A referral to a hospital specialist can feel daunting in a language you are still learning. The Dutch system has a clear path, GP, referral, outpatient clinic, and a set of words that recur at every step. Here is what to expect.
The gateway: a verwijzing from your GP
The key rule: you reach a hospital specialist almost always via a verwijzing (referral) from your huisarts (GP). You cannot normally book a specialist yourself. The GP assesses you and, if needed, writes a verwijsbrief (referral letter), which builds on being heard at the huisarts and describing your symptoms clearly. The government’s healthcare pages explain this GP-gateway model.
The polikliniek
Outpatient appointments (no overnight stay) happen at the polikliniek (outpatient clinic). Each specialty has its own poli, often labelled poli + field:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| poli cardiologie | cardiology clinic |
| poli dermatologie | dermatology |
| poli orthopedie | orthopaedics |
| de SEH (spoedeisende hulp) | A&E / emergency |
| de opname | (hospital) admission |
You check in at the balie (desk) or an aanmeldzuil (self-service kiosk) with your ID, zorgpas (insurance card) and appointment details, then wait to be called.
Who you’ll meet
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de specialist / de arts | specialist / doctor |
| de verpleegkundige | nurse |
| de poliassistente | clinic assistant |
| de coassistent | medical trainee |
The appointment vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de afspraak | appointment |
| het onderzoek | examination / test |
| de uitslag | the result |
| de behandeling | treatment |
| de verwijsbrief | referral letter |
| de controle | follow-up check |
So Ik heb een afspraak op de poli (I have an outpatient appointment), and after tests you wait for de uitslag (the result), the same word as on a screening invite. The patient site Thuisarts.nl explains many procedures in plain Dutch.
What it costs: eigen risico
Hospital and specialist care is covered by your basic insurance, but it counts against your eigen risico (the annual deductible, see eigen risico vs eigen bijdrage). GP visits do not count, but tests, specialist treatment and admission usually do. So a referral can bring costs up to your eigen risico; ask the polikliniek or your insurer if unsure. The Zorginstituut Nederland sets out what is covered.
What to bring
- Your verwijsbrief (referral letter), if not sent digitally.
- A valid legitimatiebewijs (ID).
- Your zorgpas / insurance details.
Where it connects
A hospital visit sits with the rest of Dutch healthcare: the huisarts gateway, describing symptoms, eigen risico, and the overgang or other specialist routes.
The bottom line
A Dutch hospital visit starts with a verwijzing from your GP, runs through the polikliniek (the poli for your specialty), and means checking in at the balie or aanmeldzuil with ID and zorgpas. Learn onderzoek, uitslag, behandeling and controle, know that it counts against your eigen risico, and bring your verwijsbrief. The path is clear once you know the words.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the hospital and appointment vocabulary, ziekenhuis, polikliniek, verwijzing, onderzoek, uitslag, in five-minute lessons built on real visits, so a specialist appointment is clear and less daunting.
Frequently asked questions
How do you see a specialist in the Netherlands?
Almost always via a verwijzing (referral) from your huisarts (GP). You cannot usually book a hospital specialist directly; the GP assesses you first and, if needed, refers you with a verwijsbrief (referral letter). You then make an appointment at the relevant polikliniek (outpatient clinic). This GP-gateway system is central to Dutch healthcare and surprises newcomers used to booking specialists themselves.
What is a ‘polikliniek’?
A polikliniek is the outpatient department of a hospital, where you have appointments without being admitted. Each medical specialty has its own poli, often labelled poli plus the field: poli cardiologie (cardiology), poli dermatologie, poli orthopedie. You check in at the balie (desk) or an aanmeldzuil (self-check-in kiosk) with your ID, zorgpas (insurance card) and appointment details, then wait to be called.
Does a hospital visit cost money in the Netherlands?
Hospital and specialist care is covered by your basic health insurance, but it counts against your eigen risico, the annual deductible (around 385 euros) you pay before insurance kicks in for most non-GP care. GP visits themselves do not count, but tests, specialist treatment and hospital care usually do. So a referral can lead to costs up to your eigen risico; ask the polikliniek or your insurer if unsure.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for hospital and medical visits?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the hospital vocabulary you need under stress, ziekenhuis, polikliniek, verwijzing, onderzoek, uitslag, opname, in five-minute real-situation lessons, so a specialist appointment is clear instead of intimidating.
