What to Do in a Medical Emergency (112 vs. Huisartsenpost)?

Understanding the hierarchy of Dutch emergency care can save you time, money, and stress. Using the wrong service—such as going to the ER for a minor injury—can result in long wait times or high out-of-pocket costs.

1. Life-Threatening: Call 112

If every second counts, call 112 immediately. This is the universal emergency number for ambulance, fire, and police.

• When to call: Chest pain, loss of consciousness, severe difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or suspected stroke.
• Language: Operators speak Dutch and English (and often German or French).

• Cost: If an ambulance is dispatched, the cost is covered by your basic insurance, but it will count toward your €385 deductible (eigen risico).

2. Urgent but Not Life-Threatening (Office Hours)

If you have an urgent issue between 08:00 and 17:00 on weekdays:

• Call your GP (Huisarts) first.

• Most GP phone lines have an automated menu. Press “1” for the emergency line (spoedlijn). This connects you to the assistant immediately.

• The GP can see you right away or call an ambulance for you if they determine the situation is more serious.

3. Urgent after hours: The Huisartsenpost (HAP)

If you need a doctor during the evening (17:00–08:00), on weekends, or on public holidays, you call the Huisartsenpost.

• Important: You must always call first. Do not just show up.

• A trained triager will assess your symptoms over the phone and tell you if you need to stay home, visit the HAP, or go to the ER.

Regional HAP Contacts:

• Amstelveen: Huisartsenpost Amstelland (located at Amstelland Hospital) – +31 (0)20 456 2000.

• Amsterdam: Huisartsenposten Amsterdam (multiple locations) – +31 (0)88 003 06 00.

4. The Hospital ER: Spoedeisende Hulp (SEH)

The SEH is for specialized, immediate hospital care.

• The Referral System: In the Netherlands, you generally do not go to the SEH on your own. You are either brought there by an ambulance or referred there by a GP/Huisartsenpost.
• The Cost Trap: If you walk into the SEH for something that a GP could have treated (like a minor cut or a fever), you will still be treated, but you will be billed a much higher rate, and it will definitely impact your deductible.

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