What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Rotterdam?
Emergency number
112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: nltimes.nl, commonwealthfund.org
Good to know
Good to Know
- Save 112 in your phone, but remember it's strictly for genuine emergencies — for lost items, minor theft reports, or non-urgent police matters, use 0900-8844 instead.
- 112 operators generally speak English, so language is rarely a barrier when calling for help in Rotterdam.
- Turning on 'Government/Emergency Alerts' in your phone's notification settings lets you receive NL-Alert warnings automatically — useful for short-term visitors who won't otherwise register for anything.
- The Netherlands tests its siren system nationwide at noon on the first Monday of every month — hearing sirens at that specific time is routine and not a cause for concern.
- For any life-threatening emergency in the Netherlands, dial 112 (free, 24/7) — this is the single national emergency number for ambulance, police, and fire.
- Erasmus MC is the region's only Level 1 trauma center, so ambulances with the most severe trauma cases are usually taken there rather than to the other hospitals listed, even if another ER is closer.
- Dutch ERs (SEH) generally expect you to go through a huisarts (GP) or huisartsenpost (GP out-of-hours post) first for non-life-threatening issues; walking in without a referral can mean longer waits and it's still billed as an SEH visit.
- SEH visits are billed against your Dutch health insurance deductible (eigen risico) or, for visitors without Dutch insurance, out-of-pocket — bring ID, insurance details, and a medication list if possible.
Official Safety Apps
112NL
- Publisher
- Dutch national emergency services (police, fire brigade, ambulance, Koninklijke Marechaussee)
- Description
- Official app that lets you call 112 while automatically sharing your GPS location and, if needed, chat with the control room in English or another language — useful if you don't speak Dutch or have a hearing/speech impairment.
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
NL-Alert
- Publisher
- Dutch government (Ministry of Justice and Security)
- Setup Tip
- Visitors should check that 'Government/Emergency Alerts' (cell broadcast) is switched on in their phone's notification settings, since this feature works automatically without downloading anything for most modern smartphones.
- Description
- Official cell-broadcast public warning system that automatically sends free alert messages to phones in the affected area during major fires, flooding, severe weather, or other crises — no registration needed, works even during network congestion.
Platforms
- Built into phone settings via cell broadcast
- Dedicated app also available for people near the Belgian/German border or with visual impairments
Non Emergency Numbers
Police (Non-urgent)
- Number
- 0900-8844
- Note
- For less urgent police matters such as filing a report, complaints, or wellness checks; local call rates apply.
Fire Brigade (Non-urgent)
- Number
- 0900-0904
- Note
- For non-emergency fire brigade contact.
Out-of-hours GP / Medical Advice
- Number
- 0900-1515
- Note
- Central doctors' service for non-life-threatening medical issues outside regular GP hours.
Suicide Prevention / Mental Health Crisis Line
- Number
- 113
- Note
- Free, confidential, 24/7 national crisis line.
0900-0111
- Service
- Coastguard (not applicable to inland Rotterdam city center but relevant for the wider port/river area)
- Note
- For non-land maritime emergencies; VHF Channel 16 also used at sea.
Gas or Electricity Emergency
- Number
- 0800-9009
- Note
- National hotline for gas leaks or power outages.
Anonymous Crime Reporting
- Number
- 0800-7000
- Note
- For reporting crimes anonymously.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 112
- Usage Note
- Only for genuine life-threatening emergencies, serious fires, or crimes in progress. When you call, state (1) what is happening, (2) where you are, and (3) which service you need.
- Description
- The single, toll-free emergency number for police, fire, and ambulance across the Netherlands (and all EU member states). Free to call from any mobile or landline. Operators are available 24/7 and can assist in English as well as Dutch.
Covers
- police
- fire brigade
- ambulance
Hospitals
Erasmus MC (Erasmus University Medical Center) — Accident & Emergency Department
- Phone
- +31 10 704 01 45 (general emergency line) / 010 704 07 04
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Address
- Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam
- Trauma Level
- Level 1 trauma center — designated as the Level 1 trauma center for the entire Southwest Netherlands region (Zuid-Holland Zuid, Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Zeeland)
- Notes
- Rotterdam's largest academic hospital and main referral point for the most severe trauma and acute cases in the region; has a dedicated Sophia Children's Hospital ER area next to the adult ER and a helicopter landing pad with direct link to the emergency centre.
Maasstad Ziekenhuis — Spoedeisende Hulp (SEH)
- Phone
- 010 - 291 35 99
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Address
- Maasstadweg 21, 3079 DZ Rotterdam (navigation address for the Spoedplein entrance is sometimes listed as Maasstadweg 59)
- Trauma Level
- General acute-care hospital with a 24/7 SEH; not designated as a Level 1 trauma center (patients with the most severe trauma are typically routed to Erasmus MC)
- Notes
- Large general hospital south of the Maas; the SEH entrance is on the 'Spoedplein' with a dedicated GP out-of-hours post co-located on site.
Franciscus Gasthuis — Spoedhulp (Kleiweg Location)
- Phone
- 010 - 461 61 61
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Address
- Kleiweg 500, 3045 PM Rotterdam
- Trauma Level
- General acute-care hospital with a 24/7 emergency department; not designated as a Level 1 trauma center
- Notes
- The Franciscus group's second emergency location (Vlietlandplein 2, Schiedam) only operates 08:00–23:00 and is outside Rotterdam proper, so it is not listed here.
Ikazia Ziekenhuis — Spoedeisende Hulp (SEH)
- Phone
- 010 - 297 50 00
- Hours
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Address
- Montessoriweg 1, 3083 AN Rotterdam
- Trauma Level
- General acute-care hospital with a 24/7 emergency department; not designated as a Level 1 trauma center
- Notes
- Independent general hospital on Rotterdam-Zuid; treats accident and sudden-illness cases around the clock.
Important Notes
Important Notes
- Calling 999 or 911 does not work in the Netherlands — always use 112.
- 112 operators can transfer deaf or hard-of-hearing callers to an SMS or chat-based service via the 112NL app.
- Ambulance response standard nationwide is 15 minutes, though in a dense city like Rotterdam response is typically much faster.
Healthcare
- Registration
- Register with municipality within 5 days of arrival if staying longer than 4 months. Must obtain health insurance within 4 months of municipal registration.
- GP Requirement
- Must register with a GP soon after arrival; GP acts as gatekeeper for specialist referrals.
- System Overview
- Health insurance is mandatory for all residents staying longer than 4 months. The Netherlands has a hybrid public-private system where the government mandates basic coverage (Basisverzekering) and private insurers provide the actual policies.
- Coverage Details
- Basic package includes GP visits, specialist care, hospital treatment, prescription medications, maternity/prenatal care, mental health services, ambulance services, and rehabilitation.
Basic Health Insurance
- Monthly Average
- €159
- Annual Cost 2025
- €1,905
- Mandatory Deductible 2025
- €385
- Deductible Note
- Applies to most healthcare services; GP visits and maternity care exempt. Can voluntarily increase deductible to €800 for lower premiums.
Pharmacies
- Standard Hours
- Most pharmacies open Monday–Friday during business hours; some open Saturday mornings. Most close by 5:30 PM.
- Language Support
- English-speaking staff available at most pharmacies in Rotterdam and other major cities.
- Finding Pharmacies
- Use apotheek.nl, Google Maps, or ask hotel/accommodation for nearest pharmacy with current hours.
- Emergency Pharmacies
- Emergency pharmacies (dienstapotheek) operate outside regular hours on nights, weekends, and holidays, typically in larger cities like Rotterdam. May charge extra fees for after-hours service.
- Prescription Requirements
- Bring valid prescription and ID for prescription medicines. Over-the-counter medicines available without prescription.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Rotterdam
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.