Dutch Medicines Information: Links
This guide helps internationals and expats check whether a medication they currently use—especially one prescribed in the United States—is available in the Netherlands, and what to do if it is not. The Dutch system works by active ingredient and authorization status, not by brand names or overseas prescriptions, which can make the transition confusing without the right references.
The websites listed below are official, reliable sources used by Dutch doctors, pharmacists, insurers, and regulators. They allow you to look up whether a medication is approved in the Netherlands, what equivalent options exist, whether it is reimbursed by insurance, and whether special rules apply (for example, for controlled substances or unlicensed medicines).
To use this list effectively, start by checking availability using the Dutch medicines database, then look for therapeutic equivalents, and finally review reimbursement and regulatory rules if needed. You do not need to use every site for every medication—each resource serves a specific purpose, which is briefly explained so you know when and why to use it.
Used together, these tools help you prepare for discussions with your huisarts or pharmacist, reduce delays in continuing treatment, and avoid common misunderstandings when transferring care to the Dutch healthcare system.
1. Geneesmiddeleninformatiebank (CBG)
Purpose: Check whether a medication is officially authorized in the Netherlands
Best for: Verifying if the active ingredient exists in NL and under what name
Website:
https://www.geneesmiddeleninformatiebank.nl
Updated by College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen (CBG), the Dutch medicines regulator.
How to use it:
Search by active ingredient or generic name, not brand name
Confirms: authorization status, dosage forms, manufacturer
If it’s not here, pharmacies may have difficulty dispensing it, or may need to fill extra documentation to have it shipped or approved to be brought into the country
2. Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas
Purpose: Identify Dutch-approved therapeutic equivalents
Best for: Understanding what Dutch doctors would prescribe instead
Website:
https://www.farmacotherapeutischkompas.nl
Published under Zorginstituut Nederland.
Why it matters:
Shows first-line vs alternative medications
Explains why some meds are replaced with different—but equivalent—options
If your exact medication isn’t used, this tells you what usually is.
3. Zorginstituut Nederland – Medicines Reimbursement (GVS)
Purpose: Check whether a medication is reimbursed under basic Dutch insurance
Best for: Predicting out-of-pocket costs
Website:
https://www.zorginstituutnederland.nl
Key concept:
The GVS (Geneesmiddelenvergoedingssysteem) determines reimbursement, not availability
A drug may be available but not covered, or only covered under certain conditions
If you are already on a medication that may not be covered, share this information with your current doctor (from your home country) so that they can provide enough documentation to help your huisarts
4. European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Purpose: Check EU-wide authorization status
Best for: Newer or specialty medications
Website:
https://www.ema.europa.eu
Run by European Medicines Agency.
Why this helps expats:
If a medication is EMA-approved, it can legally be used in NL
If it’s not EMA-approved, Dutch access is unlikely without special exemptions
Especially useful for biologics, oncology drugs, and advanced injectables.
5. IGJ (Health and Youth Care Inspectorate)
Purpose: Understanding access to non-authorized or imported medications
Best for: When your medication is not approved in NL
Website:
https://www.igj.nl
Managed by Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd.
This explains:
When pharmacies may supply meds without Dutch authorization
Rules for shortages and exceptional imports
Why you cannot simply mail U.S. prescriptions into NL
6. Het CAK – Opium Act Medications
Purpose: Check rules for controlled substances
Best for: ADHD meds, opioids, certain sleep/anxiety drugs
Website:
https://www.hetcak.nl
Overseen by CAK.
Use this if your medication:
Is a stimulant, strong painkiller, or sedative
Requires a formal medication declaration for travel
Falls under the Dutch Opiumwet
This is where most expat medication stress comes from—check early, and inform your current doctor so that they can provide the documentation that you need to facilitate access here either through your huisarts or through the specialist.
7. Apotheek.nl
Purpose: Plain-language explanations of Dutch medications
Best for: Understanding what the Dutch version actually does
Website:
https://www.apotheek.nl
Run by KNMP.
Helpful for:
Side effects
How Dutch pharmacists explain the drug
Patient-friendly summaries once you’ve identified the equivalent
How expats should use this list (the smart sequence)
Geneesmiddeleninformatiebank → Is the active ingredient authorized in NL?
Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas → What’s the Dutch equivalent?
EMA → Is it approved at EU level?
Zorginstituut Nederland (GVS) → Will insurance cover it?
CAK / IGJ → Is it controlled or needs special access?
This order mirrors how Dutch clinicians think—following it saves weeks of confusion.