Find a pharmacy in Nijmegen
Nijmegen sits in Gelderland near the German border, and its pharmacy network reflects that dual character — serving roughly 180,000 residents alongside a sizeable student population from Radboud University and Radboudumc, plus a steady flow of cross-border patients from Kleve and Kranenburg who collect EU prescriptions here. PillsCard lists 14 verified pharmacies across the city, clustered in three patterns: the historic centre and Centrum-Oost around Plein 1944, the post-war estates of Dukenburg and Lindenholt to the south-west, and the older village cores of Hatert, Hazenkamp and Brakkenstein. Several pharmacies maintain close referral links with Radboudumc and the Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ), which shapes stocking patterns for oncology, transplant and complex chronic medicines that are unusual for a city this size.
The market is fragmented rather than chain-dominated, with independent and franchise-model apotheken operating side by side. Apotheek Dukenburg anchors the southern district near Winkelcentrum Dukenburg, while Apotheek Hatert and Service Apotheek Malvert cover the inner-southern belt; Service Apotheek Hazenkamp serves the leafier neighbourhoods around the Goffert. In the centre and north, Zuider Apotheek, Pegasus Apotheek and Emma Apotheek handle a mix of student, family and elderly patients, and the Benu branches plug into a national franchise network for repeat prescriptions. De Waal Oosterhout sits just across the Waal in the Oosterhout district, serving the rapidly growing Waalsprong neighbourhoods of Nijmegen-Noord where new housing has outpaced primary-care capacity.
Pricing & coverage
Under the Zorgverzekeringswet, basisverzekering covers most prescription medicines listed in the Geneesmiddelenvergoedingssysteem (GVS), subject to the annual eigen risico of €385 in 2026. Typical out-of-pocket costs at a Nijmegen apotheek include a dispensing fee (terhandstellingskosten) of €6–€7 per item, a first-issue consultation fee of €12–€16 for new medication, and patient contributions of €0–€250 per year for medicines priced above GVS reimbursement limits. Over-the-counter analgesics such as paracetamol 500 mg run €1–€3. The drug regulator CBG-MEB (cbg-meb.nl) authorises every product dispensed and publishes the public medicines database used by Dutch pharmacists.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Outside normal hours, Nijmegen operates a single duty rota through the Dienstapotheek Nijmegen, located on the Radboudumc campus at Geert Grooteplein-Zuid. It opens evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays, and is the only pharmacy in the region authorised to dispense urgent prescriptions during those hours. For medical emergencies dial 112; for non-urgent advice after 17:00 the Huisartsenpost CWZ and Huisartsenpost Nijmegen-Boven-de-Waal triage by phone before referring patients to the duty pharmacy. Bring a passport or ID and your verzekeringsbewijs, as the duty pharmacy charges a higher dispensing fee (typically €20–€45) outside contracted hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I collect a German prescription at a Nijmegen pharmacy?
Yes, provided the prescription meets the EU cross-border template under Directive 2011/24/EU and is written in Latin drug names with prescriber registration details. Many Nijmegen apotheken near the A73 and the Kleve road regularly handle German Rezepte, particularly Apotheek Dukenburg and pharmacies in the centre. Controlled drugs (Opiumwet schedule I–II) require a separate Schengen certificate. Pay in cash or by card; German statutory insurance does not reimburse at Dutch counters, so request an itemised receipt to claim back through your Krankenkasse.
Do Nijmegen pharmacies deliver to the Waalsprong?
Most do. Pharmacies south of the Waal partner with bezorgdiensten that cover Lent, Oosterhout, Nijmegen-Noord and Ressen, typically same-day for prescriptions received before 11:00. There is no charge under basisverzekering for chronic-medication delivery to housebound patients. De Waal Oosterhout serves the area directly. Patients on weekly baxter-rol (multidose pouches) usually receive scheduled delivery agreed with their huisarts.
Are student health prescriptions handled differently?
International students at Radboud University register with a Dutch huisarts and a local apotheek to access basisverzekering or private student cover (AON, Aon Student Insurance). Once registered, your nominated apotheek receives prescriptions electronically. Without a Dutch BSN, you can still buy OTC medicines, but prescription items will be charged at private rates until insurance details are filed.
Which Nijmegen pharmacy handles oncology and specialist hospital medicines?
The Radboudumc Apotheek dispenses inpatient and outpatient hospital-only medicines, including biologicals, cytotoxics and orphan drugs prescribed by Radboudumc consultants. CWZ has its own poliklinische apotheek for its outpatients. Community apotheken receive transfer-of-care prescriptions for stable patients and stock common targeted oral therapies.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. Consult a licensed pharmacy or your huisarts for individual clinical decisions.