Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) is mandatory, expensive, and wrapped in jargon, which is a bad combination when you have four months from arrival to choose a policy. The good news: it is really just a handful of terms. Learn this glossary and you can actually compare policies instead of picking blind. Here it is.
The basisverzekering: the mandatory core
Everyone in the Netherlands must have a basisverzekering (basic insurance). The crucial fact: its content is set by the government, so the basic package is the same at every insurer. As the government explains what changes in the basic package each year, only the premium and service differ between providers, not the core cover. So shopping around is about price and top-ups, not the basics.
The eigen risico: the deductible
This is the term that confuses, and costs, expats most. The eigen risico (compulsory deductible) is what you pay yourself before the insurer reimburses most basic-package care. As the government sets out the eigen risico, it is 385 euros in 2026 for everyone 18 and over.
Two things worth knowing, per consumer guidance on the deductible:
- Some care does not count toward it, notably your huisarts (GP). That ties into making yourself heard at the huisarts and the deeper dive in own-risk eigen risico phrasing.
- You can voluntarily raise the deductible (by 100 to 500 euros) for a lower monthly premium, a gamble worth it only if you rarely use care.
Top-ups, allowances, and policy types
Beyond the basics:
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| aanvullende verzekering | supplementary (top-up) cover |
| zorgtoeslag | healthcare allowance (for lower incomes) |
| premie | monthly premium |
| polis | policy |
| naturapolis | reimburses contracted providers only |
| restitutiepolis | free choice of provider, reimbursed |
The aanvullend top-up covers things the basic package limits, extensive dental, physio, glasses. Zorgtoeslag is a government allowance if your income is low. And the naturapolis vs restitutiepolis choice matters: a naturapolis is cheaper but ties you to contracted providers; a restitutiepolis lets you pick any doctor or clinic. If you want a specific verloskundige or specialist, that choice counts, see having a baby in Holland.
Where it connects
Your insurance shapes other costs: the medicines you buy (covered or not), the focus of where’s the Tylenol: pharmacy and drugstore lingo, and the care around childbirth. Setting it up is part of the admin to sort when you move.
The bottom line
Dutch zorgverzekering is mandatory but learnable. The basisverzekering is the same everywhere; the eigen risico is a 385-euro (2026) deductible you pay before most care is reimbursed (the GP usually doesn’t count); aanvullende verzekering adds optional cover; zorgtoeslag helps lower earners; and naturapolis versus restitutiepolis decides your freedom to choose providers. Learn these seven terms and you can finally pick a policy on purpose, not by guesswork.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the health-insurance Dutch that lets you choose a policy, basisverzekering, eigen risico, aanvullend, zorgtoeslag by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can understand your cover instead of guessing at a contract you legally must have.
Frequently asked questions
What is the eigen risico in Dutch health insurance?
The eigen risico is the compulsory deductible: the amount you pay yourself before your insurer reimburses most care from the basic package. In 2026 it is 385 euros for everyone aged 18 and over. Some care, like the GP (huisarts), does not count toward it. You can also voluntarily raise the deductible (by 100 to 500 euros) in exchange for a lower monthly premium.
What is the difference between basisverzekering and aanvullende verzekering?
The basisverzekering (basic insurance) is the mandatory package with content set by the government, everyone must have it. The aanvullende verzekering (supplementary insurance) is optional extra cover you buy on top, for things the basic package limits or excludes, like extensive dental, physiotherapy or glasses. The basic package is the same everywhere; the top-ups and premiums vary by insurer.
What is zorgtoeslag and a naturapolis vs restitutiepolis?
Zorgtoeslag is a government healthcare allowance for people on lower incomes, to help pay the premium. As for policy types: a naturapolis reimburses care only from providers your insurer has contracted (cheaper, less choice), while a restitutiepolis lets you choose any provider and reimburses you (more freedom, usually pricier). Picking the right type matters if you want a specific doctor or clinic.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for health insurance and admin?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the health-insurance Dutch that lets you choose a policy, basisverzekering, eigen risico, aanvullend, zorgtoeslag, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you understand your cover instead of guessing at a contract you legally must have.
