Newcomers swap the story like a rite of passage: you drag yourself to the Dutch doctor, genuinely unwell, and walk out with one instruction, “take paracetamol and rest.” No tests, no antibiotics, no fuss. It is one of the most famous expat shocks in the Netherlands. Here is why it happens, what it means, and how to be taken seriously at the huisarts (GP).
It is culture, not neglect
First, the reassurance: this is deliberate, not laziness or incompetence. As DutchReview’s much-shared piece on being prescribed only paracetamol explains, Dutch doctors have a reputation for being “stingy” with pills, because, for them, getting sick is a normal thing the body handles, nothing to panic about or pump full of unnecessary drugs.
As ACCESS NL puts it in its guide to Dutch medicine culture, Dutch GPs will always prescribe medication that is genuinely needed, they simply try non-prescription solutions first, and often that means paracetamol, rest, and time. It is an evidence-minded reluctance to over-medicate, not a refusal to care.
Why this clashes with expat expectations
The friction is cultural. Different countries “do illness” differently: where the Dutch wait and see, many cultures intervene fast with medication, treating a flu, say, as more serious. Neither is wrong, but the gap is jarring. Tellingly, expat-health guides note that a large share of internationals do not trust that the Dutch doctor “knows best”, which colours the whole experience. Knowing the why in advance takes most of the alarm out of it.
The practical upside: paracetamol is everywhere
One genuinely handy consequence: in the Netherlands you do not need a pharmacy or prescription for basic pain relief. Paracetamol is sold cheaply in supermarkets, drugstores (drogist), and even petrol stations. So the advice to “take paracetamol” is also the easiest prescription in the world to fill.
How to actually get heard
If you do have something that needs more, the way through is communication, in the direct Dutch style:
- Be concrete. What exactly hurts, since when, how severe. Vague “I feel awful” lands less than “sharp pain here for five days, getting worse.”
- Lead with daily impact. Dutch GPs respond to function: “I can’t sleep / work / climb stairs” carries more weight than how worried you feel.
- Flag deterioration. “It’s getting worse,” not just “it won’t go away.”
- Ask directly. “Wanneer is verder onderzoek nodig?” (When would further investigation be needed?)
The vocabulary that helps:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| huisarts | GP |
| klachten | symptoms / complaints |
| pijnstiller | painkiller |
| koorts | fever |
| doorverwijzing | referral (to a specialist) |
| recept | prescription |
This is the same be-clear-and-be-heard skill we cover in depth in making yourself heard at the huisarts, and it connects to reading the bijsluiter (medicine leaflet) and understanding your eigen risico (own-risk excess) when costs come up. It is also the same direct, factual Dutch that protects you in other essential admin, like knowing what to ask before you rent. For the everyday-Dutch confidence behind all of it, a market visit is lower-stakes practice for the same register.
The bottom line
Your Dutch GP prescribing paracetamol is not neglect, it is a deliberate, wait-and-see medical culture that avoids over-medicating, and paracetamol is cheap and everywhere because of it. The doctor will escalate when it is truly needed. To get there, communicate like a Dutch patient: concrete symptoms, real daily impact, clear deterioration, and a direct question about next steps. Learn the words klachten, koorts, and doorverwijzing, and you turn a frustrating visit into a productive one.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the doctor-visit Dutch that gets you heard, describing symptoms, severity and daily impact clearly by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can work with the huisarts instead of leaving confused with only paracetamol.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Dutch doctors always prescribe paracetamol?
It reflects Dutch medical culture, which favours a wait-and-see approach and avoids unnecessary medication. GPs (huisartsen) see most everyday illnesses as things the body resolves on its own, so they recommend paracetamol, rest and fluids rather than reaching for antibiotics or stronger drugs. It is not neglect or incompetence; it is a deliberate, evidence-minded reluctance to over-medicate that surprises many newcomers.
Is it normal to only get paracetamol from a Dutch GP?
Yes, it is very common and a frequent source of expat frustration. Dutch GPs prescribe less medication than doctors in many other countries, and paracetamol plus rest is a standard answer for colds, mild pain and many viral complaints. They will prescribe stronger medicine when it is genuinely needed; they just do not default to it. Understanding this in advance makes the visit far less alarming.
How do I get a Dutch doctor to take my symptoms seriously?
Be concrete and specific. Describe exactly what hurts, since when, how severe, and crucially how it affects your daily life and work, Dutch GPs respond to functional impact. Say if it is getting worse, not just lingering. Ask directly what would warrant further investigation. Clear, factual communication (in their direct style) works far better than emphasising how worried or miserable you feel.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for doctor visits?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the doctor-visit Dutch that gets you heard, describing symptoms, severity and daily impact clearly, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can work with the huisarts instead of leaving confused with only paracetamol.
