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Hospitals in the Netherlands

Hospitals in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has a large number of hospitals offering medical care. While traditionally all hospitals offered the same range of services, under the new Dutch healthcare system the government is encouraging hospitals to specialise.

Types of hospitals in the Netherlands

In general, there are three types of hospitals in the Netherlands:

Academic hospitals

University medical centres are allied with major Dutch universities. There are eight academic hospitals in the Netherlands, all of which have a variety of researchers and specialists working in them. They are able to provide more specialised care.

Teaching hospitals

Teaching hospitals also work with the university medical centres to aid in the training of nurses and medical interns. They also offer some more specialised treatments and interns may accompany the doctor during procedures.

General hospitals

General hospitals provide standard, albeit very good, health care for less specialised problems. They will, if necessary, refer patients to more specialised facilities.

Appointments at the hospital

When you visit a specialist in the Netherlands, you will most likely see them in a hospital and not a private clinic. When you arrive at the hospital, look for the sign Poliklinieken and the correct department.

For your first visit to the hospital, register at the front desk with your name, address, insurer and the name of your general practitioner (GP). This information is recorded in the hospital's system and in a small plastic card (ponsplaatje or electronische patiëntenpas) that acts as a kind of passport to bring up your history and send your bills to your insurance company, and so on. You must bring it with you every time you go to the hospital. You also hand in your referral and any notes from your GP at the counter of the Polikliniek. They will pass it on to the specialist before you go in.

The initial appointment generally does not last more than five to 10 minutes, as its purpose is to determine whether further diagnosis and / or treatment are needed. After this, it may be that you make a new appointment, are sent straight for tests or even referred to a different specialist.

Staying in a Dutch hospital

Most hospitals in the Netherlands have shared rooms or wards of up to six patients and may be mixed gender. Beds usually have private televisions and phones, although you will be charged to use these. Patients need to bring their own nightwear, toiletries and other personal requirements.

Dutch hospitals & Children

All hospitals have children’s wards and there are also special children’s hospitals, which provide more facilities to keep children entertained while in hospital or to help them with school work during their stay.

Some children’s hospitals and wards are able to accommodate parents overnight. Please note, visiting hours vary between hospitals and are usually strictly enforced.

List of hospitals per Dutch city

Here is a list of hospitals per city all over the Netherlands: 

Hospitals in Amsterdam

Hospital in Breda

Hospital in Delft

Hospitals in Eindhoven

Hospitals in Groningen

Hospital in Haarlem

Hospitals in The Hague

Hospital in Goes

Hospitals in Leiden

Hospital in Maastricht

Hospitals in Nijmegen

Hospitals in Rotterdam

Hospitals in Utrecht

Hospital in Sneek

Hospital in Zwolle

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