How to book in Netherlands
Vaccinations are given free by your local youth health care service (jeugdgezondheidszorg) at the consultatiebureau for babies and toddlers, and at GGD sessions for school-age children. You receive an invitation (oproep) by post for each round.
Rijksvaccinatieprogramma - contactTap any milestone to expand it. Each vaccine explains what it is, the diseases it prevents, and why it is given at that age.
Pregnancy (maternal)Newborn1 vaccine
Given in pregnancy so the baby is born with protection against whooping cough. Babies whose mother was vaccinated start their own course at 3 months rather than 6-9 weeks.
6 to 9 weeksNewborn2 vaccines
One injection against six diseases. The course starts at 6-9 weeks for babies whose mother did not have the pregnancy whooping cough vaccine (otherwise it starts at 3 months).
Now offered to every baby. Oral drops against the severe diarrhoea-and-vomiting illness that used to send many Dutch infants to hospital.
3 monthsNewborn3 vaccines
Second six-in-one dose (the first dose for babies protected by the pregnancy vaccine).
The second and final rotavirus dose.
Protects against pneumococcus, a cause of pneumonia, ear infection and meningitis.
5 monthsNewborn2 vaccines
Third six-in-one dose.
Second pneumococcal dose.
12 monthsToddler2 vaccines
The booster that completes the primary course.
The pneumococcal booster.
14 monthsToddler2 vaccines
First measles, mumps and rubella dose. Uptake is lower in parts of the Dutch 'Bible belt', where measles outbreaks have occurred.
Protects against four meningococcal groups; added after a rise in group W disease in the Netherlands.
3 years (age 3)Child1 vaccine
The second measles-containing dose, brought forward from age 9 to age 3 so children are fully protected earlier.
5 years (age 4-5)Child1 vaccine
A booster against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough before school.
Around 10 yearsChild1 vaccine
Offered to all children around age 10, brought forward from age 12-13 to vaccinate before any exposure. Prevents the infections behind almost all cervical cancer.
14 yearsTeen2 vaccines
A booster against diphtheria, tetanus and polio.
A teenage meningococcal dose, as case rates climb again in the mid-teens.
Given in addition to the routine schedule, for children who meet certain criteria.
When: First RSV season (autumn/winter)
Who: A single antibody injection offered to babies to protect against severe RSV bronchiolitis, the leading cause of infant hospital admission in the first year.
When: At birth plus the schedule doses
Who: Babies born to hepatitis B positive mothers get an extra birth dose and immunoglobulin.
How Netherlands compares with other countries for each vaccine, and the side effects that are normal.
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About the Netherlands schedule
The Netherlands runs the Rijksvaccinatieprogramma (National Immunisation Programme), coordinated by RIVM and delivered through youth health care services (jeugdgezondheidszorg / consultatiebureau). Vaccination is free and voluntary, and you receive an invitation by post for each round.
The schedule was updated in 2024-2025: rotavirus is now offered to every baby, the primary six-in-one course starts earlier (from 6-9 weeks) and is given four times, and the second measles dose was brought forward from age 9 to age 3.
How the Netherlands compares
The Netherlands's routine schedule protects against 14 diseases across 10 vaccination ages, 4 of them in the first year. By age 2 a child has had about 12 vaccine doses, including oral drops against rotavirus.
Not routine here: Chickenpox is routine in most of the other countries we cover but not on the Netherlands's schedule for every child.
Compare the Netherlands with any other country, disease by disease.
Behind schedule or new to the Netherlands? Almost every dose still counts, and your clinic can plan a catch-up - see common questions.