The Hague at a Glance

Health Care in The Hague

Stay healthy! You don't want to miss the Prinsjesdag parade.

Living in The Hague, you’ll be right at the pulse of Europe! Its many international institutions make it a global city of peace and justice. But there’s a lot more to living in The Hague: Our expat guide on living in The Hague takes a detailed look at education, housing, and health care in the city.

Health Care

The Netherlands offers a comprehensive healthcare system with plenty of top-notch health centers and hospitals. Particularly bigger cities like The Hague have specialized hospitals and international medical staff who cater to the expat community. Each year, the country invests 10% of its GNP in the health sector to ensure top-quality care.

All people living in The Hague or anywhere else in the Netherlands must have health insurance. This obligation was settled in the Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet), according to which every resident has to have access to basic health care. Your contributions will be based on your income.

Public Health Department

The Public Health Department in The Hague consists of different sections, the most important of them being:

Epidemiology
Public (mental) health care
Infectious disease control and hygiene
Children’s health services
Ambulance care

If you have enquiries or issues you need help with, you can visit the main office in The Hague, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. It is located on Thorbeckelaan 360.

Choosing your General Practitioner

The Dutch health care system allows you to choose your general practitioner freely. You may want to pick one who has a practice near your house or workplace or one who friends or colleagues have recommended. If you are unsure, however, you can try to find a doctor by visiting the website of Zorgkaartnederland.

Simply type in “Den Haag” under “Plaats of postcode” and click “Zoeken”. You will then get a list of doctor’s practices in Den Haag. By clicking on one of the categories on the right-hand side, you can further specify your search. Click on “Huisarts” for a list of general practitioners.

Doctors and the Language Barrier

Expats living in The Hague do not all speak perfect Dutch, of course. By the same token, not every doctor or medical practitioner in The Hague will speak English or another foreign language. This often makes communicating difficult, especially when dealing with complicated medical issues.

However, your doctor can call “Tolk- en Vertaalcentrum Nederland (TVcN)” and make use of their interpretation and translation service. The interpreter can listen along on the phone and translate what your doctor is saying. In some cases, an interpreter can even accompany you to your appointment. As long as your doctor makes the request, you will not have to pay for these services.