for international students

Healthcare and insurance

Play video

Why insurance is important

Before arriving in the Netherlands, it鈥檚 essential to arrange the right insurance. Some types are mandatory, while others are optional but strongly recommended. It is your responsibility to make sure you are properly insured from the moment you arrive.

Depending on your situation, you may need:

  • health insurance (mandatory)
  • liability insurance (recommended)
  • household insurance (optional)
  • travel insurance (optional)

If you plan to work or do a paid internship in the Netherlands, you are legally required to have Dutch public health insurance (Basisverzekering).

Combined student insurance:
Many international student insurance providers offer packages that include health, liability, household contents, and travel coverage in one plan. This can be a simpler way to ensure you have all the protection you need while studying in the Netherlands.

Insurances types

Many international student insurance providers offer packages that include health, liability, household contents, and travel coverage in one plan. This can be a simpler way to ensure you have all the protection you need while studying in the Netherlands.

Which health insurance you need:

Students from EU/EEA countries and countries with a Dutch health insurance agreement

If you are insured in your home country, you can apply for a through your national provider. This gives access to necessary healthcare in the Netherlands under the same conditions as Dutch residents.

Important:

  • EHIC covers medically necessary care during your stay that cannot reasonably wait until you return to your home country
  • It does not generally cover planned or ongoing mental health care
  • It does not cover liability, repatriation, luggage, or private healthcare
  • It may not cover your full stay or all healthcare costs

For a longer stay, additional insurance is strongly recommended because EHIC may not cover all the healthcare you need.
Covered countries: All EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Morocco, most countries of the former Yugoslavia, Tunisia, Cape Verde, and Australia.

Non-EU / non-EEA students

You must have insurance that covers:

  • all medical costs, including physical and mental healthcare, hospitalization, and HIV treatment
  • liability insurance
  • repatriation (minimum 鈧�500,000)
  • optional but recommend: accidents, luggage, household contents

Make sure your insurance is sufficient before arrival and remains valid throughout your stay in the Netherlands.

You must have appropriate health insurance throughout your stay in the Netherlands. Do not cancel your insurance while you are still studying here unless you have arranged alternative coverage.

Play video

Students with a paid job or internship

If you earn at least the , you are legally required to take out Dutch public health insurance (Basisverzekering).
If you earn less, you can usually keep your student insurance from your home country or a private student insurance plan.

Dutch public health insurance providers:

Dutch public health insurance (Basisverzekering) covers essential healthcare, such as visits to a general practitioner, hospital care, and prescribed medication. The basic coverage is determined by the government and is similar across all providers.

Depending on your situation, you can either:

  • take out Dutch public health insurance as your main insurance, or
  • keep your current insurance and arrange additional insurance to cover what is missing

Important: Dutch public health insurance has a mandatory annual deductible (eigen risico) of 鈧�385. This means you may have to pay the first 鈧�385 of certain healthcare costs yourself each year.

Tip: compare coverage, monthly costs, and included services before making a decision.

Accessing healthcare in the Netherlands

To receive eith medical or mental healthcare, you usually need to register with a general practitioner (GP).
Learn how the Dutch healthcare system works and how to register.

 

Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag)

Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a monthly allowance to help cover the cost of Dutch public health insurance.

  • Applications are made via the Dutch tax authority (Belastingdienst)
  • More information:

Letter from CAK

During your study period in the Netherlands, you may receive a letter from the Central Administration Office (CAK) regarding healthcare contributions or verification of your insurance.

Even if you already have valid insurance, including a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you must respond to this letter. CAK has no other way of verifying your insurance status.

Important: If you do not respond within three months, you may receive a fine of approximately 鈧�500.

Other practical matters