Parenting Support, Youth Healthcare, and Child Vaccinations
Raising children in a new country can bring practical questions about health, development, parenting, school, and where to find support. In the Netherlands, different organisations may be involved in supporting children and families, including youth healthcare services, the GGD, municipalities, schools, and GPs.
This page explains where parents in Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe can find information about youth healthcare, parenting support, child development, child vaccinations, and local family support.
What you can find on this page:
Youth healthcare in the Netherlands
Youth healthcare, known in Dutch as jeugdgezondheidszorg or JGZ, supports the health, growth, and development of children and young people. It focuses on prevention and early guidance, rather than treating illness in the same way as a GP or hospital.
For babies and young children, parents may come into contact with a consultatiebureau, often translated as a child health clinic or well-baby clinic. The consultatiebureau monitors your child’s growth and development, gives advice, and can answer questions about topics such as feeding, sleeping, behaviour, development, and vaccinations.
For school-age children, youth healthcare may also be connected to schools. Children may be invited for health checks or parents may receive information through school, the GGD, or another regional youth healthcare organisation. The exact organisation and contact route can differ by municipality and region, so always check local information for your area.
Parenting support and child development
Parents can ask for support with many different questions about raising children in the Netherlands. This may include questions about child development, behaviour, sleep, eating, screen time, social-emotional development, school, family stress, or finding the right support.
A good starting point can be the consultatiebureau, youth healthcare organisation, school, municipality, or GP, depending on your child’s age and the type of question. Some municipalities also have family teams, youth teams, or parenting support services that can help parents find the right support.
You do not need to wait until a problem becomes serious before asking for advice. Youth healthcare and parenting support services are often there to help parents early, answer questions, and refer families to more specialised support if needed.
Where to find local support
Support for children and families can differ by municipality and region. Depending on your question, the right starting point may be youth healthcare, a consultatiebureau, your municipality, your child’s school, your GP, or a specialist youth support organisation.
In Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe, you can start with the following organisations:
Groningen:
GGD Groningen provides information and youth healthcare support for children and families, including consultatiebureau services, child development, parenting, health checks, and vaccinations. WIJ Groningen also offers support on wider family or youth health topics.
Friesland:
GGD Fryslân provides free and voluntary youth healthcare from birth to age 18. Parents can contact the organisation about growth, development, parenting, sleep, nutrition, vaccinations, and consultatiebureau appointments.
Jeugdhulp Friesland provides more specialised support for children, young people, and families when there are significant concerns about development, behaviour, parenting, family circumstances, or safety. Its services include support at home, help for young children, foster care, and crisis support.
Drenthe:
GGD Drenthe provides preventive youth healthcare, including support with growth, development, parenting questions, health checks, and vaccinations.
Your municipality or local youth team in Drenthe is usually the starting point if your child or family needs additional or specialist youth support. The municipality can discuss your situation and help arrange or refer you to suitable care.
Because the organisation and referral routes differ by municipality, check the website of your municipality or regional youth healthcare organisation for current information. Your child’s school or GP can also help direct you to the right service if you are unsure where to start.
When to contact your GP
Youth healthcare and parenting support services are useful for preventive care, development questions, parenting advice, and general guidance. Still, they are not a replacement for your GP.
For general illness or medical concerns, your GP is usually the first point of contact. Contact your GP if your child is ill, has medical symptoms, needs a prescription, needs a medical referral, or if you are worried about your child’s physical or mental health.
If you are not sure whether your question belongs with youth healthcare, the GP, school, or municipality, it is okay to ask your parenting support services. These organisations can often redirect you to the right place.
If the problem cannot wait until the GP practice where you’re registered opens, contact the out-of-hours GP service, known as the huisartsenpost. For life-threatening emergencies, call 112.
Child vaccinations
Children in the Netherlands are offered vaccinations through the National Immunisation Programme, known in Dutch as the Rijksvaccinatieprogramma or RVP. The programme offers free vaccinations against serious infectious diseases. Vaccinations are usually organised through youth healthcare services. Parents can ask questions before giving consent, and the youth healthcare doctor or nurse can explain what the vaccination is for and what to expect.
If your child has already received vaccinations in another country, bring any vaccination records or booklets to your appointment. Youth healthcare services can help check what your child has already received and whether any vaccinations may still be recommended. For the current vaccination schedule and official information, check the National Immunisation Programme website from RIVM.
FAQ about Parenting Support, Youth Healthcare, and Child Vaccinations
What is the difference between a GP and the huisartsenpost?
Your GP is your regular first point of contact for illness, medical symptoms, prescriptions, referrals, and ongoing health concerns. The huisartsenpost is the out-of-hours GP service for urgent medical problems that cannot wait until your own GP practice reopens. The huisartsenpost is not intended for routine appointments or non-urgent questions.
For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 112.
What if my child was vaccinated in another country?
Bring your child’s vaccination records or booklets to your youth healthcare appointment. The youth healthcare service can help check which vaccinations your child has already received and whether any vaccinations may still be recommended.
Where can I ask questions related to parenting?
You can often ask parenting questions at the consultatiebureau, local youth healthcare service, school, municipality, or GP, depending on your child’s age and the type of question. Local family or youth teams may also be available through your municipality. Check out the information made available by your municipal health services (GGD).
What is a consultatiebureau?
Is youth healthcare the same as a GP?
No. Youth healthcare focuses on prevention, development, vaccinations, and early guidance for children and families. For illness, medical symptoms, prescriptions, referrals, or urgent medical care, contact your GP or the out-of-hours GP service.