Health and liability insurance

All residents in the Netherlands are legally obliged to have health insurance coverage. We also strongly recommend that you take out liability insurance. Find out about the options available and arrange your insurance well in advance.

Work or paid internship during your studies?

If you will work during your studies, you must switch to Dutch public health insurance right away! In some circumstances this also applies to paid internships. Learn more under Working or paid internship.

International student insurance policy always advised

To ensure you have sufficient coverage, we highly advise all international students to take out an international student insurance policy. Even if you already have insurance from your home country. In our experience, home-country insurance often does not offer sufficient coverage for medical costs for an extended period of study abroad.

Leiden University recommends the insurance products offered by AON. In our experience, AON's policies provide sufficient healthcare coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions, personal liability and repatriation.

AON international student insurance

On the AON website you can find a suitable policy depending on the nature and duration of your stay in the Netherlands. Students who have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) during their stay can receive a discount of 55%.

Note: if you decide to work or (in some cases) do a paid internship during your studies, you must switch to Dutch public health insurance. AON can help you with the switch. For details see Working or paid internship.

AON student webinars

Before the start of each semester, AON holds free online webinars for international students coming to the Netherlands:

For EU/EEA students

Watch the recording of the webinar for EU/EEA Students from Tuesday 5th of August 2025 (11.00-12.00 CET)

For non EU/EEA students

Watch the recording of the webinar for Non-EU/EEA Students from Tuesday 5th of August 2025 (14.00-15.00 CET)

Prefer to use home-country health insurance?

Don’t want to take out international student insurance and prefer to use insurance from your home country? It is essential you make sure all the following aspects are covered:

You are insured for an extended period of study abroad.
All medical costs are covered, including hospitalisation.
Mental healthcare costs are covered.
All pre-existing medical conditions are covered - even if you think you don’t have any! Read the small print as pre-existing conditions are often not covered.
Repatriation costs are covered.

Is a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) sufficient?

As an EU/EEA student*, you may be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which covers basic medical costs. Be aware that the level and duration of coverage differs per country and might not always be what you expect. We therefore recommend that you also take out international student insurance.

* For UK nationals, the EHIC has been replaced by the GHIC. See the NHS website for details.

Arranging an EHIC

Request your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) well in advance and bring it along with you. Be aware that conditions of coverage are generally not stated on the card, so check the details with your home country’s insurance scheme in advance.

Reimbursements

If you have an EHIC only (and not international student insurance), you can request assistance with reimbursements from Zilveren Kruis insurance company via this form. If you also have an international student insurance policy, instead ask your insurance provider to assist with reimbursements.

Note: if you decide to work or (in some cases) do a paid internship during your studies, you must switch to Dutch public health insurance. For details see Working or paid internship.

Working or paid internship: public health insurance (often) required!

If you decide to work alongside your studies, you must switch to Dutch public health insurance. This also applies in certain circumstances if you will do a paid internship. Failure to take out public health insurance can result in a hefty fine, so check if this applies to you.

Working

If you will work during your studies, you must have Dutch public health insurance from your first day of employment onwards.

Paid internship

You only need Dutch public health insurance in the following circumstances:

Nationals of the EU, EEA or one of the countries listed below*: you only need Dutch public health insurance if your internship allowance covers you for employee insurance schemes (in Dutch Ziektewet and WaJong). You can check this with your internship provider. This applies even if you only receive a very small internship allowance.
*Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada (excluding Quebec), Cape Verde, Channel Islands (only Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Jersey and Jethou), Chile, Isle of Man, India, Japan, North Macedonia, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States.
All other nationalities: you only need Dutch public health insurance if you will earn more than Dutch minimum wage. You can check the Dutch minimum wage for your age and situation on this Dutch government website.

Self-employed

If you work on a self-employed basis (in Dutch: ZZP), you must have your insurance position assessed by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). The SVB will decide if you need to take out Dutch public health insurance. You can apply to have your insurance position (Wlz) assessed via the SVB website.

Not sure? Check in advance

Not sure if you need Dutch public health insurance? We highly advise you to check your insurance position in advance via the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) website.

If you receive a letter from the CAK stating that you are uninsured, follow the steps in the letter right away to avoid a fine!

Eligible for healthcare benefit?

If you must take out Dutch public health insurance, you may be eligible for healthcare benefit depending on your income. For more information, visit the Dutch tax service website. Remember that if your circumstances or income change, you must notify the tax service within 4 weeks!

If you have international student insurance via AON, they can arrange your switch to Dutch public health insurance. In other cases, follow the instructions on the Study in NL website and in this handy checklist.

More information on health insurance

Want to check you have sufficient health insurance? Take a look on the SKGZ website. For further information on health insurance in the Netherlands, visit the Study in NL website or watch the video below.

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Watch the video on the original website or

Liability insurance

We strongly advise you to take out third-party liability insurance to cover any accidental damage or harm you may cause to other persons or property during your stay. Liability insurance is included in some international student insurance policies, such as those offered by AON. Alternatively, you can take out a policy with a Dutch insurer or bank. See the Study in NL website for further information.