Study abroad in the Netherlands: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary treatment but not repatriation. German citizens need no visa. The statutory tuition fee is 2,694 euros per year in 2026/27 and is waived for Erasmus+ students. Utrecht University cites living costs of 800 to 1,000 euros per month.
Study abroad in the Netherlands at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is valid in the Netherlands, repatriation is not covered | German Federal Foreign Office, European Commission |
| Visa | Not required, registration may be requested after three months | German Federal Foreign Office, Your Europe |
| Tuition 2026/27 | Statutory fee 2,694 euros per year, waived for Erasmus+ students at the host university | Nuffic, Erasmus+ |
| Living costs | 800 to 1,000 euros per month, rent 425 to 1,100 euros | Utrecht University (as of March 2023) |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office: Bezirksregierung Köln, Division 49 | German Student Services (DSW) |
All details are general information, not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative.
How are you insured in the Netherlands?
EHIC and your statutory health insurer
the Netherlands is an EU member, so the EHIC applies there. It is on the back of your German health insurance card. According to the German federal portal, it entitles you to medically necessary care, especially emergency care and ongoing treatment of chronic conditions, on the same terms as people insured in the host country. For the Netherlands, the German Federal Foreign Office describes care comparable to Germany and confirms that statutorily insured travellers can use the card or a replacement certificate.
The card is tied to statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). Whether your cover continues unchanged during your semester abroad depends on your enrolment in Germany and on your insurer. Get the arrangement confirmed in writing before you leave and check that the card is valid until the end of your stay. If you have private insurance, start with our guide Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German).
What does your German insurer pay?
With the card, treatment is billed under the rules of the host country. According to the Federal Government Commissioner for Patients, your insurer does not cover co-payments made abroad, although they count towards your co-payment limit. Keep all receipts. If you pay for treatment yourself first, the German federal portal says your insurer reimburses at most what comparable treatment would have cost in Germany, minus an administrative deduction. Inpatient treatment in the EU and planned treatment need prior approval.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The card does not replace travel health insurance. Treatment that can wait until you return and repatriation to Germany are not covered. The German Federal Foreign Office strongly advises travel health insurance with repatriation cover that also pays for an air ambulance to Germany. The federal portal names higher co-payments abroad and repatriation costs as a residual risk that private travel health insurance can cover. What you need depends on your contract, your university and the length of your stay. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and Work and Travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for the Netherlands?
No. The German Federal Foreign Office lists no visa requirement for German citizens in the Netherlands. A passport, a provisional passport, an ID card and a provisional ID card (if valid) are accepted. Documents other than the provisional ID card may have expired up to one year ago. Temporary checks take place at the German-Dutch land border, so carry a valid ID.
For stays of more than three months, the European Commission names three conditions: enrolment at a recognised institution, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient resources. After three months, the host country may ask you to register. The Dutch immigration service IND describes the stay of EU citizens on its page (link in the sources). Keep these documents ready:
- A valid ID card or passport
- Proof of enrolment at the host university
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance, which for statutorily insured students is the EHIC
- Proof of sufficient resources, the European Commission names no fixed minimum amount
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for the Netherlands (page as of 24 October 2026). It names terror alert level 4 of 5 and points to pickpocketing in large cities. Read the current travel and safety advice before you leave.
What does a semester in the Netherlands cost?
Tuition fees
According to Nuffic (studyinnl.org), the statutory tuition fee is 2,694 euros per year for 2026/27. As an Erasmus+ student you are exempt from fees for tuition, enrolment and examinations at the host university, according to the European Commission, although small charges, for example for insurance or the student union, may apply. As a free mover, the university fees and the statutory fee apply, so ask your host university for the rate for your programme.
Living costs
Utrecht University cites expenses of 800 to 1,000 euros per month for exchange students. Within that, rent is 425 to 1,100 euros per month, food, clothes, personal services and public transport together 350 to 450 euros, and insurance 40 to 100 euros. The page was last updated on 17 March 2023, so the amounts may have changed. Ask your host university for its current budget.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Your university sets the monthly Erasmus+ grant, which depends on country groups. The National Agency at the DAAD names no amount, so ask your international office. For more, see Planning Erasmus and a semester abroad (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study abroad grant, is available for part of a degree abroad. According to the German Student Services, the Bezirksregierung Köln, Division 49 is responsible for the Netherlands. According to the leaflet (as of January 2026), you need a permanent residence in Germany, funding starts at the earliest in the month of application, and you should apply online about six months before you start. It includes a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for a maximum of one year. Details are in Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
Worked example: For a five-month Erasmus+ semester at 800 to 1,000 euros per month, the cost comes to 4,000 to 5,000 euros. If you come as a free mover for an academic year at the statutory fee, add 2,694 euros. Travel, travel health insurance and your home university semester fee are not included. The total is a guide, not a commitment.
Steps before you leave
- Check the validity of your EHIC and order a new card in good time if needed.
- Ask the host university whether and how you must register after three months.
- Keep your ID card or passport, proof of enrolment and proof of insurance ready.
- Ask your insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during your semester abroad before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance if your cover does not include repatriation and treatment that can wait.
- If you receive funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the responsible office (the Bezirksregierung Köln, Division 49) about six months before you start.
- Ask your international office about funding and the host university fees.
Frequently asked questions
Does my EHIC work in the Netherlands?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment. Treatment that can wait and repatriation are not covered.
Do I need a visa for the Netherlands?
No. German citizens need only an ID card or passport. After three months, the host country may ask you to register.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in the Netherlands?
Not as an Erasmus+ student for tuition, enrolment and examinations. As a free mover, the statutory fee of 2,694 euros for 2026/27 applies unless your host university sets another rate.
How much does it cost to live in the Netherlands per month?
Utrecht University cites 800 to 1,000 euros per month, as of March 2023. Check the current figure with your host university.
Does my insurer pay for repatriation?
The German federal portal describes no statutory benefit for repatriation and names repatriation costs as a residual risk that private travel health insurance can cover.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for the Netherlands?
The Bezirksregierung Köln, Division 49.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Netherlands: travel and safety advice (page of 24 October 2026)
- European Commission, Your Europe: Studying in another EU country (last changed 30 September 2026)
- IND, Staying in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (page of 10 July 2026)
- Nuffic, Study in NL: tuition fees (accessed 25 October 2026)
- Utrecht University, costs of living for exchange students (last updated 17 March 2023)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: studying abroad, fee waiver
- DAAD, National Agency for Erasmus+ higher education: studying abroad with Erasmus+ (undated, in German)
- European Commission, social security FAQ: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- German federal portal, health insurance abroad (last updated 6 December 2022, in German)
- Federal Government Commissioner for Patients, leaflet on cover abroad (undated, in German)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG leaflet (as of January 2026, in German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026 unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Semester abroad in France (in German)
- Semester abroad in Italy (in German)
- All countries for your semester abroad (in German)
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
