After obtaining health insurance, the next step is to find a General Practitioner (GP), also known as a personal doctor (huisarts), in the Netherlands.

Every individual in the country is required to register with their own doctor or medical clinic. Private practices often have multiple doctors, hence the term "clinic." Once you have paid for and registered your health insurance, you will receive a card that you need to present to the clinic and your doctor during the registration process and for every appointment you book. It is good to always keep your card in your wallet or at least have a picture of it in your phone (front and back).

Before you can register though, it is important to find your own personal doctor. A good starting point is to search for doctors or clinics near your location by using online search engines. Contact them one by one to inquire about their availability. Keep in mind that many doctors may not be accepting new patients, and their openings might be several months away (for registering, not visiting) . It is also helpful to consider doctors located near your residence in case of emergencies when a house-call is necessary or if you are unable to travel long distances while you are extremely sick.

(Personal opinion: If you find a good doctor, even if they are located at the other end of the city, it is worth holding onto them tightly. They are just a taxi ride away if needed.)

Another way to find doctors in your area is by using zorgkaartnederland.nl. Simply enter your postal code in the second text box and click "zoek" to initiate the search.

Whenever you have any health-related concerns, it is important to visit your GP first. You can book your appointment by phone call or email. Once you are already registered with them and have access to their platform you can see their appointment availability on the clinic's site. During the appointment your general doctor will then refer you to specialists such as dermatologists, physiotherapists, gynaecologists, orthopaedics, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists and others. You can't book directly an appointment with a specialist. You always have to go through your general doctor first. Keep in mind that meeting with a specialist may take longer than one appointment to receive the necessary treatment. It is essential to note that you cannot undergo blood tests or any other kind of check-ups without a referral from your GP. Visiting the Emergency Room (ER) of a hospital is not useful either, as they will redirect you to your GP.

This is why it is crucial to establish a good rapport with your GP. Medication can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription. However, getting a doctor to prescribe medication can sometimes be a complex process, especially when you have just moved to the country and the doctor is not familiar with your medical history or drug resistance. During the first visit, doctors tend to be cautious and may initially recommend paracetamol and relaxation. If the issue persists over the following days, the doctor will suggest a second visit and possibly prescribe medication. It is worth noting that when you call the clinic, you will typically speak with the receptionist or the doctor's assistant, who will relay your questions to the doctor and provide you with the answers. Direct contact with the doctor may not be possible, which differs from the practice in some other countries. Some clinics offer apps where you can chat online with an available doctor, but this is usually for updates on your current status or emergencies.

In case you have a long-term health issue, it is advisable to bring enough medication to last a couple of months until you obtain health insurance, find a doctor, and establish a good rapport with them.

*** In the Netherlands, it is important to distinguish that dentists are not classified as doctors in this context. When searching for a dentist, you can follow a similar approach to finding a general doctor by conducting an online search and registering with a dental practice. Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that in the Netherlands, general doctors (GPs) have the authority to prescribe psychiatric medication and conduct Pap tests for women.