Safety and Travel Insurance Advice for Visitors to the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the safest and healthiest countries in the world. In fact, it’s ranked 15th on the World’s Safest Countries index. It’s also incredibly popular with tourists. The Netherlands is the 20th most-visited country in the world. In 2017 alone, there were 17 million foreign visitors. For a relatively small country with not much more than 17 million residents, that’s a massive influx!
The majority of those visitors spend most of their time in Holland. Holland makes up just two of the Netherlands’ twelve provinces. The remaining 10 counties are quiet by comparison. Thus, for visitors who venture beyond Holland and its principal city, Amsterdam, beautiful cities, quaint towns, and long stretches of picturesque countryside await. There’s still a lot for tourists to discover in the Netherlands!
This is the critical information on health, safety, and travel insurance for the Netherlands you need to know before you go.
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Travel Insurance in The Netherlands for Visitors
When traveling outside your home country, purchasing travel medical insurance is always recommended. The Netherlands is no different.
Even though it is one of the safest countries, that doesn’t mean you will be exempt from illness or accidents. It’s best to get coverage and peace of mind.
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Single Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
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Health Insurance for Expats in The Netherlands
Expats in the Netherlands need to have basic Dutch health insurance. There are no exceptions, even if they are carrying private health insurance from their home country.
But there is still flexibility. Within the Dutch health insurance system, everyone has the right to choose their preferred provider.
If you are a Dutch citizen who has moved abroad, you may need private medical insurance when visiting.
Finding a local doctor should be one of your first jobs as an expat. The local doctor plays a vital role in healthcare in the Netherlands. They are the first point of contact for any medical treatment.
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- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Accessing Healthcare in the Netherlands
The quality of healthcare in the Netherlands is excellent. The country has universal healthcare.
The government requires all adults to have basic health insurance, which is managed by the government and supplemented by private companies.
Additional supplemental coverage is optional, but everyone living in the Netherlands is required to have government-managed health insurance from a Dutch provider.
This insurance covers visits to general practitioners and hospitals. It’s very economical. Both primary and long-term services are offered at a fixed price.
Furthermore, it’s illegal for insurance companies to refuse coverage or impose punitive fees. Residents with a local income level are also eligible to apply for financial assistance. This helps with the cost of basic healthcare and covers supplemental services.
Emergency Numbers In The Netherlands
The emergency number for the Netherlands is 112.
Hospitals in The Netherlands
There are three kinds of hospitals in the Netherlands: university hospitals, general hospitals, and teaching hospitals. Most of them are privately run. Visitors can expect all hospitals in the Netherlands to be clean, comfortable, and run by multilingual staff.
In an emergency, you do not need to be pre-registered at the hospital. You can go to the nearest emergency room.
If you’ve been in the country for a long time and are registered with a local doctor, they may also have an out-of-hours emergency number.
And if you’re in Holland, you can call the Centrale Huisartsen Post (CHP) outside of regular hours to consult a doctor. Ensure you understand what your travel insurance for the Netherlands covers.
Vaccine Requirements and Staying Healthy
Tap water is safe to drink in the Netherlands, and public sanitation standards are high. There are no significant concerns about food safety.
As with all travel destinations, ensure that your routine vaccinations are up to date. Some of these vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza, and Hepatitis B.
Finding public washrooms in the Netherlands is challenging. There are free urinals in many Dutch cities, but the same can’t be said of private toilet stalls. Savvy travelers always carry a few coins for public toilets.
Others look for fast-food restaurants. The purchase of a small soda is a small price to pay for access to a clean and private washroom!
General Safety and Travel Advice for the Netherlands
Bike Safety Advice
The cliche of the Netherlands being a cycling destination is absolutely true. There are indeed more bicycles than people in the Netherlands.
The average Dutch citizen cycles more than 3km every day. However, visitors should be aware that the bike lanes are hazardous spots, but not for cyclists. They’re dangerous for unsuspecting tourists!
Another reason to purchase travel insurance for the Netherlands is that tourists are often involved in accidents.
Designated bike lanes are usually painted red and marked with a bike symbol. But bikes are truly everywhere, and cyclists don’t slow down for pedestrians.
In busy cities like Amsterdam, always assume the road you are on is used by cyclists. Double-check before you cross!
Unfortunately, bicycle theft is common in the Netherlands. Locals use a two-lock system, utilizing a standard bike lock and a chain lock. They also look for guarded bike parks to park their bike.
Drug Use In The Netherlands
Cannabis is not legal in the Netherlands. Cannabis is decriminalized, and recreational use of it is tolerated. This relaxed attitude towards soft drug use plays a vital role in the country’s tourism industry.
Figures suggest that 25-30% of people who visit Amsterdam spend time in a coffee shop for the purpose of trying cannabis.
You are allowed to purchase up to 5 grams of cannabis for personal use. That being said, you must be at least 18 years old. In some parts of the Netherlands, you also need to be a resident to make a purchase.
However, residency rules don’t apply in Amsterdam. You must also visit a licensed establishment, such as a coffee shop. Coffee shops are clean, safe, and welcoming establishments with knowledgeable staff and safe products.
Despite its laid-back reputation, drug use and trafficking are taken very seriously in the Netherlands. You could face heavy fines and a severe jail sentence for trafficking drugs, traveling in and out of the Netherlands with drugs, or using medications outside a licensed establishment.
Visiting The Red Light District
The famous Red Light District of Amsterdam. It’s a relatively tame, quiet part of the city by day. By night, it’s also relatively tame, but with hordes of tourists.
Amsterdam’s De Wallen neighborhood, better known as the Red Light District, is very safe for curious travelers to visit, with two exceptions. Anyone caught taking photos of sex workers will get in big trouble.
Taking photos here is highly disrespectful. Those working there might give you a scary warning (at best) or throw your phone into the canal (at worst). Secondly, this is a pickpocket’s paradise. Pickpockets thrive on crowds of distracted visitors, which are abundant there.
Prostitution is legal across the Netherlands, not just in Amsterdam. Any consensual encounter between a prostitute and a customer is allowed.
But there is a risk of sexually transmitted diseases, just like in any sexual encounter. Just because sex work is legal in the Netherlands doesn’t mean that any guarantees negate the use of safe sex practices.
The safety and health of both sex workers and customers are just two of the topics in a growing debate about the future of legalized prostitution in the Netherlands, as per the Financial Post.
Of particular concern is that the country hasn’t been successful in preventing human traffickers from profiting from the system.
Passport and Visa Requirements
The Netherlands is a member of the Schengen Area. Most travelers do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days within 180 days.
Joe Cronin, President of ICI, is a leading expert in international health, life, and travel insurance. An MBA and founder of multiple global businesses, he helps expatriates and travelers access trusted, comprehensive insurance solutions worldwide.
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