Hospitals in The Hague region

Dutch hospitals are generally modern and well kept. Bear in mind that not all hospitals have agreements in place with all health insurers, so for routine visits you may not be able to go to your hospital of choice. In the Netherlands, you generally only go for a hospital visit when you have a referral from your GP to see a specialist.

First-time registration

If it’s your first time at the hospital, you will need to register at the front desk:

Make sure to bring ID
Provide your personal details such as name, address, health insurer and the name of your GP (huisarts)

Hand in any referrals from your GP

Once your information is processed, you will receive a small plastic card that serves as a medical passport: a ‘ponsplaatje’. This will store your history at the hospital and send bills to your insurance company.

Attending an appointment

Follow the signs ‘Poliklinieken’ and the department that you are referred to in order to get to your appointment.

The purpose of your first appointment will be to see if you need any further tests or treatment. You'll then either:

Be taken to a room for immediate tests
Receive a new appointment for further treatment
Be referred to a different specialist.

Overnight stays

You will only need to stay overnight at the hospital in case of surgery or when you need to be monitored closely. Most hospitals in the Netherlands will have shared rooms with at least 2 to 6 patients per room. Wards are mixed gender, and beds are separated by curtains. Each bed will often have a phone and a television, though you may have to pay for their use. You will need to bring your own nightwear, toiletries and other personal items.

Hospitals in The Hague region:

The Hague, Leidschendam-Voorburg, and Rijswijk