GP Shortage in the Netherlands

If you have recently tried to register with a GP in the Netherlands, you may have noticed that it feels more complicated than before. The country is known for a strong healthcare system, but right now, the GP shortage in the Netherlands is becoming very real. Many people are seeing the effects of Dutch primary care under pressure, rising GP workload, and significant differences in GP capacity across regions.

In large cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, many people search for GPs who are not accepting new patients, and this problem is now common in the Netherlands. It used to be rare to be turned away by a practice, but today many Dutch GP clinics are full.

Across Europe, people talk about longer waiting times and delays in routine care. The Netherlands is still one of the better systems in theory, but the situation on the ground is changing. More GP practices have closed their lists to new patients, the need for primary care continues to grow, and studies show a widening gap between the number of general practitioners and the number of patients who need them. This has created significant GP pressure in the Netherlands, affecting expats, families, long-term residents, and anyone seeking to join a new practice.

This article will examine the changing general practitioner shortage in the Netherlands, what is causing it, how it makes it harder for people to access care, and why even a strong healthcare system can face severe strain. It will also explain how policymakers are addressing these issues, what the numbers indicate about future GP capacity in the Netherlands, and how online medical consultation services in the Netherlands can provide safe help for non-emergency needs when face-to-face visits are difficult to arrange.

 

Shortage in the Netherlands: Key Facts and Current Pressures

The GP shortage in the Netherlands is worsening as demand rises, practices close their lists and regional pressure increases.

The Netherlands is known for a strong healthcare system, but new reports show that the GP shortage is growing rapidly. Recent audits and European studies highlight rising GP workload, uneven GP capacity, and more Dutch GP practices closing their lists to new patients.

Here are the key points in simple terms.

• National audits confirm that the general practitioner shortage in the Netherlands is increasing, and this pressure is expected to continue in the coming years.
  
  
• About 60 percent of GP practices were not accepting new patients in the latest national measurement. This makes it harder for anyone trying to register with a GP in the Netherlands.
  
  
• Between 777,000 and 926,000 residents are either without a GP or trying to switch to a new one. That is around one in twenty people across the country.
  
  
• Even though international rankings show low levels of unmet medical needs, the demand for primary care is rising, and workforce distribution issues are becoming more visible.
  
  
• These trends explain why searches like GP shortage Netherlands, GP not accepting new patients Netherlands, and register GP Netherlands have increased, especially in cities with fast population growth.
  
  

Why This Matters

• Local areas and large cities feel greater GP pressure in the Netherlands than national averages suggest.
  
  
• More people need regular care for long-term conditions, but the GP workforce is not growing at the same pace.
  
  
• The situation affects residents, newcomers, expats, and anyone trying to move between practices.
  
  

What This Shows

• The Netherlands still performs well overall, but Dutch primary care is under pressure.
  
  
• Rising demand, limited workforce growth, and uneven regional access are creating real problems for people seeking a GP in the Netherlands.
  
  

Main Causes of the GP Shortage in the Netherlands

Several long-term trends, including retirements, training gaps, rising workload and population growth, are driving the Dutch GP shortage.

The GP shortage in the Netherlands is not caused by one single problem. It stems from several long-term trends that are now converging. These trends affect GP workload, patient access, and the overall pressure on the Dutch primary care system. Below are the main reasons, explained.

Ageing Workforce and Retirement Trends

Many GPs are approaching retirement. The Netherlands Court of Audit says that more than half of the current GP workforce may leave within the next twenty years. This is a significant reason for the general practitioner shortage in the Netherlands, as new GPs are not joining the system fast enough to replace those who are leaving.

Retirement Outpacing New GP Graduates

Training more GPs has not kept pace with retirements. Interest in GP training has also changed from year to year. This widens the long-term GP capacity gap. Research groups like NIVEL have highlighted this problem in their reports.

Rising GP Workload and Task Shifts

GPs in the Netherlands are dealing with more complex work than before. They are handling more chronic conditions, mental health concerns, and large amounts of administration. All of this increases GP workload nationwide and makes the job more stressful.

Regional and Urban Imbalances

Even though the total number of GPs may look fine on paper, their distribution is uneven. Cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague have some of the highest pressure on GP registration. Some rural areas also struggle with long-standing GP vacancies. This uneven spread leads people to search for terms like 'GP shortage Amsterdam' or 'GP in the Netherlands,' because the situation varies widely by location.

Population Growth and Higher Demand for Care

The population is growing, and more people are living longer with long-term health conditions. This increases the demand for primary care. The OECD has noted that these demographic changes are adding additional pressure on Dutch general practice.

GP Practices Closing to New Registrations

Around sixty per cent of GP practices have stopped taking new patients. This directly affects anyone trying to register with GP Netherlands or anyone searching for a GP who is not accepting new patients in the Netherlands. When practices close their lists, neighbouring clinics get busier and waiting times rise.

Key Driver	Simple Explanation
Ageing workforce	Many GPs are close to retirement, and not enough new GPs are joining.
Training gap	GP training spots and interest are not keeping up with retirements.
Rising workload	GPs handle more complex care, more admin, and more long-term conditions.
Regional imbalance	Some cities and rural areas have too few GPs, which creates uneven access.
Population growth	More older adults and more chronic illnesses increase demand for care.
Closed registrations	About 60% of practices are not accepting new patients, putting pressure on other clinics.

 

How the GP Shortage Affects Patients and Access to Care in the Netherlands

The shortage makes GP registration more difficult, increases waiting times, and leaves more residents without stable access to a family doctor.

The Netherlands is known for strong primary care, but the growing GP shortage nationwide is now causing real problems for people. These problems include daily access issues, registration issues, longer waits, and a rising GP workload that slows routine care.

Difficulty Registering with a Family Doctor

One of the most significant signs of pressure is how hard it has become to register with a GP in the Netherlands. About sixty percent of GP practices are not accepting new patients. This means many people in big cities face long waiting lists or practices that are full.

Because of this, search terms like 'register GP Netherlands' and 'GP not accepting new patients Netherlands' have become much more common, as people look for any practice still accepting registrations.

Longer Waiting Times for Routine Care

The GP workload nationwide has increased because GPs are managing more complex cases and more long-term conditions. When the workload grows faster than the number of GPs, routine and non-urgent appointments take longer to book.

The Netherlands still performs well compared to other European countries, but the pressure is rising. The OECD points out that, although unmet medical care needs are low at 0.2 percent, demand is growing and the workforce is stretched.

Localised Shortages and Underserved Areas

The general practitioner shortage in the Netherlands varies by region. Some areas have too many GPs but too few patients, while others simply have too few doctors. This creates small medical deserts where new registrations are nearly impossible. The Court of Audit notes that uneven GP distribution is one of the system's most significant weaknesses.

A Growing Number of Residents Without a GP

According to the Court of Audit, between 777,926 and 926,000 people are either without a GP or trying to switch. This is around one in twenty residents. It shows how serious the pressure has become and explains why searches like 'find a GP Netherlands' or 'GP shortage Amsterdam' continue to increase.

Impact on Expats and Newcomers

Expats and newcomers, such as students or workers moving to the country, face even more difficulty. Many GP practices focus on long-term residents, so new arrivals often struggle to join the Dutch GP system, which relies on stable lists. This is why search terms like 'expat GP Netherlands' and 'healthcare for foreigners Netherlands' are growing.

Issue	Simple Explanation
Hard to register with a GP	Many practices are full, so people face waiting lists or are unable to register at all.
Longer waiting times	Rising GP workload slows down routine and non-urgent appointments.
Local shortages	Some areas have too few GPs, which makes new registrations difficult.
More residents without a GP	Around one in twenty people are unregistered or trying to switch.
Challenges for expats and newcomers	New arrivals struggle to join practices that prioritise long-term residents.

 

How Authorities Are Responding to the GP Shortage in the Netherlands

Dutch authorities are expanding GP training, supporting high-pressure regions and promoting new care models to stabilise access.

The growing GP shortage nationwide has pushed health authorities and policymakers to take action. Even though the Dutch system remains strong, the rise in GP workload and the difficulties many people face when registering with a GP in the Netherlands have made it essential to find new solutions.

National Forecasting and Workforce Planning

The Advisory Committee on Medical Manpower Planning, called the Capaciteitsorgaan, studies how many GPs the country needs. Their recent forecasts show that the Netherlands could face a GP shortfall of up to sixteen percent by 2034 if nothing changes. These numbers are used by policymakers and are included in the Netherlands Court of Audit report.

Efforts to Increase Training Capacity

Authorities are trying to expand GP training places and make general practice more attractive to new doctors. However, interest in GP training has not increased sufficiently to replace all retiring GPs. This is one of the main reasons behind the general practitioner shortage in the Netherlands. Groups such as NIVEL continue to track these developments.

Support for Underserved Regions

Because GP pressure varies across the Netherlands, some regions need extra help. Workforce planning includes steps to attract GPs to areas with the most significant shortages. This can consist of local support, community programmes, or regional recruitment efforts. The Court of Audit has noted that this imbalance significantly affects patient access.

Task Shifting and New Models of Care

Researchers suggest that some routine tasks, simple follow-ups, and administrative work can be handled by trained assistants, nurses, or digital pathways. This reduces GP workload nationwide and helps GPs focus on more complex care. It also helps reduce patient waiting times.

Monitoring Practices That Stop Accepting New Patients

Since many GP practices have stopped taking new patients, authorities have begun mapping where these closures are occurring and why. This helps them see which areas have the highest pressure and where support is most needed during the GP shortage in the Netherlands.

Investment in Digital Health Approaches

Digital tools are increasingly used to address simple questions, repeat prescriptions, and follow up on care. These tools cannot replace in-person GP care, but they help reduce some of the day-to-day pressure. This is especially useful in busy cities such as Amsterdam or Rotterdam, where searches for GPs who do not accept new patients in the Netherlands are widespread.

Action Area	Simple Explanation
Workforce forecasting	Authorities study future GP needs to plan for shortages.
More training places	Efforts to increase GP training, but growth is still too slow.
Support for underserved regions	Extra help to attract GPs to areas with intense shortages.
Task shifting	Some routine tasks are moved to nurses or assistants to reduce GP workload.
Monitoring closed practices	Authorities track where practices stop taking new patients.
Digital health tools	Online tools help with simple tasks and reduce pressure on GPs.

 

Where Online Care Fits Into the Dutch GP System

Online consultations offer practical support for non-emergency issues when GP practices are full or not accepting new patients.

As the GP shortage nationwide continues, many people look for safe ways to manage non-emergency health problems while they wait for an in-person visit. Online consultation services have become a helpful support option for people who face delays, cannot find a practice accepting new patients, or live in areas with intense shortages, such as the GP shortage in Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

Online consultations are not meant to replace emergency care or long-term follow-up with your own GP. However, they can provide quick help with simple medical questions, minor illnesses, and repeat guidance when it is hard to get a face-to-face appointment. This is especially useful for expats, travellers, and anyone still searching for GP registration advice in the Netherlands.

Services like Mobi Doctor connect patients with EU-licensed doctors through chat or online consultation. They can offer medical guidance, everyday health advice, and sometimes a prescription when it is safe and needed. This type of digital access can reduce GP workload in the Netherlands by handling simpler concerns that do not require a physical check.

For people searching for a GP in the Netherlands who is not accepting new patients, online care offers a practical bridge. It helps you manage common, non-emergency health issues safely while you continue looking for long-term registration with a Dutch GP.

In Person GP Care	Online Consultation Care
Best for complex health problems that need a physical check.	Best for simple medical questions and minor illnesses.
Useful for long-term follow-up and ongoing management.	Helpful when you need quick guidance while waiting for an in-person appointment.
Requires being registered with a GP practice.	Does not require GP registration, applicable if you cannot register a GP in the Netherlands.
It can take longer to book during the nationwide GP shortage.	Easy to access through chat or online consultation.
Important for tests, physical exams, and urgent concerns.	Supports repeat advice, everyday health guidance, and some prescriptions when safe.

 

Conclusion: What the GP Shortage Means for Residents and Expats

The Netherlands still has strong primary care, but GP shortages are making access more difficult, especially in large cities and for newcomers.

The Netherlands is still known for strong healthcare, but the growing GP shortage nationwide shows that even a well-organised system can face pressure. An ageing workforce, rising demand for long-term care, and uneven GP numbers across regions have made it harder for many people to register with a GP in the Netherlands or book routine appointments. This is felt most in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, where GP searches for new patients in the Netherlands have become very common.

Authorities are working on solutions. They are increasing training places, supporting regions with intense shortages, shifting some tasks to other trained staff, and closely tracking workforce needs. These steps are designed to reduce the general practitioner shortage in the  Netherlands, but real results will take time. The main challenge is maintaining access to care while managing the rising GP workload in the Netherlands.

While people deal with these pressures, online consultations provide a safe option for non-emergency needs. They are beneficial for expats, travellers, and anyone between GPs. They do not replace in-person care or long-term follow-up, but they help people get guidance when access is limited.

As new measures develop, the aim remains the same: to protect the high standard of Dutch primary care and reduce the pressure that makes access so difficult for so many.