- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency contraception
- Without a prescription
- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: amsterdamtourism.org, amsterdamexperiences.nl
Good to know
Good to Know
- Save 0800-0188 (Centrum Seksueel Geweld) in your phone before you need it — it works with a Dutch SIM only; if you're on a foreign number, use their chat service at chatmetcsg.nl instead.
- You can walk into the CSG center at Elisabeth Wolffstraat 4 (Amsterdam-West) daily 09:00–21:00 without an appointment, and going to the police is entirely optional — support and medical care are given either way.
- The morning-after pill is sold over the counter at any Dutch pharmacy or drugstore with no prescription and no age restriction, so you don't need a doctor's visit for it.
- If you already have a foreign prescription for the regular birth control pill, Dutch pharmacies will often honor it or accept an empty box as proof for a refill — but a first-time prescription for anything other than emergency contraception requires seeing a Dutch GP.
- Because Dutch insurance reimbursement rules for contraception mainly apply to residents under 21, most adult nomads should expect to pay out-of-pocket for the pill, IUD, or implant while in Amsterdam.
- If it's an emergency, call 112 — the sexual assault center's 0800 line is for support and non-life-threatening situations.
- Abortion is legal, free for Dutch residents with insurance, and does not require a GP referral — you can contact a specialized abortion clinic directly.
- The mandatory 5-day 'reflection period' was abolished in January 2023, so decisions and procedures can now move faster than older information online suggests.
- Most individual clinics set their own practical pregnancy cut-offs (often 18 or 22 weeks) well before the legal 24-week limit — call ahead, as availability and limits vary by clinic.
- The Dutch system runs on GP 'gatekeeping': for routine gynecology you typically need to register with a GP first and get referred to a specialist rather than booking a gynecologist directly, which can feel slower than in some other countries.
- If you're uninsured or an international visitor, expect to pay out-of-pocket 'passant' rates at both gynecology clinics and abortion clinics — ask for a price upfront.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Catcalling and street harassment are described as uncommon in Amsterdam relative to many other European cities, with most women reporting that they feel comfortable walking alone in the evening in both tourist and residential areas. This is a general pattern reported across guides to the city rather than a guarantee, and ordinary street awareness is still recommended.
Walking Alone at Night
Local guides describe walking at night as generally fine in the canal belt, Jordaan, De Pijp and Oud-West, since the city stays lively with people out late rather than emptying at night. Caution is advised around Centraal Station late at night, and in the Red Light District (De Wallen) after around 21:00-02:00 on weekends when crowds get dense and rowdy, with the area described as less safe alone after 2am. Unlit canal-side paths and quieter spots such as parts of Vondelpark after dark are also flagged as places to avoid walking solo late at night.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
The official Amsterdam tourism authority recommends sticking to licensed taxis, identifiable by blue license plates and an official rooftop sign, or booking through ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt, which let you track your driver in real time. It specifically warns to avoid unlicensed taxis touting at Schiphol Airport and taxi scams, and to ask for a receipt so trip details are recorded if there's a dispute.
Practical Precautions
Guides to the city consistently recommend trusting your instincts, avoiding unlit areas and unlit canal paths late at night, and using the GVB tram network or a licensed taxi/ride-hail app rather than walking alone through unfamiliar areas after midnight. Pickpocketing in crowded tourist spots like Centraal Station, Dam Square and Leidseplein is flagged as a more common concern than personal safety threats, so keeping bags zipped and valuables out of sight is advised.
Legal Framework
- Summary
- Abortion in the Netherlands was fully legalized on 1 November 1984, allowing elective abortion up to the 24th week of the pregnancy. Under the law, an abortion may be performed up to the time when the foetus is viable outside the mother's body, which is generally taken to mean the 24th week of the pregnancy.
- Waiting Period
- A former mandatory 5-day reflection period between initial consultation and the procedure was scrapped. On 21 June 2022, Dutch parliament approved a law to scrap the mandatory five-day reflection period, with the change going into effect in January 2023.
- Who Can Access
- Abortion, or termination of pregnancy, has been legal in the Netherlands since 1981, meaning every woman (or person with a uterus) decides for herself whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy. The Netherlands is a well-known access point for people from more restrictive European countries. The Netherlands allows abortion up to 22 weeks after conception, providing women the ability to terminate pregnancies later than in Belgium, where the limit is 12 weeks.
- Cost For Residents
- Insurance covers the costs for all Dutch residents.
- Medication Abortion
- Since February 2000, the use of the abortion pill was legalized in the Netherlands; the pills are permitted to be taken up to 49 days after the first day of the last menstrual bleed, which for most people is a timeframe of approximately three weeks. Three pills are prescribed and must be taken during in-clinic appointments, with the last appointment requiring a 4–6 hour observation stay.
- Referral Requirement
- You do not need a GP referral to get an abortion in the Netherlands, though it is advisable to speak to your GP or a health professional before making a decision.
- Practical Limit Note
- In practice, abortions are performed until approximately 24 weeks into pregnancy, although this limit is the topic of ongoing discussion among physicians in the Netherlands, since, due to recent medical advancements, a fetus can sometimes be considered viable prior to 24 weeks. Many individual clinics set their own, earlier cut-offs (commonly 18–22 weeks) rather than using the full legal window.
- Surgical Procedure Note
- A surgical abortion is offered after the first trimester of pregnancy and completely removes the fetus and all placental tissue in the uterus. After the first trimester, the procedure becomes stricter, as two doctors must consent to treatment.
Cost For Non Residents Or International Patients
- Second Trimester Over 18 Weeks
- €1,065
- Second Trimester Under 18 Weeks
- €830
- Note
- Non-residents / uninsured patients pay out of pocket; price depends on weeks of pregnancy and clinic.
Access Routes In Amsterdam
Direct to a Specialized Abortion Clinic
- Detail
- There are just over 100 Dutch general hospitals certified to perform abortions and 17 specialized abortion clinics, with more than 90% of abortions taking place in the specialized clinics. Patients can self-refer directly by phone/email without going through a GP.
Via GP (Huisarts)
- Detail
- A GP consultation is optional but can provide a referral letter and pre-decision counseling; not legally required to access care.
Amsterdam-area Specialized Clinics
- Detail
- Abortion Care Europe operates a clinic in the Haarlem region (treatments up to 22 weeks) and a clinic in Amsterdam itself, where treatment is available up to 18 weeks of pregnancy. Other clinics used by the Abortion Network Amsterdam include Beahuis & Bloemenhove and Vrelinghuis Utrecht, both performing abortions until week 22.
Support/navigation Organizations
- Detail
- Abortion Network Amsterdam and Fiom provide practical help (clinic contacts, referral letters, and information) especially for people traveling from abroad.
OB-GYN Options In Amsterdam
Women's Healthcare Center Amsterdam
- Type
- Independent gynecology treatment center
- Notes
- A leading center in the field of women's care, striving for optimal quality of care in a calm and friendly environment. Offers care to patients without Dutch insurance, including international visitors, expats, and patients without a GP referral, though uninsured 'passant' rates apply and must be paid on site.
Gynaecologie Amsterdam
- Type
- Private gynecology clinic
- Location
- Near Vondelpark
- Notes
- Offers a comprehensive service for gynaecological assessment and treatment, covering general gynaecological checks, abnormal smears, colposcopy, abnormal menstruation, pelvic pain, infection, incontinence, HRT and general gynecology. Staffed by two female and one male gynecologist and skilled assistants.
Expat Medical Centre
- Type
- General/expat medical practice (GP-level, can refer to gynecology specialists)
- Location
- Historical centre of Amsterdam, on one of the canals
- Notes
- Offers medical consultations in all medical specialities, most laboratory testing, minor surgery, and medical examinations. Multilingual staff, useful as a first point of contact/referral route for gynecological issues.
Amsterdam Tourist Doctors
- Type
- GP clinic for tourists/expats (referral point, not a standalone OBGYN)
- Location
- Sint Antoniesbreestraat 88, Amsterdam city center
- Notes
- 24/7 availability and multilingual assistance; can see patients for women's health concerns and refer onward to a gynecologist if needed.
Sexual Assault Support
- Name
- Centrum Seksueel Geweld (CSG) Amsterdam-Amstelland — Sexual Assault Center
- Hotline
- 0800-0188
- Chat Option
- chatmetcsg.nl (available if you don't have a Dutch phone provider, since the 0800 number cannot be reached from outside the Netherlands)
- Availability
- 24_7_phone_with_walk_in_hours
- English Support
- Our professionals are ready to help you. They are capable of helping you in English.
- What They Offer
- You will receive medical help in the form of medication to prevent pregnancy and the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases (STD / HIV).
- Network Partners
- The CSG Amsterdam-Amstelland is a network of GGD Amsterdam, Veilig Thuis, Amsterdam UMC, OLVG, victim support (Slachtofferhulp Nederland), police, and the public prosecutor's office.
- Time Sensitivity
- If you seek help from the Sexual Assault Center within seven days, preferably within 72 hours, then we will be able to give you the best help possible.
- Forensic Exam Window
- If the incident occurred within the past seven days, a forensic examination can be conducted to collect evidence, increasing the likelihood of identifying and prosecuting the perpetrator.
- Police Involvement Optional
- You are also welcome at the Sexual Assault Center even if you do not want the police to be involved.
- Hotline Notes
- Free and can be called anonymously.
Details
- The Sexual Assault Center is here for anyone who has had an unwanted sexual experience.
- It doesn’t matter if it happened online or offline, recently or a long time ago.
Walk In Location
- Hours
- Monday–Sunday, 09:00–21:00, no appointment necessary
- Address
- Elisabeth Wolffstraat 4, Amsterdam-West
Contraception
- General Access
- Contraception is legal and widely used, although prescription is required for birth control pills.
- Insurance Note
- Costs for prescription contraception (pill, IUD, implant) are only covered by Dutch basic health insurance for residents under 21; from 21 you either pay out of pocket or need supplemental insurance — this mainly affects long-term residents, not short-stay visitors.
Implant
- Cost Low
- €140
- Cost High
- €200
- Fitted By
- GP or hospital
- Common Brand
- Implanon/Nexplanon
- Prescription Required
- Yes
- Note
- Placement fee is usually reimbursed by Dutch health insurance for insured residents; separate from the device cost itself.
IUD Copper
- Cost Low
- €40
- Duration
- 5–10 years depending on brand
- Cost High
- €150
- Fitted By
- GP or hospital
- Prescription Required
- Yes
IUD Hormonal
- Fitted By
- GP or hospital
- Typical Cost
- €160
- Common Brands
- Mirena, Flexi-T
- Prescription Required
- Yes
Birth Control Pill
- Typical Annual Cost
- €50
- Prescription Required
- Yes
- Access Note
- You need a prescription from your GP for all methods of contraception, except for condoms and the morning-after pill.
- Refill Note
- You can also get refills of birth control pills without getting a new prescription.
Emergency Contraception
- Where To Get
- Any staffed pharmacy (apotheek) or drugstore (drogist, e.g. Kruidvat/Etos) in central Amsterdam; also available via 24-hour emergency/night pharmacies (dienstapotheek) if needed outside normal hours.
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Prescription Required
- No
- Access Note
- In the Netherlands, you can buy the emergency contraceptive pill without a prescription at a pharmacy, drug store or online.
- Reimbursement Note
- The cost of EC is not reimbursed when it is purchased without a prescription.
Ulipristal Pill
- Cost
- €25
- Brand
- ellaOne
- Window
- Effective up to 5 days after unprotected sex
Copper IUD As EC
- Cost Low
- €47
- Cost High
- €120
- Note
- A copper IUD fitted by a doctor can also be used as emergency contraception and doubles as ongoing birth control for 5–10 years.
Levonorgestrel Pill
- Window
- Effective up to 3 days after unprotected sex, most effective taken ASAP
- Brand Example
- NorLevo
Cost
- Amount USD Low
- 14
- Currency Local
- EUR
- Amount USD High
- 23
- Amount Local Low
- 12
- Amount Local High
- 20
Legal Status
Fully legal and regulated
Public System Access Note
Doctors perform many basic gynecological services in the Netherlands, accessible once registered with a local GP, and specialist/private gynecologists are available but less common than in some other countries — you should speak to your GP in the first instance for gynecological care. For specialist treatment or tests you need a referral note from your GP, and you cannot approach a specialist directly.
Emergency Number
- Police Fire Ambulance
- 112
- Note
- Call 112 if there is immediate danger or a crime in progress.
Other Local Resources
- Victim Support
- Slachtofferhulp Nederland — supports victims through police/justice process, coordinated via a CSG case manager
- Police Non Emergency
- 0900-8844 (for reporting after the fact, non-emergency)
- Online Sexual Abuse Helpline
- Offlimits — Dutch national helpline specifically for online sexual coercion/exploitation ('sextortion'), can advise and refer
- Domestic And Sexual Violence Advice Hotline
- Veilig Thuis (part of CSG network) — municipal domestic/sexual violence advice line
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Amsterdam
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.