Physiotherapy for expats in Eindhoven and Tilburg

Correct, in almost all cases. You can book directly. The exception is treatment reimbursed from basic insurance for a chronic condition, which does require a referral from a doctor or specialist.

Yes. When you book online, choose English spoken (all complaints), where the form asks what you are coming for. It covers any complaint and puts you with a therapist who treats in English. Booking via this website page or via the phone or email works just as well — simply say so.

Usually within 48 hours. Waiting times for physiotherapy in the Netherlands are generally short, unlike those for specialists.

Not to be treated. You do need one for your insurer to reimburse you. If you do not have one yet, you can pay yourself and claim afterwards.

Not for physiotherapy. It is sensible to register with a huisarts anyway, because for most other care in the Netherlands the GP is the route in.

That depends on your supplementary package coverage. Check how many sessions you have per calendar year, or up to what amount. We have a contract with every Dutch health insurer, so we can bill them directly for the covered part. Bring your policy and we will look at it with you.

Sometimes. Some employers reimburse physiotherapy through a health budget or an occupational health scheme. We provide an invoice with the codes you need.

Let us know at least 24 hours in advance and there is no charge. Cancel later than that and the reserved time is billed.

• Children under 18 are covered from basic insurance, for a limited number of sessions per year.
• Chronic conditions on the official Dutch list are covered from basic insurance, but only from the twenty-first session onwards, and you do need a referral from a doctor or specialist.
• Supervised exercise programmes for some conditions, such as claudication or COPD, have their own arrangement.

The Dutch eigen risico is the amount you pay yourself each year before basic insurance starts paying. A useful detail: physiotherapy reimbursed from your supplementary insurance does not count towards it. Treatment covered from basic insurance, such as the chronic route, does.

You can still be treated. Many people arrive before their Dutch insurance is arranged, or are here on a short assignment. You pay for the session yourself and we give you an invoice with the treatment codes your insurer or employer needs.

Our rates:

• First appointment, including assessment – € 79,80
• Regular physiotherapy session – € 53,00
• Specialised session, such as manual therapy or paediatric physiotherapy – € 66,45
• Home visit surcharge – € 28,55

If you work in the Netherlands you are usually required to take out Dutch health insurance within four months of registering. Insurance from your home country often does not meet that requirement, so it is worth checking early.

Worth knowing before your first session, because it differs from what many people are used to.

It is active rather than passive. You will get exercises, and you will be expected to do them between appointments. Hands-on treatment is part of it, but it is rarely the whole treatment. If you are expecting an hour of massage, this will not be that.

Your therapist will explain what is going on. Understanding your own complaint is treated as part of the recovery, not as a nice extra.

Sessions are shorter than you may expect. A regular session is around 20 minutes. Your first intake appointment is longer because it combines assessment and treatment.

You are expected to have an opinion. Dutch healthcare tends to be direct and collaborative. Saying that something is not working, or that a goal matters to you, is welcomed rather than rude.