What the Dutch are getting right: antibiotics in the Netherlands

Ah, the Netherlands. A land of paracetamol-prescribing physicians who baulk at the mere notion of giving you antibiotics for, well, anything.

As a newcomer to the Netherlands, that can be frustrating. But there are actually some really good reasons for this policy of minimal antibiotics in the Netherlands.

Why do doctors rarely give out antibiotics in the Netherlands?

Whenever a conversation about “essential items for moving to the Netherlands” arises, it is not unusual to hear expats recommending soon-to-be residents to bring antibiotics.

But not only is this illegal (without medical advice), it’s also not smart to take antibiotics without a prescription from your doctor.

photo-of-variety-of-pills-prescribed-medication-pharmacy-netherlands
No prescription? No antibiotics. Image: Depositphotos

It’s well known that your Dutch general practitioner will avoid prescribing antibiotics unless they are really needed — and there’s good reason for that: preventing antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious issue

In 2019, the United Nations issued a report warning against the growing dangers of multi-drug-resistant infections. The New York Times wrote:

“The rampant overuse of antibiotics and antifungal medicines in humans, livestock and agriculture is accelerating a crisis that is poorly understood by the public and largely ignored by world leaders.”

The article continues to say that, “without concerted action, resistant infections could kill 10 million people annually by 2050.”

As a result, “2.4 million people in Europe, North America and Australia could die from drug-resistant infections, making routine hospital procedures like knee-replacement surgery and childbirth far riskier than they are today.”

Antibiotics are far more complicated than we might expect…

Not all infections are caused by bacteria, and not all bacteria respond to the same antibiotics.

READ MORE | Going to a doctor in the Netherlands? Here’s the ultimate guide

This is simply because of the intrinsic differences among bacteria themselves: some have a wall, some don’t, some follow certain metabolic routes and others do not.

On top of this, antibiotics don’t work at all against viruses.

Antibiotics in the Netherlands: the lowest use in Europe

The Dutch have one of the lowest rates of antibiotic use in Europe (according to a Eurobarometer survey). Here, you might express your lack of surprise.

photograph-of-a-doctor-consulting-files-while-talking-to-their-patient
Before giving you antibiotics, Dutch doctors will often suggest alternatives. Image: Freepik

The result? Antimicrobial resistance has remained stable in the Netherlands (as reported by the RIVM, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment).

This is not a coincidence. And it’s also not common: most other countries in the world are experiencing increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance each year.

Reducing the use of antibiotics on animals

As early as 2012, following concerns over the link between antibiotic use in livestock and antibiotic resistance in humans, the Netherlands decided to take matters into its own hands.

It introduced measures including penalties for failing to reduce antibiotic use on farms. It encouraged farmers to improve their farms to promote better animal health.

For example, in the case of dairy farms, this was done by building sheds that are good for the farmer and good for the cow.

Cow-lies-happily-in-a-meadow-Spring-time-Netherlands
Healthier conditions make for, you guessed it, healthier cows. Image: Freepik

A completely new system with good ventilation and cow flow, sand cubicles, more space per animal, fresh straw pens for cows close to calving, and so on.

A key factor in the stabilisation of antimicrobial resistance is that almost no antibiotics that are important for treating infections in humans have been used on animals in recent years in the Netherlands.

Antibiotics in the Netherlands are rare, and this is good

With more and more common medications losing their ability to fight dangerous infections, it is of extreme importance to use antibiotics exclusively when really needed.

These situations include when a bacterial infection has been diagnosed (more than 4 days of high fever, with other associated symptoms) — not as a preventive measure.

This is one example of where the Dutch have been leading the way — ahead of the rest of the world.

How do you feel about antibiotic use in the Netherlands? Tell us in the comments below.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2019, and was fully updated in September 2023 for your reading pleasure. 

Feature Image:Depositphotos
Amanda Steck
Amanda Steck
I am a Mexican girl, born to a Swiss father and married to a Dutch guy, living in The Netherlands for 9 years (oh how time flies!). I have a background in Biology and Veterinary medicine and a passion for travel, writing, baking, reading, discovering bookshops jumping around like crazy and red dresses. I also blog at Poppies and Ice-cream.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. And now the Dutch government is killing off the farmers and cattle because uncle klaus want it so… Our PM Rutte is a ‘young global leader’ adapt of klaus swabb as are most European leaders.

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