First Phrases

Doctor / GP · Nederlands

Doctor / GP in Dutch: 12 survival phrases

Book a GP appointment, say where it hurts, ask someone to slow down or write it down, and know what to say in an emergency.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). "U" is the safe choice. In the Netherlands you register with a "huisarts" (GP) near your home and need a "zorgverzekering" (health insurance). Your GP is the first step for most problems and gives you a "verwijzing" (referral) to a specialist. Outside office hours call the "huisartsenpost".

How to read the sounds: g and ch are a rough throat sound, written kh (like Scottish 'loch'), stronger than English h. ou/ui = 'ow'; ij/ei = 'ay' (as in 'say'); eu = a rounded 'uh' (like French 'peu'); uu = 'ew' (say 'ee' with rounded lips); oe = 'oo'. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: huisarts, huisartsenpost, zorgverzekering, verwijzing. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Ik wil graag een afspraak maken bij de huisarts.
    Say it like: ik vil khrahkh ayn AF-sprahk MAH-kuh bay duh HOWS-arts
    I'd like to make an appointment with the GP.
    Register: "Ik wil graag" is polite enough in Dutch.
  2. 02Politecheck
    Heeft u vandaag of deze week nog plek?
    Say it like: hayft ew van-DAHKH of DAY-zuh vayk nokh plek
    Do you have room today or this week?
    Register: Polite.
  3. 03Neutral
    Ik heb om tien uur een afspraak. Mijn naam is …
    Say it like: ik hep om teen ewr ayn AF-sprahk. mine nahm is
    I have an appointment at ten. My name is …
    Register: Say it at the reception desk.
  4. 04Neutral
    Ik voel me niet lekker.
    Say it like: ik vool muh neet LEK-ker
    I don't feel well.
    Register: "Niet lekker" is the everyday phrase.
  5. 05Neutral
    Het doet hier pijn.
    Say it like: uht doot heer pine
    It hurts here.
    Register: Point to the place.
  6. 06Neutral
    Ik heb sinds gisteren koorts.
    Say it like: ik hep sints KHIS-tuh-ruh koorts
    I've had a fever since yesterday.
    Register: Change "gisteren" to "drie dagen" (three days).
  7. 07Neutral
    Ik ben allergisch voor … en ik gebruik dit medicijn.
    Say it like: ik ben ah-LER-khees fohr ... en ik khuh-BROWK dit may-dee-SINE
    I'm allergic to … and I take this medication.
    Register: Show the box or the list.
  8. 08Polite
    Kunt u wat langzamer praten, alstublieft?
    Say it like: kunt ew wat LANG-zah-mer PRAH-tuh, AHL-stew-bleeft
    Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
    Register: Polite.
  9. 09Polite
    Kunt u dat opschrijven, alstublieft?
    Say it like: kunt ew dat OP-skhry-vuh, AHL-stew-bleeft
    Could you write that down, please?
    Register: Polite.
  10. 10Polite
    Het is een noodgeval. Wilt u een ambulance bellen?
    Say it like: uht is ayn NOHT-khuh-val. vilt ew ayn am-bew-LAN-suh BEL-luh
    It's an emergency. Could you call an ambulance?
    Register: The emergency number in the Netherlands is 112.
  11. 11Polite
    Kunt u een recept of een verwijzing voor me uitschrijven?
    Say it like: kunt ew ayn ruh-SEPT of ayn fer-VAY-zing fohr muh OWT-skhry-vuh
    Could you write me a prescription or a referral?
    Register: "Verwijzing" = referral to a specialist.
  12. 12Neutral
    Spreekt hier iemand Engels?
    Say it like: spraykt heer EE-mant ENG-uls
    Does anyone here speak English?
    Register: Neutral.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the doctor in Dutch?

Start with: "Ik wil graag een afspraak maken bij de huisarts." (I'd like to make an appointment with the GP.)

Should I use informal or formal Dutch at the doctor?

"U" is the safe choice. In the Netherlands you register with a "huisarts" (GP) near your home and need a "zorgverzekering" (health insurance). Your GP is the first step for most problems and gives you a "verwijzing" (referral) to a specialist. Outside office hours call the "huisartsenpost".

How do I ask for a GP appointment in Dutch?

Try: "Ik wil graag een afspraak maken bij de huisarts." (I'd like to make an appointment with the GP.)

Same errand, another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands

Dutch, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat

All 5 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the twelve phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/doctor/nl/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint