Once you’ve settled in the Netherlands and are fully registered, chances are you’ll start planning some holidays to explore Europe (or beyond). But what happens if you need medical care while you’re traveling — and you’re not in your home country or the Netherlands?
Yes — but only to a certain extent. Your basic Dutch health insurance offers limited coverage for urgent medical care abroad, even if you’re not traveling to your home country. This coverage:
Applies to emergency medical care only
Is limited to the rates applicable in the Netherlands
May not fully cover costs in countries with more expensive healthcare (e.g. USA, Switzerland)
That means: if you end up needing care abroad, and the cost is higher than what the same treatment would cost in the Netherlands, you’ll likely have to pay the difference yourself.
Example: A €2,000 treatment abroad may only be reimbursed up to €600, depending on the Dutch equivalent.
To avoid surprise costs, you can:
Add an “additional health insurance” package with extended foreign coverage
This is offered by most Dutch health insurers
You can often add this at the start of a new calendar year
Take out a travel insurance policy that includes medical expenses coverage
This is flexible and can be arranged per trip or annually
It covers:
Emergency medical costs beyond the Dutch rate
Emergency dental care
Medical repatriation
Some also reimburse your Dutch health insurance deductible
Tip: If you already have Dutch travel insurance, check whether medical expenses are included. In many cases, this coverage is optional and not automatically added.
If you're traveling within Europe, make sure to bring your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). This card gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare in EU countries and a few others.
Most Dutch insurers include this card on the back of your health insurance card or offer a digital version via their app.