Studying in the Netherlands

Health insurance for international students in the Netherlands

Start with the right type of insurance, then compare the policy. Your study, work and existing cover matter more than the label “student insurance”.

Last checked: 28 September 2026·Content Transparency

01 / Eligibility first

Which insurance route should you check?

International students here solely to study are normally outside Dutch basic insurance. Home-country cover or private insurance may be appropriate instead. Work can change that position. This overview is a starting point, not an eligibility decision.

Study in NL guidance

Insurance routes to check before selecting a policy
Your situation	Route to check	Next step
Study only, with valid home-country cover	Home insurance / EHIC	Ask your home insurer whether your full stay and necessary care in the Netherlands are covered.
Study only, without adequate home-country cover	Private student insurance	Check eligibility and medical exclusions before buying. Nationality alone does not choose the policy for you.
A paid job alongside your studies	Dutch basic insurance may be required	Check your Dutch insurance obligation when work starts. Private cover is not a substitute when basic insurance is compulsory.
An internship	Check the internship rules	Payment alone is not the whole test. See the country-group and employee-insurance rules below.
Self-employed, employed PhD, or an unclear residence situation	Individual assessment	Ask the SVB to establish your insurance position rather than choosing on student status alone.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Sources: SVB · Study in NL. Ask the SVB about special cases, including students from the Dutch Caribbean.

Already have an EHIC or home cover?

An EHIC can cover medically necessary care during an eligible temporary stay, under local conditions. It is not a promise of free treatment and does not cover repatriation or private healthcare. Confirm continued eligibility for your whole stay with the issuing insurer before buying overlapping medical cover.

European Commission: EHIC limits

Working or doing an internship?

Since 1 September 2025, paid interns in the EU/EEA/Swiss/treaty-country group are Wlz-insured if covered by a Dutch employee-insurance scheme. Ask the internship company or UWV. For the other country group, the minimum-wage remuneration test applies; allowances and sometimes room and board count.

A separate job can change the outcome. Check the SVB country-group rules rather than using nationality or “paid/unpaid” alone.

Read the SVB internship rules

Required to have Dutch basic insurance?
Use the basic-policy comparison, not the private policies below.

Compare Dutch basic insurance

02 / Private student cover

Three options to compare

For students whose situation calls for private cover. These are selected English-language options, listed alphabetically, not a whole-market comparison or a recommendation of one policy for everyone.

We may earn a commission through the HanseMerkur visit link at no extra cost to you. The Aon and OOM links below are not affiliate links. How we review providers.

Private student cover

Aon Student Insurance

Full Degree / Exchange

Personalised quote

Select your study type, destination, dates and existing cover.

Who it is for: Separate products for full-degree and exchange students; choose the Netherlands as your destination.
Cover structure: Medical cover bundled with assistance, repatriation, liability and personal-items cover, subject to limits.
Important to check: Cover for an unforeseen acute worsening of a pre-existing condition is not blanket cover for routine treatment or ongoing medication.

Explore Aon options

Current products and exclusions

Private student cover

HanseMerkur

International Student Insurance

From €1.25 / day

Advertised Basic medical tariff up to age 34. Profi: €1.89/day; optional extra package: €0.60/day.

Who it is for: Temporary student stays. The linked conditions exclude people already subject to compulsory health insurance in the country of stay.
Cover structure: Basic and Profi medical plans; liability, baggage and accident cover are an optional package, not included in the headline price.
Important to check: Basic excludes psychotherapy and pays 80% of eligible medication costs. Linked conditions cap the standard term at one year; ask about longer studies.

Visit HanseMerkur in English

Opens the English homepage; choose International Student Insurance.

Student product and tariffs

Private student cover

OOM

Studying in the Netherlands

Personalised quote

Depends on Standard / Extended cover and the chosen excess.

Who it is for: Students aged 15–29 temporarily in the Netherlands who are not entitled to Dutch basic health insurance.
Cover structure: Standard or Extended medical cover, with a choice of €0 or €150 excess. Dental cover and a non-medical package are optional.
Important to check: Medical acceptance is required. Check the outcome before relying on cover for existing conditions. The published maximum term is five years.

Explore OOM options

Eligibility, cover and conditions

Tariffs and product information checked 28 September 2026. Daily rates are not monthly premiums; cover and optional extras differ. The insurer confirms eligibility and the final quote.

HanseMerkur: term, waiting periods and policy limits

The Basic and Profi conditions linked from the student page state a standard maximum term of one year. Confirm cover for a multi-year degree before buying. They also specify a general 31-day waiting period, waived when applying within 31 days of arrival, with further exceptions for accidents, life-threatening emergencies and comparable prior cover.

Known existing illnesses and foreseeable treatment are excluded under the linked conditions. A “no medical deductible” statement does not remove percentage reimbursement limits. Ask the insurer to confirm which conditions apply to your quote.

Basic conditions (PDF) · Profi conditions (PDF)

03 / Before you buy

Questions worth getting answered in writing

Existing conditions and medication

Ask about your actual condition, repeat prescriptions and planned treatment. A policy covering emergencies may still exclude ongoing care.

Mental health, dental care and excess

Check exclusions, treatment caps, waiting periods and what you pay yourself. A zero deductible does not mean every bill is paid in full.

Dates, travel and renewals

Confirm arrival cover, the full study period, home visits, other destinations and what happens when you renew or leave early.

Starting or stopping work

Ask how a change in your Dutch insurance obligation affects this policy. Coordinate start and end dates with the insurers to avoid a gap.

Still unsure which system applies? Request an SVB Wlz assessment. For Dutch basic-insurance start dates, read the four-month rule guide.

Common student-insurance questions

Is private student insurance the same as Dutch basic health insurance?

No. Private student policies have their own eligibility rules and benefit limits. When you are required to have Dutch basic insurance, a private student policy cannot replace it.

Study in NL: insurance routes

Does having a BSN mean I need Dutch basic insurance?

No. A BSN or municipal registration alone does not establish your Wlz insurance position. Your residence, study and work circumstances matter. Ask the SVB if the position is unclear.

SVB: students and insurance

Can I receive zorgtoeslag with a private student policy?

Private student insurance on its own does not qualify you for Dutch healthcare allowance. For students entering the Dutch basic-insurance system, eligibility for the allowance also depends on the other applicable conditions.

Study in NL: healthcare benefit

What should I do if I receive a CAK letter?

Do not ignore it, even if you already have private cover. Follow the deadline and instructions in the letter; request an SVB assessment if you believe Dutch basic insurance is not required for you.

CAK: uninsured letters