When living in the Netherlands, you are legally required to have sufficient health insurance. Not having health insurance when needed can result in a fine from Dutch authorities. The type of healthcare insurance you need depends on your personal situation.
It is important that you arrange the right coverage before you need it. If you wait until an emergency occurs, you may not be insured and could be responsible for all medical costs yourself. Which can be very high in the Netherlands.
We recommend arranging health insurance before your trip to the Netherlands. This way, you are also covered during your journey. Also, we strongly recommend obtaining suitable liability and travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange these insurances, ideally at least two weeks before your departure. Check our guidelines to get started!
Choose your purpose: study only, study and internship or study and work.
If you're in the Netherlands for study purposes only, you are not legally allowed to take out Dutch basic health insurance. Make sure you have adequate coverage through your home country’s health insurance or by arranging international student insurance from a Dutch provider, such as Aon Student Insurance or InsureToStudy Student Insurance. These policies cover pre-existing conditions, personal liability, household contents, and repatriation.
For EU/EEA students
You may be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers essential medical care during your stay. Check with your health insurer in your home country, as coverage and eligibility differ by EU member state. More info: European Commission – EHIC
If you are doing a paid internship where you earn at least the Dutch minimum wage, you are required to have Dutch basic health insurance. Compensation for your internship, including, room and board, may also be considered as income.
You are required to have Dutch basic health insurance from your first day of work if you have a (part-time) job. An EHIC is not valid if you are employed in the Netherlands.
Before yo apply, check out the checklist – how to take out Dutch basic health insurance to understand what to look for and how policies differ. You can find more info via the Zorgverzekeringslijn.
- You must be registered with a municipality before you can take out a basic health insurance.
- Choose your health insurance from one of the Dutch public health insurers. Fill out the application form and sent it to the health insurer.
- The registration is complete once you have received an insurance policy (in Dutch: polisblad).
- If you stop working or if you leave the Netherlands, cancel your insurance. Do not forget to deregister from the municipality.
- When you have finished your studies and decide to stay in the Netherlands, you must apply for a health insurance when you start to work. During an orientation year with a search visa you are not allowed to take out a Dutch public health insurance if you have not started to work. You can take out an international health insurance.
After graduation
If you stay in the Netherlands after your studies and start working, you must apply for a Dutch health insurance. However, during an orientation year with a search visa, you are not eligible for Dutch health insurance unless you start working. In that case, you can apply for an international health insurance.
Please note that Erasmus University is not responsible for any costs incurred during your stay in Rotterdam due to inadequate or incorrect medical and/or liability insurance.
Types of insurances
If you’re a citizen of an EU country and temporarily staying in the Netherlands, you may be eligible for the EU Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Make sure to apply for it before traveling.
However, keep in mind:
- Not all EU countries issue EHICs.
- The EHIC only covers emergency and non-postponable medical care.
- Its validity and coverage vary depending on your home country.
What the EHIC does NOT cover
- Private healthcare or treatment in private clinics
- Return flights or emergency travel back to your home country
- Lost or stolen property
- Planned treatments abroad
- Guaranteed free care (what’s free in one country may cost money in another)
Because of these limitations, the EHIC is not a substitute for travel or health insurance. To make sure you’re fully covered, students can apply for additional insurance through:
UK students: UK nationals can continue using their UK EHIC card until it expires. After that, they should apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
Please note: The terms and conditions of the EHIC vary by country. This means your EHIC may not cover your entire study period or may not apply to you at all. Be sure to check whether additional private insurance is necessary.
Many home-country health insurance policies do not provide sufficient coverage for medical expenses while studying abroad. In most cases, you will be required you to pay medical costs upfront and then submit claims for reimbursement later, which can be costly and inconvenient.
We strongly recommend taking out an international student insurance policy instead. If you decide to use your home-country insurance, make sure that:
It covers all key aspects, including pre-existing medical conditions.
You bring a copy of your policy with you to the Netherlands.
It includes coverage for the full duration of your stay.
If your stay in the Netherlands is less than three months, check whether your home country's health insurance covers your temporary stay. If it does not, you will need to arrange international health insurance for the duration of your stay.
If your home-country health insurance doesn’t cover the essential needs (such as pre-existing conditions, personal liability, etc.), we recommend getting international student insurance from a Dutch provider. Some good options include:
Aon Student Insurance
InsureToStudy Student Insurance
These policies offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, personal liability, household contents, and repatriation.
Arrange insurance before you arrive
It is strongly recommended to arrange your health insurance before arriving to ensure coverage from day one. However, if you haven’t done so, you can visit one of our One Stop Shops on campus at the start of each semester. Representatives from Aon and InsureToStudy will be available to help you sign up for insurance, check if your current policy meets your needs or answer any questions you may have.
Important tips
Before choosing an insurance provider other than Aon or InsureToStudy, make sure the policy:
- Covers pre-existing medical and psychological conditions
- Has no deductibles
- Is fully compliant with visa requirements
Student support videos
- Aon Student Webinars: Prior to the start of each semester, Aon hosts free online webinars for international students coming to the Netherlands.
- For more details and helpful tips, we highly recommend watching the videos below.
If you damage someone’s property or cause an accident, Dutch law states that you are responsible for covering any resulting costs. Therefore, we strongly recommend taking out liability insurance.
During their studies in Rotterdam, many students take the opportunity to travel and explore new cities and countries. It's important to have suitable travel insurance in case something goes wrong, such as your luggage being stolen or a medical emergency occurring.
Companies like Aon Student Insurance and Insure to Study Insurance can arrange both liability and travel insurance. You visit their website for more information.
If you fail to obtain health insurance, you may face a penalty of approximately 130% of the nominal premium for each uninsured month. You might receive a letter from the CAK about your insurance obligation. You need to take action within 3 months, or you will receive a fine of € 528. Even if you incorrectly received the letter from the CAK.
- It is important to contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to request (free of charge) an investigation of your insurance position under the Wlz scheme. For this request, please go to the website of the SVB.
- Keep in mind that it may take up to 8 weeks to receive the result of the Wlz assessment. Therefore, it's important to take action as soon as you receive the letter from the CAK.
- Send a copy of the decision from the SVB about your insurance position to the CAK. Use the contactform and chose option ‘regeling onverzekerden’.
- CAK will close your file if the outcome of the Wlz assessment states that you are not to be insured.
More details about the consequences of being uninsured can be found on the Questions and Answers page of the CAK.
More information
- For more information on insurance matters for international students, please see the Zorgverzekeringslijn. They can also advise you on all the insurance companies in the Netherlands.
- Check this useful flyer
- Visit Study in NL website.
We advise you to make sure you’re properly insured before entering the Netherlands. If you have doubts about whether your insurance is sufficient, you can visit AON Insurance or InsureToStudy at one of our One Stop Shops to ask your questions about insurance in person.
The healthcare benefit (‘Zorgtoeslag’) is a compensation by the government towards the premium an insured must pay for the Dutch Basic Healthcare Insurance. The healthcare benefit is issued by the Dutch tax authorities (Belastingdienst). The amount of and the eligibility for the healthcare benefit depends on your income. If you applied for the Dutch Basic Health Insurance, we advise you to apply for the healthcare benefit afterwards. The Belastingdienst will assess your inquiry and decides whether you are eligible for the healthcare benefit. You can apply for the healthcare benefit here.
Yes, the EHIC from your home country is valid in the Netherlands for necessary medical care during your stay. Check with your own health insurer before coming to the Netherlands how long the EHIC will be valid as it might expire. The EHIC will no longer be valid if you start to work in the Netherlands. You must then take out a Dutch health insurance.
If you are going to do an internship for which you are being paid at least as much as the Dutch minimum wage, you must be insured with a Dutch basic health insurance. Expenses are regarded as income for your internship, room and board may also be seen as such.
This is different for each insurance company.
- For example, if you have the AON Complete insurance, you will keep this during your entire study period and will not be able to switch to AON Complete+. If you chose InsureToStudy, you are able to switch from one coverage plan to another.
- If your situation changes and you start work or an internship for a short period only, possible to change to a basic health insurance for that period.
If you seek more advice, please contact your insurance company.
No, because you don't fit the criteria to get a basic health insurance. Please note: it sometimes occurs that Dutch Health insurers (Nederlandse Basiszorgverzekeraars) accept international students. This is against the rules and you might get a fine!
If you have received a letter from the CAK regarding your insurance obligation it is important to contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) for an assessment of your insurance position under the Wlz scheme. You need to take action within 3 months or you will receive a fine of approximately €400. Even if you incorrectly received the letter from the CAK.
Healthcare
Where to find a general practitioner, dentist, pharmacy or hospital in Rotterdam?
