Health care in the Netherlands works in a fixed order. If you know this order, you can answer most exam questions easily.

Health insurance

Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must (verplicht) have health insurance (de zorgverzekering).
You pay a premium every month. Not the municipality or the state, but the insured person and their household pay it. If you have no income of your own, your partner (mijn partner) usually pays. People with a low income can get a health care allowance (de zorgtoeslag) from the government.

The family doctor first

When you are ill, you go to the family doctor (de huisarts) first. If it is not an emergency, you do not go straight to the hospital.
If needed, the family doctor refers you (de verwijzing) to a specialist (de specialist) or the hospital. Most specialists work in the hospital (het ziekenhuis).
In the evening, at night and at weekends there is an out-of-hours GP service (de huisartsenpost).

Medicines

You get prescription medicines (medicijnen op recept) at the pharmacy (de apotheek).
De drogist is a chemist's shop: it sells products without a prescription, such as painkillers and personal care items. It does not give prescription medicines.

Emergencies

If a life is in danger, you call 112. For serious injuries and emergencies you go to the hospital's emergency department (de spoedeisende hulp).

Young children

Het consultatiebureau is for babies and young children (0–4 years). There they check the child's growth and development and give vaccinations. It is free.