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Amsterdam Emergency Number & Response Guide 2024
How to call 112 in Amsterdam for life-threatening emergencies and when to contact huisartsenpost for non-urgent medical care.
How we reported this
Residents facing immediate threats to life in the Amsterdam Area must dial 112 to reach ambulance, fire or police services, according to the latest update on local healthcare contacts. The same line serves as the Europe-wide emergency number and handles calls in Dutch and English, with possible support in French or German. A text option exists for deaf or hard-of-hearing callers at 0800 8112.
Non-life-threatening cases require GP or after-hours first
Anyone with a medical issue that is not immediately life-threatening is directed to contact their regular GP or the after-hours surgery known as the huisartsenpost before heading to a hospital accident and emergency department. The after-hours service covers situations that would normally prompt a daytime GP call, such as chest tightness, severe stomach pain or a sick child, and operates through rotating doctors on nights, weekends and public holidays. Initial assessment happens over the phone, after which a doctor may visit at home or arrange further care.
Going straight to an A&E department for non-urgent treatment typically means paying part of the health-insurance deductible, while GP and after-hours visits remain free. Patients heading to hospital are advised to carry identification and their insurance pass.
Police and dental options listed separately
Police non-emergency calls go to 0900 8844, with a text line at 0900 1844 for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and an anonymous crime tip line at 0800 7000. Emergency dental help in Amsterdam and nearby cities including Haarlem is available by calling 085 105 0757, while residents in Noord-Holland and Flevoland are told to check tandarts.nl for local numbers. Only the 112 line or a GP can summon an ambulance.
The guidance, posted 27 May 2025, also points readers to a dedicated coronavirus page that links to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and the City of Amsterdam for further updates. Following the listed steps determines whether an ambulance is needed, whether costs apply and which service answers first.