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Children's health in Amsterdam

The Dutch system is confusing at first: no direct access to paediatricians, a midwife rather than a gynaecologist, few antibiotics. Once the family is insured and registered with a huisarts, though, everything is simple and well organised. Here are the essentials, checked with the consulate, hospitals and health authorities.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the healthcare system works

The Dutch system runs on compulsory private insurance, regulated by the state, and on the huisarts, the family doctor who is the gateway to all care. No carte Vitale here: your insurance card is enough.

Good to know

  • Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must take out basic insurance (basisverzekering), which covers the GP, hospital and prescription medicines among other things; supplementary cover is optional. Source
  • You must take out insurance within four months of arrival; children under 18 must be insured but pay neither premium nor deductible, and a newborn must be registered within four months of birth. Source
  • Adults have a compulsory deductible (eigen risico) of 385 euros a year in 2026; huisarts consultations are exempt. Source
  • Except in a life-threatening emergency, you do not see a specialist or paediatrician directly: the huisarts refers you to hospital with a letter; midwives and physiotherapists are the exception. Source
  • Hospital emergency care is normally accessed via referral from the huisarts, the out-of-hours service or an ambulance, and the costs fall under the adult deductible. Source

Addresses

  • Hôpitaux d'Amsterdam UMC

    Hospital

    Meibergdreef 9 (AMC) et De Boelelaan 1117 (VUmc)

    Amsterdam's university hospital, on two sites; it houses the Emma Kinderziekenhuis, the academic children's hospital.

    Website Source

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Registering with a doctor and child check-ups

Registering the whole family with a huisarts near home is one of the first things to do. For little ones, growth check-ups and vaccines are free at the consultatiebureau, the equivalent of the French PMI.

Good to know

  • You choose your huisarts freely; it is best to pick one near home, and the ZorgkaartNederland directory lets you search by postcode. Source
  • Some practices are full: call several on arrival and ask whether they accept new patients (nieuwe patiënten). Most Amsterdam doctors speak excellent English. Source
  • Bring each person's carnet de santé and medical records: the first introductory appointment is usually charged as a consultation. Source
  • GGD Amsterdam's youth healthcare service (JGZ) follows every child in Amsterdam and Amstelland: at the consultatiebureau from 0 to 3, then through the school doctor and nurse from 4 to 18. Source
  • The French carnet de santé remains precious: record the vaccines given in the Netherlands, the consultatiebureau keeps its own digital file available through the parents' portal. Source

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Emergencies and paediatrics

The right reflex depends on severity: 112 for a life-threatening emergency, otherwise your huisarts in the daytime and the GP out-of-hours service in the evening and at weekends, which will refer you to hospital if needed.

Good to know

  • 112 is the single number for fire, ambulance and police; the poison centre answers on +31 30 274 88 88 and the dental emergency line on 0900 8612. Source
  • In the evening (5 pm to 8 am), at weekends and on public holidays, call the Amsterdam GP out-of-hours service on 088 003 0600: you cannot walk in without an appointment. Have the child's ID, BSN and medication list ready. Source
  • The emergency department at Amsterdam UMC's VUmc site is closed: Amsterdam UMC's emergency care, including the Emma Kinderziekenhuis, is concentrated at the AMC site, Meibergdreef 9. Source
  • When in doubt, Thuisarts.nl, written by Dutch GPs, helps you decide whether to see a doctor. Source

Addresses

  • Emma Kinderziekenhuis (Amsterdam UMC, site AMC)

    Emergency

    Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam (Zuidoost)

    The reference academic children's hospital, for acute, complex or chronic conditions, with paediatric intensive care; emergency department on 020 566 2222.

    Website Source

  • OLVG, site Oost

    Emergency

    Oosterpark 9, 1091 AC Amsterdam

    Emergency department open 24 hours, with the CentrumOost GP out-of-hours post in the same building.

    Website Source

  • OLVG, site West

    Emergency

    Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE Amsterdam

    24-hour emergency department and hospital pharmacy open day and night.

    Website Source

  • Ziekenhuis BovenIJ

    Emergency

    Statenjachtstraat 1, Amsterdam-Noord

    Amsterdam-Noord's hospital, with an emergency department and the northern GP out-of-hours post.

    Website Source

  • Ziekenhuis Amstelland

    Emergency

    Laan van de Helende Meesters 8, Amstelveen

    The hospital for Amstelveen families, with an emergency department, GP out-of-hours post and paediatric department.

    Website Source

  • Huisartsenspoedposten Amsterdam

    Emergency

    Quatre postes : Oost, West, Noord et Zuidoost

    The GP out-of-hours service for evenings, nights and weekends, by appointment only after calling 088 003 0600.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors, dentists and therapists

The French consulate general publishes a list of French-speaking doctors, dentists and psychologists in the Netherlands, updated in August 2026. It is provided for information only, does not engage the consulate's responsibility and the choice of practitioner is free. We list the practitioners based in Amsterdam; it includes no French-speaking paediatrician or neighbourhood GP, so your huisarts remains the entry point.

Good to know

  • The official list also covers The Hague, Utrecht, Leiden and Rotterdam, including child psychologists: useful if you are willing to take the train. Source
  • The consulate also provides a French-speaking medical adviser and a hospital doctor who advises French residents free of charge, by email, on how the Dutch healthcare system works. Source
  • These practitioners work within the Dutch system or privately: check with your insurer what is covered before the first appointment, especially for psychologists.

Addresses

  • Dr Louisa Mosmuller

    General practitioner

    General practitioner, medical adviser to the consulate general; contact by email via the consulate's list.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Source

  • Dr A. Cohen-Hadria

    Dentist

    Osdorp (Nieuw-West)

    Doctor of dental surgery, Tussen Meer practice.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Dr A. Perez

    Dentist

    Oostelijk Havengebied (Panamalaan)

    Dental surgeon specialising in implantology, Medical Dent Esthetics practice.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Mégane Guehl, Frame Psychologie

    Psychologist

    Centre (Rokin)

    Clinical psychologist, sessions for adults, teenagers and children.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Mme Van Haaster-Blanquart

    Psychologist

    Centre (Kromme Waal)

    Psychologist for children, adults and couples.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Nadine Gorin-Frank

    Psychologist

    Buitenveldert (Gelderlandplein)

    Psychologist and psychotherapist for adults and couples therapy, at the Gelderlandplein medical centre; second practice in Nieuwegein.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Claire Maugy

    Psychologist

    Oud-West (Nassaukade)

    Psychologist, sessions for adults aged 18 and over.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Cyrielle Schock, Pranatality

    Maternity

    Amsterdam

    French-speaking midwife, pregnancy follow-up and birth support.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

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Pregnancy and birth

In the Netherlands, pregnancy is seen as a natural process: the midwife (verloskundige), not the gynaecologist, follows uncomplicated pregnancies, and home birth remains a real option.

Good to know

  • Low-risk pregnancies are followed by a midwife, about a dozen appointments on average; it is best to register with a practice before week eight. High-risk pregnancies go to a gynaecologist. Source
  • After the birth, a kraamverzorgster (maternity nurse) comes to your home for about eight days: book her before the fourth month of pregnancy, basic insurance covers it. Source
  • An epidural must be requested and planned: have it written in your file and favour a university hospital, where an anaesthetist is more readily available. Source
  • An employee is entitled to at least 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave, to be requested from the employer at least three weeks before it starts. Source

Addresses

  • Amsterdam UMC, site AMC

    Maternity

    Meibergdreef 9, Zuidoost

    University maternity unit for high-risk pregnancies, with a dedicated women's emergency department (SEH Vrouw).

    Website Source

  • OLVG, sites Oost et West

    Maternity

    Oosterpark 9 et Jan Tooropstraat 164

    Amsterdam's large general hospital, named by Amsterdam Accueil among the hospitals where you can ask for an epidural.

    Website Source

  • Ziekenhuis Amstelland

    Maternity

    Laan van de Helende Meesters 8, Amstelveen

    The local hospital for families in Amstelveen and southern Amsterdam.

    Website Source

  • Aide Maman Amsterdam (Delphine Petit-Postma)

    Maternity

    Amsterdam

    Kraamzorg in French: postnatal home care for mother and baby.

    Website Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Prescription medicines are bought at the apotheek, usually your local one, linked to your huisarts. Paracetamol and basic care are also sold at drugstores (Kruidvat, Etos).

Good to know

  • Outside opening hours, each GP out-of-hours post has its duty pharmacy, for urgent medicines only; the OLVG West pharmacy is the only one in Amsterdam open 24 hours. Source
  • A pharmacy is also open late in the evening, seven days a week, inside Amsterdam Central Station. Source
  • A French prescription is in principle recognised by a Dutch pharmacy, as across the EU; the pharmacist may still refuse if the medicine is not authorised locally. Source
  • Names change: Doliprane is paracetamol, Advil is ibuprofen; bring the box or the generic (molecule) name of your usual treatments.
  • Dutch doctors prescribe fewer antibiotics than in France: do not be surprised to be advised to wait a few days first.

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Vaccines

The Dutch national immunisation programme (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma) is free and voluntary, but followed by over 95% of families. Its schedule differs from the French one on a few points.

Good to know

  • In the Netherlands, childhood vaccination is not compulsory; it is free and protects against 13 infectious diseases. Parents automatically receive an invitation. Source
  • In France, eleven vaccines are compulsory for children born since 2018 and required to join nursery or school: keep the record up to date if you plan to return. Source
  • Since 2025, the second MMR is given at age 3 instead of 9, the last infant vaccines at 12 months, and the DTP booster moved from 9 to 14 years. Source
  • An RSV (bronchiolitis) injection has been part of the programme since September 2025, and pregnant women are offered the whooping cough vaccine at 22 weeks. Source
  • BCG and chickenpox are not part of the Dutch programme; if your child needs them, ask your huisarts or the GGD's on-request vaccination service. Source
  • Vaccines are given at the consultatiebureau up to age 3, then at JGZ sessions; a child who arrives mid-way gets a catch-up schedule based on their French vaccines. Source

Go further

These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Amsterdam will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France, liste des médecins francophones
  2. 2 Consulat général de France, en cas d’urgence
  3. 3 Amsterdam UMC, urgences
  4. 4 Huisartsenspoedposten Amsterdam
  5. 5 SKGZ, assurance santé
  6. 6 GGD Amsterdam, Jeugdgezondheidszorg
  7. 7 RIVM, programme national de vaccination
  8. 8 Amsterdam Accueil, petit guide santé

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