For Expats

Welcome to our guide to physiotherapy in the Netherlands. On this page you’ll find information about how physiotherapy and the Dutch healthcare system are organized. This page explains when you need a referral, how insurance works, what treatment costs, and what to expect during your fist appointment at FTSA.

Everyone living or working in the Netherlands usually needs Dutch health care insurance. Some people have an international health insurance. If you have a Dutch health care insurance, you pay a monthly or yearly premium for basic health insurance. You can choose to add any additional insurance to your basic health insurance such as physiotherapy or any other your insurance company might offer. Dutch health care insurance has a deductible. This is a yearly set amount of money you’ll have to pay yourself before your basic insurance covers any medical costs. You can lower or increase this amount every year to a certain degree.

Your deductible is only used when you make use of anything covered by basic health insurance. If you make use of any additional health insurance, such as physiotherapy, or if you visit your general practitioner, your deducible is not being used.

In the Netherlands it’s not needed to have a referral from a doctor to be able to go to a physiotherapist. This is called ‘’direct access’’. Physiotherapists in the Netherlands are trained to assess whether medical referral is needed. During your first visit, your physiotherapist will perform a quick screening to determine if your complaints are within the boundaries of the musculoskeletal domain. If not, you will be referred to your general practitioner for further examination.

The direct access system provides efficient healthcare due to less pressure on general practitioners and easy accessibility to physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy can help with any musculoskeletal complaint. These complaints include but are not limited to:

• Sports injuries
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Elbow injuries
  • Wrist injuries
  • Knee injuries
  • Ankle injuries
  • Hip injuries
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Rehabilitation after surgery
• Work-related complaints
  • Back pain
  • Neck and/or shoulder pain
  • Posture problems
  • RSI

At FTSA we take the time to listen, assess and make a treatment plan. We provide a personal approach and are experienced in treating any and all musculoskeletal complaints. Together we decide what course of action is best for you.

Our physiotherapists are highly educated and experienced.

We are up to date on the latest developments in the field of physiotherapy and will provide you with the best information for an optimal recovery.

During your first visit we will:

• Perform an assessment and diagnose your complaints
• Discuss treatment options with you
• Give you advice and/or exercises to start getting better

What you should bring:

• ID/passport
• Previous medical information if relevant, including scans and/or reports
• A towel

All visits including the first will take about 30 minutes.

All our therapists speak English and we regularly treat international patients.

The cost depends on your healthcare insurance. The following are possible:

• You have a Dutch healthcare insurance with coverage for physiotherapy and we have a contract with your insurance company.
  
  • Your treatment is fully covered, the bill will be send to the insurance company.
• You have a Dutch healthcare insurance with coverage for physiotherapy but we don’t have a contract with your insurance company.
  
  • Your treatment is (partially) covered. The coverage depends on your insurance policy. You will receive a bill through email which you need to pay and can afterwards declare at your health insurance company.
• You have a Dutch healthcare insurance without coverage for physiotherapy.
  
  • Your treatment is not covered by your health insurance. You will receive a bill through email.
• You have an international healthcare insurance.
  
  • Depending on your insurance policy your treatments are fully or partially covered. You will receive a bill through email which you need to pay and can afterwards declare at your health insurance company.

Here you can find a list with our prices.

Here you can find a list with health insurance companies that we (don’t) have a contract with.

You can reach us by phone, email and WhatsApp for any questions you might still have. On our contact page you can find our contact information. (het schuin gedrukte moet een link worden naar een nieuwe pagina ‘’Contact’’