ResideNL · Moving to NL · GP (huisarts)

How to register with a GP (huisarts)

In the Dutch system your huisarts (GP) is your first point of contact for almost any health issue — and the gatekeeper to specialists and hospital care. You generally can't see a specialist without a referral from your GP, so registering with one early matters.

Do it soon after you arrive. Good practices near the big cities often have waiting lists or closed patient books — the sooner you register, the better your choice.

Why the huisarts matters

First point of contact for illness, prescriptions and advice.
Referrals to specialists and hospitals — usually required before you can be seen.
Out-of-hours care is coordinated through the GP system (the huisartsenpost).

How to register

Find practices near your home that are accepting new patients (many list this online).
Register with your details — you'll typically need your BSN and your health insurance details.
Some practices ask for a short intake; then you're on their books.

Official source: government.nl — Health insurance & care.

One less thing to forget.

Registering with a GP is easy to overlook in the rush of moving — until you need one. ResideNL keeps it on your personal checklist alongside insurance, registration and the rest.

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Related:

ResideNL is not a government service and does not provide medical advice. Always confirm details with the practice and the official pages we link to.