Find a pharmacy in S Gravenhage
The Hague (’s-Gravenhage) hosts 58 verified community pharmacies in the PillsCard directory, serving a population that mixes long-standing Dutch residents with one of the country's largest international communities — diplomats, ICC and OPCW staff, and expatriates drawn to the seat of government. Pharmacy density is highest in the central postcodes around Centrum and Bezuidenhout, with strong neighbourhood clusters in Scheveningen, Loosduinen, Ypenburg and Segbroek. Many pharmacies routinely handle English-language prescriptions and coordinate with the international school health network, while seaside locations in Scheveningen see a seasonal lift from domestic tourism. Cross-border traffic from Belgium is modest here compared with Maastricht or Breda, so the patient base is overwhelmingly local residents managing chronic-medication repeats through their assigned huisarts.
The market is fragmented between national service chains and independent neighbourhood apotheken. Service Apotheek Scheveningen anchors the coastal strip, while Apotheek Ypenburg and Apotheek Houtwijk serve the post-war suburbs in the south-east and Loosduinen respectively. Independent operators retain a strong foothold: De Volharding traces its roots to the city's cooperative pharmacy movement, and Apotheek Segbroek, Nauta Apotheek and Apotheek van Greuningen cover the western and central districts with traditional dispensing and medication-review services. Smaller outfits such as Apotheek de Reef, Lage Veld Apotheek and Apotheek de Bras round out the network in the residential belts. Several pharmacies maintain formal links with HMC Westeinde and HagaZiekenhuis for discharge medication and specialist compounding.
Pricing & coverage
Out-of-pocket prices in The Hague mirror national tariffs: a standard generic prescription typically costs EUR 5–15, a branded equivalent EUR 20–60, and compounded preparations EUR 25–80 depending on substance. Most prescription medicines are reimbursed under the Zorgverzekeringswet basisverzekering through the GVS (Geneesmiddelenvergoedingssysteem), though patients pay the annual eigen risico (EUR 385 in 2026) before cover starts. A dispensing fee (terhandstellingskosten) of around EUR 6 applies per item and is reimbursed. Over-the-counter products and lifestyle medicines fall outside the basic package. Reimbursement decisions and product authorisations are published by the CBG-MEB, the national medicines regulator.
Emergencies & out-of-hours care
Outside normal opening hours, prescriptions in The Hague are dispensed through the regional dienstapotheek rota. The Dienstapotheek Den Haag operates from HMC Westeinde in the city centre and handles urgent dispensing at night, weekends and public holidays for the whole municipality; patients are typically referred there by the Haagse Huisartsenpost. For life-threatening situations — chest pain, anaphylaxis, severe bleeding, suspected stroke — call 112 directly. Non-urgent medical questions outside surgery hours go to the huisartsenpost on 070 346 96 69 before a pharmacy is contacted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a prescription filled in The Hague without Dutch insurance?
Yes, but you will pay the full retail price upfront. Pharmacies accept foreign EHIC/GHIC cards for EU/UK residents and can issue receipts suitable for reimbursement at home. Tourists from outside the EU should expect to settle in cash or card and reclaim through travel insurance. Controlled substances (Opiumwet schedule I and II) require a Dutch or recognised EEA prescription; a foreign script for benzodiazepines or strong opioids will usually be refused without prior contact between your doctor and the local huisarts.
Which pharmacies in The Hague serve the international community?
Pharmacies in Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier and around the World Forum routinely deal with diplomatic and expatriate patients and tend to have English-speaking staff as a matter of course. Centrally located apotheken near the embassies and international schools — including several in Bezuidenhout and along the Scheveningseweg corridor — handle imported prescriptions from home countries and can liaise with the CBG-MEB on parallel-import availability. Verify language support by phone before transferring a chronic prescription.
Do I need to register with one specific pharmacy?
It is strongly recommended. The Dutch system encourages patients to nominate one vaste apotheek that holds your complete medication history, runs interaction checks and coordinates repeats with your huisarts. Switching is straightforward — the new pharmacy requests your file electronically — but using multiple unconnected pharmacies risks duplicate dispensing and missed interactions. Most Hague pharmacies offer a herhaalservice that auto-prepares chronic medication for collection or, in many neighbourhoods including Ypenburg and Loosduinen, home delivery.
Are weekend and Sunday pharmacies available?
A small number of pharmacies in The Hague open Saturday mornings, but Sunday and evening cover is concentrated at the central dienstapotheek at HMC Westeinde rather than spread across the network. Check individual pharmacy websites for Saturday hours; for anything urgent after 17:30 on weekdays or at weekends, head to Westeinde with prescription and ID. A surcharge of roughly EUR 5–10 applies to dienstapotheek dispensing outside normal hours and is partially reimbursable.
Safety note
This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult a licensed pharmacy or their huisarts for individual clinical decisions.