You are ill, you have a box of Dutch medicine, and the folded leaflet inside is a wall of Dutch you cannot parse while feeling terrible. That leaflet is the bijsluiter, and a handful of words unlock the parts that actually matter: how much to take, how often, and what to watch for. Here is how to read it fast.
What the bijsluiter is
Every medicine sold in the Netherlands comes with a bijsluiter (package leaflet), written in Dutch, as the Dutch government’s page on medication information notes. It is standardised, as the Medicines Evaluation Board’s leaflet toolkit shows, so once you know the section headings you can find what you need on any leaflet, and as the independent drug bulletin Ge-Bu explains the bijsluiter, it always covers when not to use a medicine too.
The words that matter
You do not need to read every line. Find these.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Dosering | Dosage |
| Innemen | To take (medication) |
| Hoe vaak | How often |
| Voor / na het eten | Before / after food |
| Bijwerkingen | Side effects |
| Niet gebruiken bij | Do not use if… |
| Niet rijden | Do not drive |
| Bewaren | To store |
Dosering and innemen tell you how much and how; bijwerkingen lists side effects; niet gebruiken bij flags allergies, pregnancy, or interactions. A common instruction: “driemaal daags één tablet, voor het eten” (three times a day, one tablet, before food).
The shorthand on the box
Beyond the leaflet, the box itself uses shorthand worth knowing. 1dd means eenmaal daags (once a day), 2dd twice a day, 3dd three times a day. Zo nodig means “as needed”, kuur means a full course you must finish (common for antibiotics), and THT / houdbaar tot is the expiry date. A quick glance at these tells you the essentials before you even unfold the bijsluiter.
Ask the apotheek (in English if needed)
Here is the relief valve: the apotheek (pharmacy) is there to help, and many Dutch pharmacists speak excellent English. If the leaflet defeats you, ask: “Kunt u dit in het Engels uitleggen?” (Can you explain this in English?). For over-the-counter items from a drogist (Kruidvat, Etos), staff can help too; note the split between prescription (op recept) medicines from the apotheek and self-care (zelfzorg) products from the drogist.
Where it fits
Reading a bijsluiter is part of looking after your health here, alongside being heard at the huisarts, knowing what to do in a real emergency and 112, the children’s consultatiebureau, and the tandarts for dental visits.
The bottom line
Do not let a Dutch bijsluiter turn a headache into a guessing game. Learn the few key words, dosering, innemen, bijwerkingen, voor/na het eten, niet rijden, find them on the standard leaflet, and ask the apotheek to explain anything unclear, in English if you like. Dose safely, and the wall of Dutch becomes a quick, reassuring read.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the practical health Dutch on packaging and leaflets, the words for dosage, side effects, and instructions, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can read a bijsluiter and dose safely instead of guessing or relying on a translation app mid-illness.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bijsluiter?
A bijsluiter is the package leaflet that comes with every medicine in the Netherlands, written in Dutch. It tells you the dosage (dosering), how to take it (innemen), side effects (bijwerkingen), and when not to use it. You always receive one, and your pharmacist (apotheek) can explain it, and will often do so in English if you ask.
How do I read Dutch medicine labels and leaflets?
Focus on a few key words: dosering (dosage), innemen (to take), bijwerkingen (side effects), voor/na het eten (before/after food), and waarschuwingen like ‘niet rijden’ (do not drive). The leaflet is structured the same way across medicines, so once you know those headings you can find the essentials fast, and ask the apotheek about anything unclear.
Can I get medicine information in English in the Netherlands?
The printed bijsluiter is in Dutch, but many Dutch pharmacists speak excellent English and will happily explain your medicine, so just ask at the apotheek. For over-the-counter products you buy at a drogist (like Kruidvat or Etos), the staff can also help; for prescription medicines, your pharmacist is the expert to consult.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for medicine labels?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the practical health Dutch on packaging and leaflets, the words for dosage, side effects, and instructions, by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can read a bijsluiter and dose safely instead of guessing or relying on a translation app mid-illness.
