Learning Dutch can be a fascinating journey, and if you’re in the healthcare industry or planning a visit to the Netherlands, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with some key medical terms. Here we explain several Dutch medical terms that are commonly used in healthcare settings.

Arts
An ‘arts’ is a doctor or a physician. In the Netherlands, an arts is responsible for diagnosing illnesses and prescribing treatments.

Ik heb een afspraak bij de arts morgenochtend. (I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow morning.)

Ziekenhuis
A ‘ziekenhuis’ refers to a hospital, the place where patients receive medical treatment and care.

Zij werkt als verpleegkundige in het ziekenhuis. (She works as a nurse in the hospital.)

Medicijn
‘Medicijn’ means medicine or drug. This term is used for any substance used for treating, curing, or preventing diseases.

Kunt u mij meer informatie geven over dit medicijn? (Can you give me more information about this medicine?)

Apotheek
An ‘apotheek’ is a pharmacy or a drugstore, where you get prescribed medication.

Ik moet de medicijnen ophalen bij de apotheek. (I need to pick up the medicine at the pharmacy.)

Verpleegkundige
A ‘verpleegkundige’ is a nurse, a healthcare professional who is trained to care for sick or injured people.

De verpleegkundige zal je bloeddruk controleren. (The nurse will check your blood pressure.)

Ambulance
An ‘ambulance’ is a vehicle specially equipped for taking sick or injured people to and from the hospital.

De ambulance arriveerde binnen enkele minuten na het bellen van 112. (The ambulance arrived within minutes after calling 112.)

Operatiekamer
An ‘operatiekamer’ is an operating room or theater, a sterile facility in a hospital where surgical operations are carried out.

De operatie vindt plaats in de operatiekamer op de eerste verdieping. (The surgery will take place in the operating room on the first floor.)

Diagnose
A ‘diagnose’ in Dutch is similar to the English term diagnosis, which is the identification of the nature and cause of an illness.

De arts stelde snel een diagnose na het bekijken van de röntgenfoto’s. (The doctor quickly made a diagnosis after looking at the X-rays.)

Behandeling
‘Behandeling’ refers to treatment, the management, and care of a patient to combat a disease or condition.

De behandeling voor zijn aandoening duurt meerdere maanden. (The treatment for his condition will last several months.)

Recept
A ‘recept’ is a prescription, an instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be provided with a medicine or treatment.

Kan ik een kopie krijgen van het recept voor mijn administratie? (Can I get a copy of the prescription for my records?)

Patiënt
A ‘patiënt’ means patient, a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.

De patiënt wacht al een uur in de wachtkamer. (The patient has been waiting in the waiting room for an hour.)

EHBO
‘EHBO’ stands for ‘Eerste Hulp Bij Ongevallen’, which translates to ‘First Aid’ in English. It refers to the immediate help given to an injured person before professional medical treatment can be provided.

Er is een EHBO-doos beschikbaar in het kantoor. (There is a first aid kit available in the office.)

By familiarizing yourself with these basic Dutch medical terms, you can better navigate healthcare settings in the Netherlands, whether you’re a professional working in the field or simply seeking medical attention during your stay. Keep studying, and soon the language will no longer be a barrier to understanding care and treatment!