In the Netherlands, the health care system is based on the principle of social solidarity. This implies anyone, healthy or not, must contribute to the medical expenses of those who are ill. As such, every person aged 18 or above is obliged to have at least a standard health insurance. Many combine the mandatory basic insurance with optional, additional coverage to meet individual health needs. After your town hall registration, you have four months to take out health insurance. The start date of your insurance will always be the day you first registered yourself in the Netherlands. As you cannot be uninsured, this also means you will be retroactively billed from the day of your registration. To take out health insurance, you will need a valid passport and/or residence document, an employment contract (and, in some cases, a pay slip), a Dutch address, and a citizen service number (BSN). Typically, applications for health insurance are processed within two weeks.

It's not recommended you wait to take out health insurance. If you apply for a Dutch health insurance after four months, you will not be reimbursed for any care you received in the period before you took out insurance. Additionally, if you have registered with a municipality, but not with a Dutch health insurance provider, you will receive a letter from CAK stating you are uninsured. CAK is a central organisation verifying every resident in the Netherlands is covered by some kind of health insurance. If you do not undertake any action upon receiving a letter from CAK, a fine of €496,74 may be given to you.

Basic health insurance (in Dutch: basisverzekering) is mandatory for everyone and provides coverage for general medical care, such as consultations with general practitioners, hospital stays and treatments, emergency care, maternity care, and more. It also covers a portion of prescription medications and medical aids. The premium for basic health insurance is set by the insurance provider you choose, but the government sets a maximum deductible (in Dutch: eigen risico) to keep it affordable. For those with a low income, the government provides a healthcare allowance (in Dutch: zorgtoeslag) to help cover the cost of premiums.

If you would like to make use of services not covered under the basic health insurance, you can opt for additional health insurance coverage (in Dutch: aanvullende verzekering). This is optional, but will allow you to tailor your health insurance to your specific needs. Additional insurance can cover a range of services, including dental care for adults, physiotherapy, and alternative medicine. The exact level of coverage and the cost will depend on the insurance provider and the package you choose.

The mandatory deductible is €385 in 2024, but there's an option to voluntarily increase it to a maximum of €885. Costs for hospital care and medications are included in the deductible, but some services, like visits to the general practitioner or obstetrician, are fully covered by the basic insurance. In 2024, the maximum healthcare allowance for one-person households is €123 monthly, while for families, it is €236 per month. The healthcare allowance you receive depends on your annual income as assessed by the tax authorities. Don't forget to apply for it yourself.

The Netherlands has a variety of health insurance providers offering both basic and additional health insurance coverage. Some of the major providers include Zilveren Kruis, VGZ, CZ, and Menzis. It's important you compare different policies and providers to find the one that best suits your needs and budget. Several websites and tools, such as Independer, are available to help with this comparison, taking into account coverage, price, and customer service. It might also be helpful to browse the web page of the Ministry of Health for some additional guidance.

Further to that, you may also wish to check whether your employer offers a corporate health insurance, which allows you to benefit from a discount on the premium for the basic health insurance.

If you reside in the Netherlands but work for an employer or entity based in your home country, you are not required to take out Dutch health insurance, as long as you can remain insured in your home country. In such a case, you will need to have an A1 certificate and apply for an S1 or E106 form with a health insurance provider in your home country. This form is used by the member states of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, and allows you to get medical care in the Netherlands, if needed.

If you plan to travel or expect to relocate more often, it may be beneficial to take out an international health insurance designed for expatriates, such as Cigna. Please note this is considered a private health insurance, and often a supplement to the mandatory, Dutch health insurance.