This Amsterdam emergency contacts and healthcare guide covers everything you need to know if you fall ill, have an accident, lose a passport, or face any urgent problem during your visit. The Dutch emergency number is 112 — free, English-speaking, and works for police, fire, and ambulance. This guide explains who to call, where to go for non-emergency healthcare, how to get a tourist doctor to your hotel, where the nearest hospital is, 24-hour pharmacies, dental emergencies, the cost of healthcare for tourists, and what travel insurance covers.

Essential Emergency Numbers

• 112 — Emergency (police, fire, ambulance). Free from any phone, no SIM required, English/French/German spoken. Use ONLY for life-threatening situations.
• 0900 8844 — Non-emergency police. Use for theft, lost property, non-urgent complaints. Call 24/7.
• +31 20 592 3315 — Central Pharmacy Service (Centraal Apotheken Dienst); tells you which pharmacy is on duty.
• +31 20 427 5011 — Tourist Doctors house-call service.
• +31 20 237 3654 — Amsterdam Tourist Doctors clinic (Sint Antoniesbreestraat 88).
• +31 20 599 9111 — OLVG Hospital East emergency.
• 0800 0432 — Victim Support Netherlands (free; English available).
• +31 70 310 3209 — US Embassy The Hague (after-hours emergencies for US citizens).
• +31 70 427 0427 — British Embassy.

Save these into your phone before you arrive.

When to Call 112

Call 112 if there is danger to life, serious injury, fire, or a crime in progress. Examples:

• Heart attack, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, unconscious person, severe trauma.
• Active fire or smoke.
• Drowning (canals!).
• Armed assault, robbery in progress, sexual assault.
• Serious traffic accident with injuries.

What to say: state the emergency, your exact location (street name + nearest cross-street + city), your phone number, what’s happened. The operator decides whether to dispatch police, fire, or ambulance.

Do NOT call 112 for minor cuts, lost passports, missed flights, fevers, food poisoning, or hangovers. Use the non-emergency numbers below.

Non-Emergency Doctor / GP Care

In the Netherlands, a GP (huisarts) is the gatekeeper to all non-emergency healthcare. As a tourist you have three main options:

1. Amsterdam Tourist Doctors

• Specialist clinic for short-term visitors. English/Dutch/German.
• Address: Sint Antoniesbreestraat 88 (central Old Centre).
• Phone: +31 20 237 3654.
• Hours: 07:00-22:00 daily.
• Walk-in or appointment.
• Hotel house-call service: +31 20 427 5011.
• Typical consultation: €100-130; house call €175-225.
• Pay by card or cash; they give a receipt for your insurance.

2. After-Hours GP (Huisartsenpost)

For non-emergency urgent care outside business hours (evenings, nights, weekends), GPs cooperate in 24-hour after-hours posts. Call first:

• Huisartsenpost Amsterdam Zuidoost: +31 88 003 0900.
• Huisartsenpost OLVG West: +31 88 003 0600.
• You’ll be triaged by phone, given an appointment or sent to ER if needed.
• Typical fee: €60-100 for tourists; bring travel insurance details.

3. Walk-In Clinics

Private walk-in clinics exist for non-urgent issues like checks, vaccinations, prescriptions:

• SantéTrend — central; English; €80-120 consultation.
• GP24 Amsterdam — multiple locations; €60-90.
• SHO walking clinics — same-day for minor concerns.

Hospitals in Amsterdam

• OLVG East (Oost) — Eerste Oosterparkstraat 279. 24-hour ER, central, good for tourists. +31 20 599 9111.
• OLVG West — Jan Tooropstraat 164. 24-hour ER. +31 20 510 8911.
• Amsterdam UMC (AMC location) — Meibergdreef 9. Major teaching hospital; 24-hour ER; specialist care. +31 20 566 9111.
• Amsterdam UMC (VUmc location) — De Boelelaan 1117. 24-hour ER. +31 20 444 4444.
• BovenIJ Hospital — Noord. Smaller hospital, ER available. +31 20 634 6346.

For ambulance transport call 112. To go to ER on your own, take a taxi/Uber direct to the "Spoedeisende Hulp" (SEH) entrance. Bring passport, insurance card, and any medications.

Pharmacies (Apotheek)

• Look for the green cross sign ("Apotheek").
• Open Mon-Fri 08:30-17:30; some until 22:00. Many Sat 09:00-12:00; closed Sundays.
• For Sunday/night emergencies call Centraal Apotheken Dienst on +31 20 592 3315 — they tell you which pharmacy is on duty.
• Etos and Kruidvat are drugstores (not pharmacies) — they sell over-the-counter items but no prescription drugs.
• Common over-the-counter items: paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, sunscreen, basic first aid.
• Prescription medicines: bring your home prescription + original packaging. The Dutch pharmacist may need to consult a GP for new prescriptions.

24-Hour Pharmacies

• BENU Apotheek De Witte Tulp — Gelderlandplein 88; late hours; near Zuid.
• Dam Apotheek — Damrak 2; central; very late hours.
• Bjorn van der Velde Apotheek — Old Centre; reliable after-hours service.

Dental Emergencies

• Dental 365 — 24-hour walk-in dental clinic (Sint Antoniesbreestraat 84). Open 08:00-23:00 for walk-ins; on-call 23:00-08:00.
• TandartsenPraktijk Amsterdam-Centrum — same-day emergency slots.
• Acuut Tandartsen — emergency phone line, after-hours dentists.
• Typical cost: €100-200 for emergency treatment; receipts for insurance.

Mental Health Help

• 113 Suicide Prevention — call 113 (free, 24/7, English) or visit 113.nl/en.
• Crisis Care Amsterdam (GGZ) — for severe mental health crises during your stay.
• Amsterdam Tourist Doctors — first port of call for mild-moderate distress.

Lost or Stolen Items

• Lost passport: report to your embassy/consulate (US: The Hague; UK: The Hague; AU: Berlin; CA: The Hague). Bring police report. Emergency replacements typically take 1-3 working days.
• Stolen items: file a police report at any police station (politie). You’ll need a paper report for travel insurance claims. Online reporting available at politie.nl/en.
• Lost on public transport: GVB Lost Property at the central depot; lost items often turn up within 24-48 hours.
• Lost at Schiphol: airport lost & found in Departure Hall 1; also reachable by email.
• Stolen credit cards: call your issuer directly to cancel (most have 24/7 international hotlines).

How Much Does Tourist Healthcare Cost?

• GP consultation: €80-130.
• Hotel house call by tourist doctor: €175-225.
• Emergency room visit: €300-500 just for assessment; treatment adds more.
• Pharmacy charge: small over-the-counter items €3-15; prescription medicines vary.
• Ambulance: ~€600-800 (charged to insurance).
• Hospital admission: €500-1,500 per day depending on care.
• Dental emergency: €100-300.

Bring travel insurance details to every appointment. The hospital or clinic will issue a paid invoice in your name; submit to your insurer for reimbursement. Some private clinics will bill insurers directly if you have a recognised provider.

Travel Insurance: What You Need

• Minimum cover: €30,000 for emergency medical and repatriation (required for Schengen visa applicants; strongly recommended for everyone).
• Better cover: €100,000-1 million for serious incidents.
• Repatriation: emergency flight home with medical escort if needed.
• Pre-existing conditions: declare them — undisclosed conditions are not covered.
• Adventure activities: cycling, water sports, etc. need add-ons.
• Cancellation: covers your prepaid trip if you fall ill before travelling.
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): EU citizens use this for state-funded care.
• GHIC: replacement for UK citizens since Brexit.
• US Medicare: does NOT cover overseas — buy travel insurance.

General Safety in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s safest large cities. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The main risks are:

• Pickpockets in Centraal Station, trams, the Red Light District. Wear bags front-facing in crowds.
• Bike theft — lock your rental at multiple points.
• Drink spiking: rare but possible in busy bars. Keep drinks in sight.
• Drug-related incidents in the Red Light District at night — stay alert.
• Falling into a canal — surprisingly common at night, especially when drunk. Stay back from the unprotected edges. Many drown each year.
• Cycling accidents — wear care; signal; follow lane rules.

See our Amsterdam safety guide.

Embassies & Consulates

• USA — Consulate General Amsterdam (no longer at full embassy status); main embassy The Hague. +31 70 310 2209.
• UK — Embassy The Hague: +31 70 427 0427.
• Canada — Embassy The Hague: +31 70 311 1600.
• Australia — Embassy The Hague: +31 70 310 8200.
• Ireland — Embassy The Hague: +31 70 363 0993.
• India — Embassy The Hague: +31 70 346 9771.
• South Africa — Embassy The Hague: +31 70 392 4501.

Embassies handle passports, citizenship issues, and provide help for citizens facing major incidents (arrest, hospitalisation, death). They cannot pay your medical bills.

Practical Tips

• Save 112 and your country’s embassy in your phone before travelling.
• Bring a photocopy of your passport in case the original is lost.
• Email yourself copies of insurance card, prescriptions, and passport ID page.
• Carry your insurance details when you’re out.
• Use Find My iPhone / Find My Device in case of theft.
• Take a photo of your bike serial number on rental day.
• Note your hotel’s address in Dutch so taxi drivers don’t misread.
• Free Wi-Fi available across the city — VPN recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the emergency number in Amsterdam?

112 — free from any phone, no SIM needed, English-speaking operators. Same number for police, fire, and ambulance.

Can I see a doctor without an appointment as a tourist?

Yes. Amsterdam Tourist Doctors (Sint Antoniesbreestraat 88) takes walk-ins 07:00-22:00. Several walk-in clinics also operate.

Do Amsterdam doctors speak English?

Yes — almost all doctors and hospital staff speak fluent English. Pharmacists too.

Is the tap water safe to drink?

Yes — Amsterdam tap water is among Europe’s cleanest. Free at restaurants if you ask for kraanwater.

Will my home insurance cover me?

Maybe partially. US Medicare doesn’t cover overseas. Most private insurers don’t cover overseas emergencies. Get dedicated travel insurance for €30-100 for a 2-week trip.

Are coffeeshops legal? What about drugs?

Soft drugs (cannabis) are decriminalised in coffeeshops. Hard drugs are illegal. Possession of small amounts of cannabis is tolerated but public smoking has been restricted in central Amsterdam.

Should I report a small theft to police?

Yes — even if you don’t expect recovery, you need a police report for insurance and any passport replacement.

Final Thoughts

Amsterdam’s healthcare system is world-class and accessible to tourists. The key is to know who to call: 112 for life-threatening, Amsterdam Tourist Doctors for everything else, and the Central Pharmacy Service for after-hours medication. Save the numbers in your phone before you fly, bring proper travel insurance, and you’ll be set if anything goes wrong. The vast majority of visits to Amsterdam pass without medical needs — but the system is excellent when called upon.

For more, see our Practical Amsterdam Information pillar, our safety guide, and our visa requirements guide.