Health insurance for studying in the Netherlands: what you need to know

Studying in the Netherlands with only the EHIC (without working)

If you move to the Netherlands only to study, without working or doing a paid internship, you can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – meaning your Italian health card with the EU symbol. With the EHIC, you are entitled to medically necessary and unplanned healthcare, under the same conditions as Dutch citizens. However, coverage is not complete: some services that are free in Italy may have a cost in the Netherlands. For this reason, we strongly recommend taking out additional student health insurance in the Netherlands. These are private policies designed for international students: they are affordable and cover unexpected expenses such as medical visits, emergency care or medication.

If you register as a resident in the Netherlands

If you decide to transfer your residence and officially register at the municipality, the EHIC is no longer sufficient.

In this case, you should request the S1 form from Italy, which allows you to access healthcare in the Netherlands while maintaining your rights under the Italian healthcare system.

Please note: the process to obtain the S1 form is complex and can take time. Alternatively, you may consider a private health insurance policy in the Netherlands that is also valid for residents.

If you study and work (even part-time or with a paid internship)

As soon as you start working in the Netherlands – even with a paid internship or a part-time contract – it becomes mandatory to take out a zorgverzekering, the Dutch public health insurance.

• The monthly cost ranges between €120 and €140

• You can apply for a government allowance called zorgtoeslag, designed for students or workers with a low income; it often covers a large part of the cost

In this case, the EHIC and private student insurance are no longer valid.