NL

Health

Your health is the most important thing you have. Register with a doctor, do the health test and take a look at our tips for staying healthy as a student.

Health insurance

Before you come to the Netherlands, it is important to make sure that you have made arrangements to be properly insured for medical costs. Please read the information and review the options we have provided on health insurance.

Which health insurance do I need?

You will need adequate insurance cover to safeguard against high costs resulting from an accident or illness. This will ensure that unexpected problems do not lead to major financial risks. There are different types of coverage: a private insurance, international student insurance or a public Dutch health insurance. You will find more information on the Study in Holland website and the Zorgverzekeringslijn.

Health insurance from your home country

If your stay in the Netherlands is temporary (less than 1 year) it is possible that your health insurance from your home country provides you with coverage in the Netherlands. Please check if your insurance company can provide you with an international declaration in English.

Are you an EU national? Check if your insurance company can provide you with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC-card). Please check how long the insurance will cover you abroad and what the conditions are. This varies per country.

Make sure to bring the EHIC-card with you to the Netherlands. You will need it when you see a doctor in the Netherlands.

Health insurance for international students

If you are not covered by your healthcare insurance from your home country while in the Netherlands, you will have to take out another healthcare insurance. AON and Insure to Study offers special policies available for international students in the Netherlands.

Please note; If you already have a medical condition this then is generally not covered by insurance companies offering health insurance packages for international students.

For the AON insurance you will need to have a Dutch address to apply for this type of insurance. Please make sure you have a travel insurance to cover the first period of your stay in the Netherlands! This is very important, since you don't want to risk having to pay high medical costs in case of a, for example, medical emergency.

Public Dutch health insurance

In case you have a part-time job you need to take out public Dutch health insurance. Also when you get married, have childeren or buy a house your status in the Netherlands changes from student (temporary) to permanent. In all these cases you have to take out public Dutch health insurance. It is mandatory to have at least a basic health insurance. You can also get an additional insurance, depending what your health care needs are. This is not mandatory.

Please visit the website of Zorgverzekeringslijn for information on this subject.

There is a discount for HKU students with Zilveren Kruis Achmea. To get the discount rate you will have to use a special number for HBO students: 207000892. For more information: Zilveren Kruis

Via Independer you are able to compare health insurance companies.

Healthcare benefit

You may be eligible to get healthcare benefit if you have a public Dutch health insurance. Please note that this allowance is not applicable to student insurance such as AON and Insure to Study. Please visit the Belastingdienst website to see what the excact conditions are and apply via their website.

Self-employed / paid internship

A registration at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce to work on self-employed basis or an internship does not automatically mean that you need to have a public Dutch health insurance.

It is important to contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to request for an investigation of your insurance situation under the Wlz scheme. They will investigate if you need a Dutch basic health insurance based on your personal situation. You can do this online with a DigiD via the SVB website. If you do not have a DigiD you can use the SVB application form.

Applying for a VVR?

Please note that for a VVR visa for study the IND requires that you have extensive insurance coverage, which even covers admission to a mental hospital or sanatorium.

Do not risk a fine!

In the Netherlands everyone is obliged to have a health insurance. If not it is possible you will get a fine. If there is suspicion you are not well insured you will receive a letter of CAK. Here you can read what to do in that case.

Language of your insurance documents

Whichever type of insurance you have, make sure that the insurance documents are written in one of the following European languages: English, French, German.

Health services

Where can you get medical care when you need it? If you can't find the information you need here, you can contact HKU Service Desk Student Affairs: on working days between 10 am and 5 pm: phone 030-2091540 or e-mail sz@hku.nl.

  • For all non-emergency situations, you consult a General Practitioner. The following General Practitioner practices are open to all international HKU-students. All the doctors speak English fluently.

    • Janskerkhof General Practitioners office

    Nobelstraat 2a, 3512 EN Utrecht (above Trainmore, entrance next to coffee bar Ludwig)

    030-7601301

    www.huisartsjanskerkhof.nl

    Opening hours: 8 am - 5 pm

    We specialise in student medical problems. Our online services provide easy and convenient access. All the doctors speak English fluently.

    • De Uithof Utrecht Science Park Campus General Practitioners

    Campus de Uithof Utrecht Science Park of the University of Utrecht in the Casa Confetti building Leuvenplein 10-11, 3584 LA Utrecht.

    030-7601301

    www.huisartsdeuithof.nl

    Opening hours: 8 am - 5 pm

    We specialise in student medical problems. Our online services provide easy and convenient access. All the doctors speak English fluently.

    Weekend and night services

    Outside of office hours the central GP urgent care centre (UCC) can be contacted. It is meant exclusively for cases of emergency occurring at night, on weekends and during public holidays. Please visit their website to see the nearest location from where you live and all other important information.

    Please note: You cannot simply visit the UCC. You need to call in advance to make sure you receive the help you require quickly. When you dial the UCC’s number, you will be given a number of options. In the event of a potentially life-threatening situation, press 1 to be given priority. For Utrecht the number is 088- 130 96 70. Please visit their website for the numbers of other UCC's near Utrecht.

  • In cases where acute medical care is needed students can visit a hospital emergency room.

    Hospitals

    Utrechts Medisch Centrum (UMC)

    Heidelberglaan 100 (Utrecht Science Park)

    T 088 75 555 55 (general number).

    In case of an emergency call their ER: 088 75 666 66

    UMC Utrecht website

    Diakonessenhuis Utrecht

    Bosboomstraat 1

    T 088 250 5000

    Diakonessenhuis website (in Dutch)

    St. Antonius Ziekenhuis

    Location Leidsche Rijn

    Soestwetering 1, 3543 AZ Utrecht

    T 088 - 320 30 00

    Location Nieuwegein

    Koekoekslaan 1, 3435 CM Nieuwegein

    T 088 - 320 30 00

    St. Antonius Ziekenhuis website (in Dutch)

    Emergency service

    In case of accidents or sudden illness requiring immediate medical attention, call the general emergency number: 112.

    You must always bring:

    • identification

    • insurance papers

    In life-threatening situations, you will always be admitted. If you are admitted without sufficient insurance papers you might be obliged to pay a sum of €300 first (by cash, pin or credit card).

    The Utrechts Medisch Centrum always offers free care.

  • You can only see a specialist after having consulted your General Practitioner. The GP will give you a letter of reference (verwijsbrief) for the specialist. With this letter, you can claim reimbursement from your health insurance.

  • In general, dental treatment is not covered by (Dutch) health insurance, unless you have additional coverage. A dentist will always give you a cost-estimate on your first visit. Usually you will need to pay in cash. For an overview of dentists (tandartsen) you can consult www.tandarts.nl. If you fill in your city or postal code and the distance you are willing to travel you will get information on dentists within that distance.

  • In case of accidents or sudden illness requiring immediate medical attention, you can go to the emergency room of any hospital (bring insurance information) or call the general emergency number: 112.

Register with a doctor

Have you moved to Utrecht? Then register with a GP here. You can do that via Huisartsen Utrecht Stad, for example.
Find your new GP

Study problems due to illness

Do you have health problems? Are they causing problems with your studies? Then contact the student counsellor.

How do other students cope with health issues?

What do they do when they feel out of sorts? How do they cope with tension, do they ask for help or do they prefer to solve the problem by themselves? How do problems affect their study and/or student life?

On the following website 26 students talk about their personal experiences with fatigue, stress, being overworked, gloominess and other problems www.ik-student.nl/en

Healthy study habits

At studiestress.nl you can find good tips for mental and physical health, information on studying skills, clarifying study tests and more.
Explore Healthy Study Habits (in Dutch)

Exercise to stay fit

There are plenty of facilities for exercise in Utrecht, including student associations.
Read more about exercise in Utrecht

Test your health

How do you score in terms of health, lifestyle and quality of life? Compare yourself with fellow students and get feedback.
Do the test at Studentengezondheidstest (Student Health Test)