Maagverkleining Info is an independent information website about weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) in the Netherlands. It explains the operations, the Dutch eligibility criteria, insurance coverage, the treatment pathway and life after surgery, and links each of 150 Dutch places to the certified centre residents are usually referred to. This English section is written for expats, international residents and English-speaking Dutch readers.
Who writes this website?
The content is written and maintained by Gijs Bodenstaff, a Dutch GEO (generative engine optimisation) and entity SEO specialist and author. Gijs is not a doctor. That is why every page is based on named medical sources and states them at the bottom, and why the site gives general information, not medical advice.
Where does the information come from?
The main sources are the Dutch surgical guideline on obesity of the Dutch Society for Surgery (NVvH), the DATO Annual Report 2024 of the Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing (DICA), patient information from Dutch centres such as Vitalys (Rijnstate), WeightWorks, Ziekenhuis Rivierenland, Máxima MC and the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, the Health Monitor 2024 of RIVM, Statistics Netherlands and the GGDs, and inhabitant figures from Statistics Netherlands. For alcohol after surgery we also use Belgian sources: specialists of Ghent University Hospital and the Druglijn.
How we work
- Sources first: figures are only published with a named source and year.
- Answer first: every page starts with a direct answer, followed by details, tables and frequently asked questions.
- Reviewed: pages show a review date and are updated when new data appears, such as a new deductible or DATO report.
- Corrections: if you find an error, email us and we correct it.
What this website does not do
We do not give personal medical advice, make diagnoses or tell you which operation to choose. That decision belongs to you, your GP and a bariatric team. In an emergency, call 112; for urgent medical questions outside office hours, call your GP's out-of-hours service (huisartsenpost).
Why an English version?
Much reliable information about Dutch weight loss surgery is only available in Dutch, while many internationals living in the Netherlands are covered by Dutch basic insurance. The English guide explains Dutch terms such as huisarts (GP), eigen risico (mandatory deductible) and basispakket (basic package), and gives practical tips for navigating the system.
Contact
Phone +31 6 38048347 (Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00) or email info@maagverkleining-info.nl. See also the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is an independent information website. Surgery is performed at the twenty DATO-certified centres in the Netherlands.
No. Gijs Bodenstaff is a GEO and SEO specialist and author. All medical information is based on named sources listed on each page.
Pages show a review date; the current review is September 2026. Figures are updated when new data is published.
Email info@maagverkleining-info.nl with the page and the correction; we check and correct it.
Also available in Dutch. Author: Gijs Bodenstaff. Last reviewed: September 2026.