Hospitals in Amsterdam: Emergency Care Guide for Expats (2026)

Knowing which of the hospitals in Amsterdam to head for, and what to do first, is worth sorting long before you actually need it. Dutch emergency care works differently to many other countries: for a genuine emergency you dial 112, but for almost everything else your huisarts or the out-of-hours huisartsenpost decides where you go next, and turning up at an emergency department without a referral can mean a real bill. This guide covers the 112 number, Amsterdam’s emergency departments, the referral rule, what a visit costs under Dutch insurance, and where to find a pharmacy at 2am.

In a real emergency, dial 112 first

If someone is unconscious, has chest pain, is bleeding heavily or is in any other life-threatening situation, do not drive around trying to guess which of the hospitals in Amsterdam is nearest. Call 112. It covers ambulance, police and fire across the Netherlands, is free from any phone including one with no credit or SIM, and the dispatcher will ask for your address and the nature of the emergency before sending help. English is generally understood.

Rijksoverheid.nl, the Dutch government’s own site, lists unconsciousness, severe allergic reactions, chest pain, stroke symptoms and severe burns as clear 112 cases. A regional ambulance dispatcher, not you, decides which hospital you are taken to and how urgently.

Which hospitals in Amsterdam have a 24/7 emergency department (SEH)

Several of the hospitals in Amsterdam run a Spoedeisende Hulp, the Dutch term for an emergency department, open around the clock. Amsterdam UMC runs its 24-hour SEH from its Meibergdreef site, OLVG runs separate departments at its West and Oost locations, and BovenIJ Ziekenhuis covers Amsterdam-Noord. Ambulances default to whichever is closest and equipped for the case; if you are travelling there yourself with a referral, use the table below.

Why you almost always need a referral before the SEH

Unlike some countries where you can walk into any of the hospitals in Amsterdam and simply be triaged, Dutch emergency departments expect you to arrive either by ambulance or with a referral from your huisarts (GP) or the huisartsenpost. OLVG says on its own website that patients arriving without a referral is common but “not intended,” and that self-referred visits without genuine urgency can be charged a minimum fee, quoted at around EUR 450, or redirected elsewhere. Amsterdam UMC states that in most cases you need a GP referral, though clear emergencies are always seen. The rule holds across every one of the hospitals in Amsterdam: if it is not obviously life-threatening, call first rather than travel first.

Not life-threatening? Call the huisarts or huisartsenpost first

For anything urgent but not an obvious 112 emergency, your own huisarts is the first call during office hours. Outside office hours, evenings from 17:00, nights, weekends and public holidays, the huisartsenpost takes over, reachable on 088 003 0600, and works entirely by phone triage: staff decide whether you need a phone consultation, an in-person appointment, or a direct referral to one of the hospitals in Amsterdam.

1. Call your own huisarts first if it is during the day. Registered patients get priority and your GP already has your file.
2. After 17:00, weekends or holidays, call 088 003 0600. Overnight, between 23:00 and 08:00, only the Centrum-Oost and West huisartsenposten stay open; other lines redirect calls there.
3. Describe your symptoms honestly. The triage nurse uses this to decide urgency and where to send you.
4. If told to go to an SEH, you will be given a referral. That referral, not your own judgement, is what usually gets you seen at the hospitals in Amsterdam without an upfront fee.
5. Still unsure? Check moetiknaardedokter.nl, the self-triage site several Amsterdam hospitals point patients to before they call.

What an emergency visit costs under Dutch insurance

Every resident must carry basisverzekering, the mandatory basic insurance, which covers treatment at the hospitals in Amsterdam once you arrive with a referral or by ambulance. Unlike a huisarts consultation, which is exempt, an SEH visit counts against your eigen risico, the mandatory annual deductible of EUR 385 in 2026, so you pay the first part yourself unless you have already used that amount this year.

• Eigen risico (deductible): EUR 385 per year, 2026 rate.
• Huisarts and huisartsenpost consultations: fully covered, exempt from eigen risico.
• SEH visit with a referral or by ambulance: covered, counts toward eigen risico.
• Self-referred SEH visit without urgency: can be billed directly, from around EUR 450 at OLVG.

Non-EU arrivals in particular sometimes need cover before their Dutch policy starts; a short-term expat policy from Ekta can bridge that gap. For a bill in a foreign currency, or paying your premium without heavy conversion fees, a multi-currency account from Wise or Revolut keeps things simple while your Dutch banking gets sorted.

Night pharmacies and staying reachable in an emergency

Regular pharmacies keep daytime hours and close evenings, weekends and holidays, but Amsterdam always has a duty pharmacy open. Overnight, from 23:00 to 08:00 on weekdays and slightly longer on Sundays and holidays, OLVG West runs the city’s dedicated night pharmacy at Jan Tooropstraat 164, on 020 510 88 26. In the evening and at weekends, several duty pharmacies cover urgent prescriptions, and apotheek.nl lists whichever one is currently on duty near you.

This only helps if your phone works: a local SIM or a travel eSIM activated on arrival means you can call 112 or reach any of the hospitals in Amsterdam from day one. Services like Airalo and Saily sell Netherlands and Europe-wide eSIM plans you set up before you fly. Save 112, your huisarts, the huisartsenpost and your insurer’s number in your phone now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What number do I call for an ambulance in Amsterdam?

Dial 112 from any phone for an ambulance, police or fire anywhere in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands. It is free, works even without credit or a SIM card, and the dispatcher decides which hospital you are taken to.

Which are the best hospitals in Amsterdam for expats?

Amsterdam UMC, OLVG West, OLVG Oost and BovenIJ Ziekenhuis all run 24/7 Spoedeisende Hulp. None is generally better for expats specifically; which of the hospitals in Amsterdam treats you depends on what is closest and, outside a genuine emergency, on whichever your huisarts or huisartsenpost refers you to.

Do I need a referral to use the hospitals in Amsterdam’s emergency departments?

In almost every case, yes. Dutch emergency departments expect you to arrive by ambulance or with a referral from your huisarts or huisartsenpost. Turning up without one can mean triage delays, redirection, or a direct bill.

How do I find a pharmacy open at night in Amsterdam?

OLVG West runs the city’s night pharmacy from 23:00 to 08:00 on weekdays, with longer hours on Sundays and holidays. For evenings and weekends, check the current duty pharmacy on apotheek.nl or read the notice on any closed pharmacy’s door.

Is emergency care free in the Netherlands?

No. Basisverzekering covers a referred or ambulance-brought visit to any of the hospitals in Amsterdam, but the cost counts toward your annual eigen risico of EUR 385, unlike a huisarts visit, which is exempt. Self-referred visits without urgency can be billed directly.

Expat Essentials for Amsterdam

A few quick wins make settling into Amsterdam easier while you work through this guide. An Airalo eSIM keeps you online from the moment you land, a pre-booked Welcome Pickups transfer takes the stress out of arrival day, and NordVPN protects your logins on public wifi. See our full list of trusted services below.

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Written by FinePassport team