Dutch doctors, GGD staff, and pharmacists speak excellent English — this is rarely a language barrier. What matters more is understanding the system terms: the administrative and insurance vocabulary that determines what you pay and where you go.
The Health System
| Purpose | Dutch Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory basic health insurance. | Basisverzekering | Every Dutch resident must have it. Covers most medical care, subject to Eigen Risico. |
| Your annual health insurance deductible. | Eigen Risico | Minimum €385/year (can be higher if you've chosen a voluntary increase). Lab tests and specialist care are billed against this. The GGD Soa Poli is the main way to avoid Eigen Risico for sexual health care. |
| Your monthly insurance premium. | Zorgpremie | Separate from Eigen Risico. |
| Municipal Health Service. | GGD (Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst) | Runs free Soa Poli (STI clinics) and vaccine programmes. |
| GP (family doctor). | Huisarts | Your primary care doctor and gatekeeper. Consultations are free; labs come out of Eigen Risico. |
| Referral letter from your huisarts to see a specialist. | Verwijsbrief | Required for most non-emergency specialist care. |
| Hospital emergency department. | SEH (Spoedeisende Hulp) | For PEP outside GGD hours. |
| STI clinic (specifically at the GGD). | Soa Poli | Soa = Seksueel Overdraagbare Aandoening (sexually transmitted infection). |
| Pharmacist / Pharmacy. | Apotheker / Apotheek |
Appointments
| Purpose | Dutch Term |
|---|---|
| To make an appointment | Afspraken maken |
| GP practice | Huisartsenpraktijk |
| Full / not taking new patients | Patiëntenstop |
| Waiting list | Wachtlijst |
| Waiting room | Wachtkamer |
| Referral letter | Verwijsbrief |
| Prescription | Recept |
| Reimbursement/coverage | Vergoeding |
Sexual Health and Testing
| Purpose | Dutch Term |
|---|---|
| Sexually transmitted infection (STI) | Seksueel overdraagbare aandoening (soa) |
| HIV test | HIV-test |
| Swab / Swabs (culture) | Kweek / Kweken |
| Throat swab | Keelkweek |
| Anal/rectal swab | Anale kweek |
| Urethral swab | Urethrakweek |
| Blood test | Bloedtest / Bloedonderzoek |
| Urine test | Urinetest |
| Test result | Uitslag |
| Positive / Negative | Positief / Negatief |
| STI clinic (at GGD) | Soa Poli |
HIV, PrEP, and PEP
| Purpose | Dutch Term |
|---|---|
| PrEP | PrEP |
| PEP | PEP (Post-expositieprofylaxe) |
| HIV positive / negative | HIV-positief / -negatief |
| Undetectable | Niet-detecteerbaar |
| Viral load | Viruslading |
| CD4 cells | CD4-cellen |
| Antiretroviral therapy | Antiretrovirale therapie (ART) |
| Infectious disease specialist | Infectioloog |
Key Phrases
| Purpose | Dutch Term |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels? |
| Full STI screen — throat, rectal, and urethral swabs | Ik wil me laten testen op soa's, inclusief keelkweek, anale kweek en urethrakweek, plus bloedonderzoek. |
| Complete STI testing — throat and anus swabs | Neemt u ook kweken van de keel en de anus, naast de bloedtest? |
| Anonymous HIV test | Ik wil een anonieme HIV-test. |
| I'm on PrEP — need my three-month monitoring | Ik gebruik PrEP en heb mijn driemaandelijkse controle nodig. |
| I want to start (register for) PrEP | Kan ik me aanmelden voor PrEP? |
| HIV exposure — I need PEP — within 72 hours | Ik heb risico gelopen op HIV-besmetting. Ik heb PEP nodig — ik ben binnen 72 uur. |
| Is this covered by my insurance? | Valt dit onder mijn verzekering? |
| I have an EHIC card | Ik heb een Europese verzekeringskaart (EHIC). |
| I need help | Ik heb hulp nodig! |
| Call an ambulance | Bel een ambulance! |
Emergency Numbers
Emergency numbers:
- 112 — General emergency (police, ambulance, fire) — English-speaking
- 0900 8844 — Non-emergency police
Signs:
- SEH / Spoedeisende Hulp — Emergency department
- EHBO — First aid
- Ingang — Entrance