Health Insurance in the Netherlands: Zorgverzekering and Zorgtoeslag

In the Netherlands health insurance is not a choice: if you live or work here, it is compulsory. All the Dutch words can seem complicated at first, but the system is logical. In this article we go through the premiums, the own risk, the allowance, and what to do if you get sick.

Compulsory basic insurance

Dutch health insurance is called zorgverzekering. The basic insurance (basisverzekering) is compulsory for everyone who lives in the Netherlands, or works here and pays tax on their wages here. This also applies to agency workers, whether you came for a short or a long time.

The government decides what the basic insurance covers, so it covers more or less the same at every insurer. The differences are more in the premium, the service, and which doctors and hospitals the insurer has contracts with.

Next to the basic insurance you can also take extra insurance (aanvullende verzekering), for example for the dentist or physiotherapy. This is not compulsory. Think about whether you really need it.

For the insurance you need a BSN (burgerservicenummer, citizen service number). We write more about this in our checklist for your first weeks.

How much does it cost in 2026?

According to Dutch government data, the average premium for basic insurance in 2026 is 1 884 euros per year, which is about 157 euros per month. The real premium differs by insurer and package, so it can be a little more or less.

Many uitzendbureaus (employment agencies) offer their workers a group insurance. Then the premium is often deducted directly from your pay, and you can see it on your loonstrook (payslip). This is easy, but check:

• exactly how much is deducted per month or per week,
• what the package covers, and whether it includes extra insurance,
• what happens to the insurance if you change jobs or your assignment ends.

If you take insurance yourself, you can compare insurers, but make sure you are never without insurance for even one day, and that you do not have two insurances at the same time.

Eigen risico: the compulsory own risk

The eigen risico is the amount you pay yourself each year for some healthcare costs before the insurer takes them over. In 2026 it is 385 euros per year.

This is not a monthly fee, it is a maximum. If you do not have any treatment all year that counts towards it, you pay nothing. If you need, for example, a hospital test or medicine, the insurer sends you part or all of the bill, up to 385 euros. Above that, the insurer pays.

You can find exactly what counts towards the eigen risico and what does not in your insurer's conditions. Ask before you go for a bigger treatment, so you do not get a surprise.

You can choose a higher own risk in return for a cheaper monthly premium. This is risky: an unexpected illness can cost a lot, so think carefully before you choose this.

Zorgtoeslag: help for lower incomes

If your income is lower, you can ask for zorgtoeslag, an allowance towards your insurance premium. Dienst Toeslagen (the part of the Belastingdienst responsible for allowances) decides on it and pays it.

A few important things:

• To apply you usually need a BSN and DigiD (the Dutch digital ID).
• The amount depends on your income and situation, so it is not worth trying to work out an exact amount in advance.
• If your income or address changes, or you leave the Netherlands, report it. Allowance paid to you by mistake can be asked back later, and that can be an unpleasant surprise.

If you are not sure whether you can get it, ask the agency or contact the Belastingdienst. For a personal situation, the free advice of the Juridisch Loket can also help.

The GP system (huisarts)

In the Netherlands almost everything starts with the GP, the family doctor (huisarts). They are your first stop when you are sick, and they decide if you need a specialist or a hospital test. You usually get to a specialist with their referral.

That is why it is important to register with a huisarts near where you live as soon as possible after you arrive. Do not start looking when you already have a fever. Sometimes a practice does not take new patients, so try in time, and ask the agency or the people in your housing where they go.

Good to know:

• Huisartsenpost: the GP out-of-hours service in the evening, at night and at the weekend. Always call first.
• Apotheek: the pharmacy. This is where you get medicine on prescription.
• 112: call this number in a life-threatening emergency.

What to do if you are sick

1. Report it to the agency. Reporting sick (ziekmelding) to the agency, and often also at the workplace, follows strict rules. Ask in advance who to tell, how, and by when, usually before your shift starts.
2. Call the huisarts. During the day call the GP, in the evening and at the weekend the huisartsenpost. In an emergency call 112.
3. Ask about pay. How much pay you get while sick, and what it depends on, is set by your agency's contract and rules. Ask before you need it.
4. Keep the papers. Prescriptions, bills, letters from the insurer: they can all be useful later.
5. Stay in touch. If you are sick for a longer time, contact the agency regularly and answer their messages.

If you feel you are not getting what you are owed, the trade unions (FNV, CNV) and the Juridisch Loket can also help.

If you go home

If you leave the Netherlands for good, do not forget to cancel your insurance, and to tell Dienst Toeslagen if you received zorgtoeslag. If you only change jobs, check that your insurance continues without a break.

On Eyesonworks.eu you can filter by housing, net weekly pay and type of work, and you always reach the agency's original job ad. Ask the agency there about the insurance conditions.

In short

• Zorgverzekering is compulsory if you live in the Netherlands, or work and pay tax here.
• The average premium in 2026 is 1 884 euros per year, about 157 euros per month.
• The eigen risico in 2026 is 385 euros per year: up to this amount you pay some costs yourself.
• With a lower income you can ask Dienst Toeslagen for zorgtoeslag.
• After you arrive, register with a huisarts, and know in advance how to report sick.