address: Jacob de Haanstraat 22, 3065 NG Rotterdam-Prinsenland
- Opening hours: 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 16:00 on weekdays (consultations by appointment only). Phone lines are staffed between 10:00 and 17:00. If the assistant is not available, you can leave a message and your call will be returned. Contact via WhatsApp and email is also possible.
- Contact info:
- Telephone number: + 31 6 1438 7509
- Website: www.huisdoc.com
- Mail: huisdoc@outlook.com
- Registration required: Not required, but possible.
- Accepted insurance/Direct billing: AON, and Insure to Study
- Other insurance/payment options: If your insurance is not directly accepted, you pay the bill yourself and request reimbursement from your insurance provider.
- Languages spoken: Dutch, English, German and Spanish
Jans Huisartsen has several locations in Rotterdam.
- Address: 3 locations in Rotterdam: Kralingen, Zuidplein and Center. See the practice website for current addresses.
- Opening hours: 08:00 to 16:00 on weekdays via the JansApp or from 08.00 to 12.00 by phone
- Contact info:
- Telephone number: see contact info per practice on Contact & Accessibility - JANS Huisartsen
- Website: janshuisartsen.nl
- Mail: see contact info per practice on Contact & Accessibility - JANS Huisartsen
- Registration required: Yes
- Accepted insurance/Direct billing: EHIC and Dutch basic health insurance
- Other insurance/payment options: None
- Languages spoken: Dutch and English
Other GP’s in the Netherlands
You can also search for another GP in Rotterdam on the Dutch website ZorgkaartNederland by entering your postal code or city of residence. You can then contact the practice directly to ask how to register.
Please note:
- Many practices in the area are full and may not be able to accept new patients;
- Some practices do not accept foreign (home country) insurance. You may need Dutch basic health insurance, or you may have to pay first and claim reimbursement from your insurer later.
Insurance for international students
Having appropriate health insurance in the Netherlands is very important and mandatory. Good insurance helps you avoid paying high, unforeseen medical costs yourself and reduces the risk of a fine. We recommend arranging your health insurance before you arrive in the Netherlands.
You can find more detailed information on the Erasmus University Rotterdam insurance pages.
What kind of healthcare service are you looking for?
If you have health issues and want to see a doctor, schedule an appointment with your GP. The usual practice in the Netherlands is that you first visit a GP (huisarts) before making an appointment with a specialist in a hospital.
We strongly encourage you to register with a GP as soon as possible after you have started your studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
If you cannot register at a local GP, please contact Jans Huisartsen to check whether you can register there.
If you have not succeeded in finding a GP and you need medical care, you can contact one of the Urgent Care Centers (Huisartsenposten) in Rotterdam. Do not call the emergency number 112 if there is no sign of a life threatening condition. Instead, call the phone number of the urgent care center closest to your location and book an appointment.
Please note: although the GP practice International Health Centre Rotterdam does not allow registration of students who are insured with AON, students with urgent medical conditions who are not registered with a GP yet are welcome for consultation and services. IHCR can therefore be contacted as an urgent care facility, similar to the Huisartsenposten.
The university psychologists at Erasmus University Rotterdam offer support to students with study issues or psychological, social and emotional problems that hinder their study progress.
If the university psychologists cannot offer the support you need, they can refer you to other support agencies.
The Student Wellbeing Platform also offers information, tips and resources to support your mental wellbeing.
Appointments for the following recommended dentists (Dutch: tandarts) should be made in advance; it is usually only possible to pay with cash.
Tandartsenpraktijk Strevelsweg
- Address: Strevelsweg 121
- Phone number: 010 485 92 06
- Registration: Before you can schedule an appointment, you need to register as a patient first. Please call or fill out the contact form.
- Address: Voorschoterlaan 31a
- Phone number: 010 414 22 48
- Registration: Before you can schedule an appointment, you need to register as a patient first. Please call or fill out the contact form.
Most medications in the Netherlands are only available on prescription. Your GP will provide the prescription and you can collect your medication at a pharmacy (apotheek).
Chemists (drogist) sell medication that does not require a prescription, such as aspirin and cough medicine. There is always at least one pharmacy open, even in the evening and at weekends. Every pharmacy displays which pharmacy is open outside regular hours.
Most hospitals can help you at the casualty department (EHBO) without a referral note from a GP. For most other departments you need a referral, for example from your GP.
You can get emergency help 24 hours a day. Ask for the EHBO department (pronounced “a ha bae o”). If there is an emergency or a life threatening situation, you can always call 112, the national emergency number. They can assist you with police, firefighters and medical services.
When you go to the hospital, always take your insurance papers with you.
Hospitals in Rotterdam
| Disctrict | Contact details hospital |
|---|---|
| Central District | Erasmus MC Dr. Molewaterplein 40 3015 GD Rotterdam Tel: 010 704 07 04 |
| Central/North District | Sint Franciscus Gasthuis Kleiweg 500 3045 PM Rotterdam Tel: 010 461 61 61 |
| East District | IJssellandziekenhuis Prins Constantijnweg 2 2906 ZC Capelle a/d IJssel Tel: 010 258 50 00 |
| South District | Maasstad Ziekenhuis Ikazia Ziekenhuis |
Physiotherapy is available on campus at Physiotherapy Woudestein, a small private practice on Erasmus Plaza at the Woudestein campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam. The practice offers physiotherapy and manual therapy.
Treatment
During the intake interview, your complaints are analysed and a treatment plan is drawn up. The actual treatment and guidance take place in follow up appointments. The practice also pays attention to preventive care to help you avoid recurring complaints. If needed, aftercare is offered to prevent a return to previous habits.
Treatment is by appointment only.
Whom do we treat?
The practice is open to everyone who has a connection with Erasmus University Rotterdam, including students and staff. People who live in the area around campus are also welcome.
Where?
The practice is located on Erasmus Plaza and housed in the Hatta building. You can enter via the main entrance of the building.
Opening hours
The practice is open from Monday to Friday and can be reached by telephone all week.
Fees
The cost of treatment is fully or partially refunded by most insurance companies. The current fee for physiotherapy is around 45 euro per appointment and for manual therapy around 52,50 euro per appointment.
Check your insurance policy to see whether you are insured for paramedical treatment. Paramedical care is usually covered by supplementary insurance. If you do not have supplementary insurance, you will have to pay the fee yourself when you come for your appointment.
Referral note
You do not need a referral note from a doctor for physiotherapy. In the case of chronic symptoms, however, you will need a referral note.
More information
For more information about the practice, please visit the website of Physiotherapy Woudestein (in Dutch).
Physiotherapist and manual therapist Dimitri Motz
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam
Tel. 010-4081874 / 06-54763441
E-mail: vragen@fysiotherapiewoudestein
The Area Health Authority for Rotterdam and its surroundings (GGD Rotterdam Rijnmond) promotes the health of the population. The GGD has both a preventive and a care mandate.
Most vaccinations, for example for people planning to travel to tropical regions, can be obtained at the GGD. Foreigners who come to the Netherlands do not usually need vaccinations at the GGD. However, people from high risk areas in some non western countries must take a tuberculosis test at the GGD in order to obtain a residence permit.
- Address: Schiedamsedijk 95, 3011 EN Rotterdam
- Phone number: (010) 433 99 66
- Mail: info@ggd.rotterdam.nl
- Website: www.ggdrotterdamrijnmond.nl/ (in Dutch)
Together with other higher education institutions in the Netherlands, Erasmus University Rotterdam has committed to the National Prevention Agreement (Nationaal Preventieakkoord) of 2018. In this agreement, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport aims to make excessive and heavy alcohol consumption a less normal part of student life.
Erasmus University Rotterdam discusses excessive alcohol consumption with representatives of student organisations. These discussions have led to several agreements. Students who experience problems in their study progress because of personal circumstances, including alcohol related problems, can receive psychological and practical support at the university.
You can read more on MyEUR on what the EUR does to reduce excessive alcohol consumption.
If you study at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and live or study in The Hague, you can find more information about healthcare services and providers on the ISS Practical Information pages.
