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Health and well-being services

Get help for both your mental and physical health

Find out how to navigate the health care system in the Netherlands. From a General Practitioner to a specialist, you can find the information below to get the care you need.

Health

Registering with a General Practitioner

In the Netherlands, registering with a General Practitioner (GP) is essential. Your GP is your first point of contact for physical and mental health concerns. They can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, answer health-related questions, provide prescriptions, order lab tests and vaccinations, and refer you to specialist or hospital care when necessary. Because GPs are the gateway to specialized medical care, registering with a practice as soon as possible helps prevent delays if you need treatment. 

There are many GP practices in Amsterdam. We recommend asking fellow students for recommendations or contacting the Student Life Officers if you need help finding a suitable practice. 

One option is the UvA General Practitioners Practice (Huisartsen Oude Turfmarkt), where doctors have experience supporting students. You can register even if you do not yet have a Dutch citizen service number (BSN). 

UvA General Practitioners Practice (Huisartsen Oude Turfmarkt) 
Oude Turfmarkt 151, 1012 GC Amsterdam 

  • General appointments: 020-525 2878 

  • Emergencies during office hours: 020-525 2889 

  • Evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays (GP out-of-hours service / Huisartsenpost Amsterdam): 088 00 30 600 

Emergency care / hospitals with emergency departments (ER /A&E)

In the Netherlands, you should only visit an Emergency Department (ER/A&E) for serious or life-threatening medical emergencies. If your condition is not life-threatening, contact your GP first, or the GP out-of-hours service if your GP is closed. They will assess your situation and refer you to the hospital if necessary. 

Hospitals with Emergency Departments in Amsterdam include: 

  1. Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Oosterpark 9, telephone: 020-599 9111
  2. VU Medisch Centrum, De Boelelaan 1117, telephone: 020-444 4444
  3. Academisch Medisch Centrum (AMC), Meibergdreef 9, telephone: 020-566 9111

For students with Dutch health insurance or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), GP visits are covered by their basic (Dutch) health insurance. Going to the ER / A&E department for treatment that in normal cases would be done by a GP will probably lead to having to pay out of the deductible (eigen risico) from the health insurance.

Dental

In the Netherlands, prices for oral care (with the exception of cosmetic treatments) are controlled by the government and determined at the national level, therefore any dentist will charge you the same price for the same treatment. You can choose any dentist you would like. For information on finding a dentist, emergency dental care, and the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), where supervised dental students provide treatment at reduced rates, please visit the UvA's Dentists page or the ACTA website.

Student Health Check survey

If you are interested in learning more about your health and finding out how you score on health, lifestyle and quality of life compared to your fellow university students, you can take part in the UvA Student Health Check.

Mental health

Student Life Officers

If you need support with your mental health or well-being, you can always contact the AUC Student Life Officers (SLOs). The SLOs are mental health professionals specialised in supporting AUC students. If need be, they can help refer you on to further support resources both inside and outside the university.

Psychologists

As both a University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit student, you have access to both of these universities’ psychological support services. Should you experience a lack of motivation or concentration, or any other personal problems, such as depression, anxiety or culture shock, you may wish to consult the UvA psychologists or VU student psychological counsellors.

The UvA also offers workshops on various psychological guidance topics to its students.

Moodlift

Moodlift is an e-help resource offering free, evidence-based mental health programmes for students on topics such as stress, mood and procrastination. All AUC students can make use of these resources. Online coaches are also available to provide personal support as you follow the programmes.

Resources