Can you receive healthcare benefit if you come to study in the Netherlands?

You can get healthcare benefit if you have to take out Dutch health insurance. That is the case if, for example, you have a part-time job. In some cases, it is also the case if you are doing an internship alongside your studies.

Do you have to take out Dutch health insurance?

Choose your situation to see how it works:

• I will only be studying in the Netherlands

  If you are only studying in the Netherlands and do not have a part-time job or get an internship allowance, you remain insured for healthcare costs in your own country. You do not have to take out Dutch health insurance. This means that you cannot get healthcare benefit.

  Are you taking out temporary health insurance for visitors to the Netherlands? You cannot get healthcare benefit for that type of insurance.

• I will be studying and working in the Netherlands

  If you have a paid job in addition to you your studies, you must take out Dutch health insurance. This allows you to get healthcare benefit.

• I am doing an internship in the Netherlands

  Are you doing an internship for your studies? You may have to take out Dutch health insurance.

  Will you be receiving an internship allowance?

  Are you being paid minimum wage or more in the Netherlands? If so, you are required to take out Dutch health insurance, and you can get healthcare benefit. You can find out what the minimum wage in the Netherlands is on government.nl.

  Will you not be receiving an internship allowance?

  Or is the allowance lower than the Dutch minimum wage? In that case, you remain insured in your own country for healthcare costs. You will not be required to take out Dutch health insurance. This also means that you cannot get healthcare benefit.

  Will you be taking out temporary health insurance for visitors to the Netherlands? You cannot get healthcare benefit for that type of insurance.

Do you meet the conditions? Apply for healthcare benefit

You can do so after you have taken out Dutch health insurance.

Find out how to apply for healthcare benefit

Want to know more?

For example, are you unsure whether you need to take out Dutch health insurance? That depends on whether you are insured in the Netherlands under the Long-term Care Act (Wet langdurige zorg). The Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) can help you with your questions. For more information, check the website of the SVB.

You can also find more information at studyinholland.nl.