How far is the nearest hospital or outpatient clinic?
In 2023, the distance to the nearest hospital or outpatient clinic by road for people in the Netherlands was 4.8 kilometres on average. That was 400 metres less than in 2008. However, the distance to other types of healthcare facilities increased. The distance to the nearest hospital or outpatient clinicnoot1 varies greatly by municipality. Residents of the Randstad conurbation in the west of the country have the most hospitals or outpatient clinics nearby.
People living in the western and central areas of the country usually have to travel less far to a hospital or outpatient clinic than those living elsewhere in the Netherlands. In just under half of municipalities, the distance to a hospital or outpatient clinic was no more than 5 kilometres in 2023. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) only looked at the distance to hospitals in the Netherlands. People living close to the border may also have the option of visiting a hospital in Belgium or Germany.
The distance was shortest in Wageningen and Doesburg at 1.3 kilometres, while residents of the island of Schiermonnikoog had the furthest to travel, at 57.5 kilometres. Approximately 76 thousand Dutch people lived in a municipality where they had to travel 20 kilometres or more to get to the nearest hospital or outpatient clinic. In addition to Schiermonnikoog, this applies to residents of the islands of Ameland, Terschelling and Vlieland, as well as to Dantumadiel and Northeast Friesland on the mainland.
Average distance to hospital now slightly shorter
In 2023, the average distance to a hospital or outpatient clinic was shorter than 15 years earlier: 4.8 kilometres, compared with 5.2 kilometres in 2008. This is partly because there are more outpatient clinics today. However, Dutch people travel slightly further on average for other types of healthcare, such as a GP out-of-hours service or pharmacy.
| Voorziening | 2023 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital or outpatient clinic | 4.8 | 5.2 |
| GP-out-of-hours service | 6.7 | 6.0 |
| Pharmacy | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| General practicioner | 1.0 | 0.9 |
Most hospitals in the Randstad are within 20 kilometres
In 2023, the average address in the Netherlands had 8.8 hospitals or outpatient clinics within a 20‑kilometre drive, but there are more hospitals and outpatient clinics in the Randstad. For instance, residents of Delft, Lansingerland, Pijnacker-Nootdorp and Schiedam could reach 25 or more hospitals or outpatient clinics within a distance of 20 kilometres. On the other hand, 1 percent of Dutch residents lived in a municipality with a maximum of 1 hospital or outpatient clinic within a distance of 20 kilometres. These were mainly located in the north of the Netherlands.
| Municipality | Number of hospitals within 20 km distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Vlieland | 0.0 | |
| Terschelling | 0.0 | |
| Ameland | 0.0 | |
| Schiermonnikoog | 0.0 | |
| Noardeast-Fryslân | 0.1 | |
| Dantumadiel | 0.3 | |
| Reusel-De Mierden | 0.4 | |
| Ooststellingwerf | 0.7 | |
| Achtkarspelen | 0.7 | |
| Harlingen | 1.0 | |
| Kapelle | 1.0 | |
| Schouwen-Duiveland | 1.1 | |
| Sluis | 1.1 | |
| Smallingerland | 1.1 | |
| Reimerswaal | 1.2 | |
| Goes | 1.2 | |
| Leeuwarden | 1.2 | |
| Het Hogeland | 1.3 | |
| Eemsdelta | 1.3 | |
| Baarle-Nassau | 1.4 | |
| Waadhoeke | 1.4 | |
| Emmen | 1.5 | |
| Tytsjerksteradiel | 1.5 | |
| Goeree-Overflakkee | 1.6 | |
| Westerwolde | 1.6 | |
| Hollands Kroon | 1.6 | |
| Noord-Beveland | 1.7 | |
| Súdwest-Fryslân | 1.7 | |
| Bladel | 1.7 | |
| Lelystad | 1.8 | |
| Stadskanaal | 1.8 | |
| Terneuzen | 1.8 | |
| Borger-Odoorn | 1.8 | |
| Westerkwartier | 1.8 | |
| Aalten | 1.9 | |
| Hoogeveen | 1.9 | |
| Hulst | 1.9 | |
| Enkhuizen | 2.0 | |
| Stede Broec | 2.0 | |
| Drechterland | 2.0 | |
| Urk | 2.0 | |
| Assen | 2.0 | |
| Midden-Drenthe | 2.0 | |
| Den Helder | 2.1 | |
| Bergen (L.) | 2.1 | |
| Medemblik | 2.1 | |
| Vaals | 2.1 | |
| Hilvarenbeek | 2.1 | |
| Oldambt | 2.2 | |
| Westerveld | 2.2 | |
| Oude IJsselstreek | 2.3 | |
| Dinkelland | 2.3 | |
| Opsterland | 2.4 | |
| Borsele | 2.4 | |
| Nunspeet | 2.5 | |
| Tholen | 2.5 | |
| Bergeijk | 2.5 | |
| Hoorn | 2.7 | |
| Staphorst | 2.7 | |
| Texel | 2.8 | |
| Dronten | 2.8 | |
| Noordoostpolder | 2.9 | |
| Steenwijkerland | 2.9 | |
| Winterswijk | 2.9 | |
| Dalfsen | 3.0 | |
| Pekela | 3.0 | |
| Veendam | 3.0 | |
| Kampen | 3.0 | |
| Elburg | 3.0 | |
| Zwartewaterland | 3.0 | |
| Vlissingen | 3.0 | |
| Veere | 3.0 | |
| Kerkrade | 3.0 | |
| Meppel | 3.0 | |
| Zeewolde | 3.0 | |
| Groningen | 3.0 | |
| Simpelveld | 3.1 | |
| Weert | 3.1 | |
| Gennep | 3.1 | |
| Noordenveld | 3.1 | |
| Aa en Hunze | 3.1 | |
| Middelburg | 3.1 | |
| Lochem | 3.2 | |
| Heerenveen | 3.2 | |
| Tiel | 3.2 | |
| De Wolden | 3.2 | |
| Roerdalen | 3.2 | |
| Coevorden | 3.2 | |
| Deventer | 3.3 | |
| Cranendonck | 3.3 | |
| Almere | 3.3 | |
| Edam-Volendam | 3.4 | |
| Schagen | 3.4 | |
| Alphen-Chaam | 3.5 | |
| Weststellingwerf | 3.5 | |
| Goirle | 3.5 | |
| Raalte | 3.5 | |
| Zwolle | 3.5 | |
| Woensdrecht | 3.5 | |
| Oost Gelre | 3.6 | |
| Heerde | 3.6 | |
| Venray | 3.7 | |
| Tubbergen | 3.7 | |
| De Fryske Marren | 3.7 | |
| Harderwijk | 3.8 | |
| Losser | 3.8 | |
| West Maas en Waal | 3.8 | |
| Epe | 3.8 | |
| Apeldoorn | 3.9 | |
| Gorinchem | 3.9 | |
| Oldebroek | 3.9 | |
| Drimmelen | 3.9 | |
| Rijssen-Holten | 4.0 | |
| Landgraaf | 4.0 | |
| Land van Cuijk | 4.0 | |
| Hattem | 4.0 | |
| Oldenzaal | 4.0 | |
| Echt-Susteren | 4.0 | |
| Brunssum | 4.1 | |
| Maashorst | 4.1 | |
| Maasgouw | 4.2 | |
| Midden-Groningen | 4.2 | |
| Ommen | 4.2 | |
| Eersel | 4.2 | |
| Ermelo | 4.2 | |
| Olst-Wijhe | 4.4 | |
| Berg en Dal | 4.5 | |
| Opmeer | 4.5 | |
| Maastricht | 4.5 | |
| Geertruidenberg | 4.5 | |
| Heerlen | 4.5 | |
| Wierden | 4.6 | |
| Sittard-Geleen | 4.7 | |
| Eijsden-Margraten | 4.7 | |
| Berkelland | 4.7 | |
| Zutphen | 4.7 | |
| Voorst | 4.7 | |
| Roermond | 4.8 | |
| West Betuwe | 4.9 | |
| Tynaarlo | 4.9 | |
| Doetinchem | 4.9 | |
| Mook en Middelaar | 4.9 | |
| Moerdijk | 5.0 | |
| Bergen op Zoom | 5.0 | |
| Almelo | 5.0 | |
| Druten | 5.0 | |
| Nederweert | 5.0 | |
| Zundert | 5.1 | |
| Altena | 5.1 | |
| Enschede | 5.1 | |
| Twenterand | 5.1 | |
| Heumen | 5.1 | |
| Gilze en Rijen | 5.2 | |
| Lopik | 5.2 | |
| Steenbergen | 5.2 | |
| Montferland | 5.2 | |
| Oirschot | 5.3 | |
| Hardenberg | 5.3 | |
| Bronckhorst | 5.4 | |
| Breda | 5.5 | |
| Veldhoven | 5.6 | |
| Hellendoorn | 5.6 | |
| Wijchen | 5.6 | |
| Koggenland | 5.7 | |
| Haaksbergen | 5.7 | |
| Boekel | 5.7 | |
| Beuningen | 5.8 | |
| Venlo | 5.8 | |
| Brummen | 5.9 | |
| Horst aan de Maas | 5.9 | |
| Stein | 5.9 | |
| Gulpen-Wittem | 5.9 | |
| Culemborg | 5.9 | |
| Beekdaelen | 5.9 | |
| Valkenswaard | 5.9 | |
| Oosterhout | 6.0 | |
| Nijmegen | 6.0 | |
| Oss | 6.0 | |
| Beesel | 6.0 | |
| Tilburg | 6.0 | |
| Best | 6.0 | |
| Voorne aan Zee | 6.0 | |
| Putten | 6.0 | |
| Hengelo | 6.1 | |
| Buren | 6.1 | |
| Wageningen | 6.1 | |
| Rucphen | 6.1 | |
| Someren | 6.2 | |
| Gemert-Bakel | 6.2 | |
| Bernheze | 6.3 | |
| Leudal | 6.3 | |
| Meerssen | 6.3 | |
| Halderberge | 6.3 | |
| Bergen (NH.) | 6.3 | |
| Waalre | 6.3 | |
| Deurne | 6.3 | |
| Etten-Leur | 6.3 | |
| Asten | 6.3 | |
| Oudewater | 6.4 | |
| Boxtel | 6.4 | |
| Vijfheerenlanden | 6.5 | |
| Peel en Maas | 6.5 | |
| Waterland | 6.5 | |
| Dijk en Waard | 6.6 | |
| Zevenaar | 6.6 | |
| Loon op Zand | 6.6 | |
| Alkmaar | 6.7 | |
| Voerendaal | 6.7 | |
| Duiven | 6.7 | |
| Hof van Twente | 6.8 | |
| Neder-Betuwe | 6.8 | |
| Zandvoort | 6.8 | |
| Dongen | 7.0 | |
| Huizen | 7.0 | |
| Rozendaal | 7.0 | |
| Westervoort | 7.0 | |
| Beek | 7.0 | |
| Sint-Michielsgestel | 7.0 | |
| Purmerend | 7.1 | |
| Zaltbommel | 7.1 | |
| Woerden | 7.3 | |
| Oisterwijk | 7.3 | |
| Eindhoven | 7.4 | |
| Rhenen | 7.4 | |
| Rheden | 7.4 | |
| Meierijstad | 7.4 | |
| Bodegraven-Reeuwijk | 7.5 | |
| Ede | 7.5 | |
| Borne | 7.5 | |
| Blaricum | 7.5 | |
| Bunschoten | 7.6 | |
| Valkenburg aan de Geul | 7.6 | |
| Maasdriel | 7.7 | |
| Doesburg | 7.7 | |
| Waalwijk | 7.8 | |
| Nieuwkoop | 7.9 | |
| Lingewaard | 7.9 | |
| Overbetuwe | 7.9 | |
| Hardinxveld-Giessendam | 8.0 | |
| Barneveld | 8.0 | |
| Heiloo | 8.0 | |
| De Ronde Venen | 8.0 | |
| Roosendaal | 8.0 | |
| Laren | 8.0 | |
| Montfoort | 8.2 | |
| Renkum | 8.2 | |
| Geldrop-Mierlo | 8.2 | |
| Wijdemeren | 8.3 | |
| Helmond | 8.3 | |
| Arnhem | 8.4 | |
| Eemnes | 8.4 | |
| Gooise Meren | 8.5 | |
| Heeze-Leende | 8.6 | |
| Veenendaal | 8.6 | |
| Sliedrecht | 8.6 | |
| Velsen | 8.7 | |
| Hillegom | 8.8 | |
| Vught | 8.9 | |
| Heusden | 8.9 | |
| Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten | 8.9 | |
| Son en Breugel | 9.0 | |
| Beverwijk | 9.0 | |
| Noordwijk | 9.1 | |
| Laarbeek | 9.1 | |
| Bloemendaal | 9.2 | |
| Scherpenzeel | 9.3 | |
| Nijkerk | 9.4 | |
| 's-Hertogenbosch | 9.5 | |
| Uitgeest | 9.7 | |
| Renswoude | 9.7 | |
| Teylingen | 9.7 | |
| Heemskerk | 9.8 | |
| Wormerland | 9.8 | |
| Molenlanden | 9.9 | |
| Castricum | 9.9 | |
| Hoeksche Waard | 9.9 | |
| Stichtse Vecht | 10.2 | |
| Wijk bij Duurstede | 10.2 | |
| Dordrecht | 10.3 | |
| Alphen aan den Rijn | 10.6 | |
| Lisse | 10.6 | |
| Kaag en Braassem | 10.6 | |
| IJsselstein | 10.8 | |
| Heemstede | 10.8 | |
| Houten | 11.0 | |
| Bunnik | 11.1 | |
| Woudenberg | 11.1 | |
| Leusden | 11.1 | |
| Nieuwegein | 11.2 | |
| Ouder-Amstel | 11.4 | |
| Diemen | 11.5 | |
| Utrecht | 11.5 | |
| Landsmeer | 11.6 | |
| Uithoorn | 11.6 | |
| Oostzaan | 11.7 | |
| Amersfoort | 11.7 | |
| Utrechtse Heuvelrug | 11.8 | |
| Katwijk | 12.0 | |
| Gouda | 12.1 | |
| Hilversum | 12.2 | |
| Zaanstad | 12.3 | |
| Haarlemmermeer | 12.3 | |
| Westland | 12.3 | |
| Baarn | 12.4 | |
| Haarlem | 12.4 | |
| Krimpenerwaard | 12.5 | |
| Aalsmeer | 13.0 | |
| Soest | 13.0 | |
| Amstelveen | 13.1 | |
| Waddinxveen | 13.2 | |
| Amsterdam | 13.3 | |
| Leiderdorp | 13.7 | |
| De Bilt | 13.8 | |
| Zeist | 14.0 | |
| Zoeterwoude | 14.2 | |
| Wassenaar | 14.6 | |
| Oegstgeest | 14.7 | |
| Leiden | 14.7 | |
| Nissewaard | 14.8 | |
| Papendrecht | 15.6 | |
| Voorschoten | 15.7 | |
| 's-Gravenhage | 16.0 | |
| Leidschendam-Voorburg | 17.2 | |
| Rijswijk | 18.3 | |
| Maassluis | 19.2 | |
| Zwijndrecht | 20.4 | |
| Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht | 20.8 | |
| Alblasserdam | 21.9 | |
| Zuidplas | 22.0 | |
| Midden-Delfland | 22.3 | |
| Albrandswaard | 22.7 | |
| Capelle aan den IJssel | 23.4 | |
| Zoetermeer | 23.5 | |
| Vlaardingen | 23.7 | |
| Ridderkerk | 24.1 | |
| Rotterdam | 24.6 | |
| Krimpen aan den IJssel | 24.7 | |
| Barendrecht | 24.8 | |
| Delft | 25.0 | |
| Pijnacker-Nootdorp | 25.2 | |
| Lansingerland | 25.9 | |
| Schiedam | 26.8 | |
| 1)Including outpatient clinics | ||
Source
StatLine – Proximity to facilities; distances by car
Notes
Hospital or outpatient clinic
This publication looked at the distance to the nearest hospitals or outpatient clinics. Outpatient clinics are clinics that are not located at one of the hospital sites, allowing patients easier access to common diagnostic tests and procedures.