Dutch Medical Terms: at the Doctor, Pharmacy and Hospital
Being sick in a second language is miserable. This guide gives you the Dutch you need at the huisarts, the apotheek and the hospital: body parts, symptoms, the sentences to describe what’s wrong, and how the Dutch healthcare system actually greets you (spoiler: with paracetamol).
How Dutch healthcare works, in one paragraph
Everything starts at the huisarts (GP). No huisarts, no hospital, except in emergencies (112, or the huisartsenpost after hours). You call in the morning, describe your problem to the assistente, and she decides how soon you’re seen. That phone call is the hardest Dutch conversation most newcomers face, which is why this page exists.
The places and people
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de huisarts | the GP / family doctor |
| de assistente | the doctor’s assistant (answers the phone) |
| de apotheek | the pharmacy |
| de drogist | the drugstore (paracetamol, no prescriptions) |
| het ziekenhuis | the hospital |
| de spoedeisende hulp (SEH) | the emergency room |
| de huisartsenpost | after-hours GP service |
| de tandarts | the dentist |
| de verpleegkundige | the nurse |
| de specialist | the specialist (needs a referral: verwijzing) |
| de zorgverzekering | the health insurance |
| het eigen risico | the deductible |
Body parts you’ll actually mention
| Dutch | English | Dutch | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| het hoofd | head | de rug | back |
| de keel | throat | de buik | belly/abdomen |
| het oor | ear | de maag | stomach |
| het oog | eye | het hart | heart |
| de neus | nose | de longen | lungs |
| de tand / de kies | tooth / molar | de knie | knee |
| de arm | arm | de enkel | ankle |
| de hand | hand | de huid | skin |
Describing symptoms
The pattern is simple: ik heb + the complaint. Learn these ten and you can describe most problems.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ik heb pijn in mijn buik. | I have pain in my belly. |
| Ik heb hoofdpijn / keelpijn / oorpijn. | I have a headache / sore throat / earache. |
| Ik heb koorts. | I have a fever. |
| Ik ben verkouden. | I have a cold. |
| Ik heb griep. | I have the flu. |
| Ik moet hoesten. | I have a cough. |
| Ik ben misselijk. | I feel nauseous. |
| Ik ben duizelig. | I feel dizzy. |
| Ik ben ergens allergisch voor. | I’m allergic to something. |
| Het doet hier pijn. | It hurts here. (point!) |
The phone call and the appointment
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ik wil graag een afspraak maken. | I’d like to make an appointment. |
| Het is dringend. | It’s urgent. |
| Sinds wanneer heeft u er last van? | Since when have you had this? (they will ask) |
| Sinds drie dagen. | For three days. |
| Ik gebruik medicijnen voor… | I take medication for… |
| Kunt u dat herhalen, alstublieft? | Could you repeat that, please? |
| Heeft u een verwijzing nodig? | Do you need a referral? |
| Het recept staat klaar bij de apotheek. | The prescription is ready at the pharmacy. |
| Drie keer per dag, na het eten. | Three times a day, after meals. |
Working in Dutch healthcare?
If you’re an internationally trained nurse or doctor building a career in the Netherlands, generic Dutch isn’t enough: you need the language of handovers, intake conversations and care protocols. That’s a specialised track; see our guides on BIG registration and working as a nurse in the Netherlands.
Practice the conversation before you need it
The worst moment to search for words is when you’re sick. Practice the huisarts call and the drogist visit now, with an AI that talks back.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I say I’m sick in Dutch?
‘Ik ben ziek.’ To call in sick at work: ‘Ik meld me ziek.’ To describe symptoms, use ik heb + the complaint: ‘ik heb koorts’ (fever), ‘ik heb hoofdpijn’ (headache), ‘ik ben verkouden’ (a cold).
What is a huisarts?
Your GP and the gatekeeper of Dutch healthcare. You register with one practice, call in the morning for appointments, and need their referral (verwijzing) for any specialist. For emergencies: 112, or the huisartsenpost outside office hours.
What is the difference between apotheek and drogist?
The apotheek is the pharmacy that handles prescriptions. The drogist (like Etos or Kruidvat) sells over-the-counter items: paracetamol, plasters, vitamins. Prescription in hand? Apotheek. Just a headache? Drogist.
Can I see a doctor in English in the Netherlands?
Usually yes, most Dutch doctors speak good English. But the phone with the assistente, the forms and the pharmacy labels are in Dutch, and describing symptoms in Dutch gets you helped faster. A little medical Dutch pays off quickly.