21 places in North Holland are covered by this guide, together home to about 2,523,334 inhabitants at municipal level. Their residents are treated at 5 of the twenty DATO-certified centres in the Netherlands. Most places in this province fall under NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk. With a valid indication and a GP referral, weight loss surgery is covered by Dutch basic insurance; you pay only the €385 deductible in 2026.
- Number of places covered here: 21
- Inhabitants (municipal level): about 2,523,334
- Centres (DATO) that serve these places: 5
- Largest serving centre by volume: WeightWorks Clinics
- Adults with obesity, indicative figure: at most around 394,000
Which DATO centres serve North Holland?
NOK Beverwijk
NOK Beverwijk is located in Beverwijk and performed 651 primary procedures in 2024, number 7 of the twenty Dutch centres by volume. In this guide it is the centre for 9 places in North Holland: Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard, Hoorn, IJmuiden and 5 more. Whether this centre is covered in full depends on your insurer's contracts; check before your referral.
OLVG
OLVG is located in Amsterdam and performed 391 primary procedures in 2024, number 14 of the twenty Dutch centres by volume. In this guide it is the centre for 6 places in North Holland: Amsterdam, Zaandam, Purmerend, Amstelveen and 2 more. Whether this centre is covered in full depends on your insurer's contracts; check before your referral.
Spaarne Gasthuis
Spaarne Gasthuis is located in Haarlem and Hoofddorp and performed 719 primary procedures in 2024, number 5 of the twenty Dutch centres by volume. In this guide it is the centre for 3 places in North Holland: Haarlem, Hoofddorp, Aalsmeer. Whether this centre is covered in full depends on your insurer's contracts; check before your referral.
St. Antonius Ziekenhuis
St. Antonius Ziekenhuis is located in Utrecht and Nieuwegein and performed 616 primary procedures in 2024, number 8 of the twenty Dutch centres by volume. In this guide it is the centre for 2 places in North Holland: Hilversum, Bussum. Whether this centre is covered in full depends on your insurer's contracts; check before your referral.
WeightWorks Clinics
WeightWorks Clinics is located in Amersfoort and performed 1,598 primary procedures in 2024, number 1 of the twenty Dutch centres by volume. In this guide it is the centre for 1 place in North Holland: Huizen. Whether this centre is covered in full depends on your insurer's contracts; check before your referral.
| Centre | Location | Primary procedures 2024 | Localities in North Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeightWorks Clinics ★ Best choice | Amersfoort | 1,598 | 1 |
| NOK Beverwijk | Beverwijk | 651 | 9 |
| OLVG | Amsterdam | 391 | 6 |
| Spaarne Gasthuis | Haarlem and Hoofddorp | 719 | 3 |
| St. Antonius Ziekenhuis | Utrecht and Nieuwegein | 616 | 2 |
Places in North Holland and their centre
In the table you see all places from North Holland that this guide covers, showing the number of inhabitants per municipality and the centre where people are usually referred. For every place there is an in-depth page in Dutch.
| Place (Dutch page) | Inhabitants | Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 941,927 | OLVG |
| Haarlem | 168,898 | Spaarne Gasthuis |
| Hoofddorp | 166,978 | Spaarne Gasthuis |
| Zaandam | 165,201 | OLVG |
| Alkmaar | 113,196 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Purmerend | 96,182 | OLVG |
| Amstelveen | 95,840 | OLVG |
| Hilversum | 94,595 | St. Antonius Ziekenhuis |
| Heerhugowaard | 91,411 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Hoorn | 76,202 | NOK Beverwijk |
| IJmuiden | 70,361 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Bussum | 61,213 | St. Antonius Ziekenhuis |
| Den Helder | 56,678 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Anna Paulowna | 50,592 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Schagen | 48,778 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Beverwijk | 43,063 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Huizen | 41,283 | WeightWorks Clinics |
| Volendam | 37,124 | OLVG |
| Castricum | 37,075 | NOK Beverwijk |
| Aalsmeer | 33,453 | Spaarne Gasthuis |
| Diemen | 33,284 | OLVG |
North Holland place by place
Amsterdam has about 941,927 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to OLVG in Amsterdam; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 146,900 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Amsterdam has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Amsterdam as well.
Haarlem has about 168,898 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem and Hoofddorp; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 26,300 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Haarlem has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Haarlem as well.
Hoofddorp has about 166,978 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem and Hoofddorp; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 26,000 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Hoofddorp has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Hoofddorp as well.
Zaandam has about 165,201 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to OLVG in Amsterdam; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 25,800 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Zaandam has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Zaandam as well.
Alkmaar has about 113,196 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 17,700 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Alkmaar has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Alkmaar as well.
Purmerend has about 96,182 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to OLVG in Amsterdam; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 15,000 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Purmerend has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Purmerend as well.
Amstelveen has about 95,840 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to OLVG in Amsterdam; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 15,000 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Amstelveen has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Amstelveen as well.
Hilversum has about 94,595 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to St. Antonius Ziekenhuis in Utrecht and Nieuwegein; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 14,800 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Hilversum has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Hilversum as well.
Heerhugowaard has about 91,411 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 14,300 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Heerhugowaard has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Heerhugowaard as well.
Hoorn has about 76,202 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 11,900 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Hoorn has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Hoorn as well.
IJmuiden has about 70,361 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 11,000 people with obesity. The Dutch page for IJmuiden has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from IJmuiden as well.
Bussum has about 61,213 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to St. Antonius Ziekenhuis in Utrecht and Nieuwegein; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 9,500 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Bussum has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Bussum as well.
Den Helder has about 56,678 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 8,800 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Den Helder has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Den Helder as well.
Anna Paulowna has about 50,592 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 7,900 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Anna Paulowna has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Anna Paulowna as well.
Schagen has about 48,778 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 7,600 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Schagen has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Schagen as well.
Beverwijk has about 43,063 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 6,700 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Beverwijk has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Beverwijk as well.
Huizen has about 41,283 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to WeightWorks Clinics in Amersfoort; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 6,400 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Huizen has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Huizen as well.
Volendam has about 37,124 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to OLVG in Amsterdam; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 5,800 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Volendam has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Volendam as well.
Castricum has about 37,075 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to NOK Beverwijk in Beverwijk; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 5,800 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Castricum has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Castricum as well.
Aalsmeer has about 33,453 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem and Hoofddorp; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 5,200 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Aalsmeer has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Aalsmeer as well.
Diemen has about 33,284 inhabitants at municipal level. Residents are usually referred to OLVG in Amsterdam; applying the national obesity rate gives an indicative upper limit of about 5,200 people with obesity. The Dutch page for Diemen has local details, and there are Dutch pages for the gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and mini bypass from Diemen as well.
Neighbouring provinces
If a centre in a neighbouring province is closer to your home or better suits your insurance, you can also look there. North Holland borders Friesland, Flevoland, Utrecht, South Holland. Each province page lists its centres and their 2024 volumes.
Aftercare from North Holland
You will keep coming back for check-ups for no less than five years after the operation. One example is Vitalys, with appointments at 6, 12 and 18 months and then every year up to five years, always with blood tests. Online contact and visits are combined at many centres. For people in North Holland weighing up centres: ask which follow-up can be remote and how the centre can be contacted outside working hours. WLS vitamins are for life, and yearly bloods continue too after the aftercare period, generally via the GP.
How many people in North Holland have obesity?
In 2024, obesity affected 15.6 percent of Dutch adults nationwide, the Health Monitor of RIVM, the GGDs and Statistics Netherlands reports; GGD regions ranged from 11.6 to 19.2 percent. If you apply this to the approximately 2,523,334 residents of the places listed above, it gives an indicative upper bound of around 394,000 people living with obesity. Why an upper bound? The percentage covers adults only, while the resident numbers include children as well. Figures per region are available on vzinfo.nl.
Surgery is open to only some of these people. The criteria: a BMI of 40, or 35 if you also have a weight-related condition such as sleep apnoea, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. For the rest, a supervised medication plan, a gastric balloon or a lifestyle programme might be a better match. An overview is on the page treatment options for obesity.
Getting weight loss surgery from North Holland: step by step
- Hospital care goes via the GP, who acts as gatekeeper, so register with a GP practice in your municipality first.
- Check your insurance: is NOK Beverwijk contracted by your insurer, or another centre that suits you better?
- Attend an information session, often online; ask whether an English version is available.
- Pre-operative screening with a psychologist, dietitian and internist.
- Operation and aftercare: a short hospital stay, then at least five years of check-ups, so travel time from your home in North Holland matters.
Choosing a centre as a resident of North Holland
You are not obliged to go to the centre most people from your town use. Compare travel time for five years of aftercare, waiting times, your insurer's contracts and whether information is available in English. With 5 centres serving this province, you have several options nearby. Read more about choosing an obesity clinic and cost and insurance.
Useful Dutch terms for residents of North Holland
Verwijzing means the letter of referral that is required. Huisarts is your general practitioner, through whom hospital care is accessed. Huisartsenpost is where you turn with urgent matters outside office hours, on evenings and weekends. Eigen risico is the obligatory excess: in 2026 that comes to 385 euros. Basispakket is the basic health insurance package, and weight loss surgery falls under it.
More in English
Sources
- Centre volumes: DICA, DATO Annual Report 2024
- CBS via AlleCijfers.nl and citypopulation.de: inhabitants
- Gezondheidsmonitor 2024, RIVM, CBS and GGD: obesity percentages
Frequently asked questions
In this guide, places in North Holland are served by 5 DATO-certified centres: NOK Beverwijk, OLVG, Spaarne Gasthuis, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, WeightWorks Clinics. Most places fall under NOK Beverwijk.
In total 21 places and around 2,523,334 residents, counted per municipality. You will find a detailed page in Dutch for each.
Yes. If you have a valid indication and a referral from your GP, the Dutch basic insurance pays for it. Your own contribution is the compulsory deductible, which is 385 euros in 2026.
Nationally 15.6 percent of adults have obesity. Applied to the places in this guide, that is an indicative upper limit of about 394,000 people.
Yes, provided your health insurer pays for it. Think about how far you need to travel, since the aftercare runs for five years or more.
The Amersfoort centre WeightWorks Clinics, which performed 1,598 first-time procedures in 2024 (DATO annual report).
Ask your GP (huisarts) for a referral to a bariatric centre, preferably one your insurer has contracted this year.
English is spoken by a lot of doctors and nurses in the Netherlands. Group sessions and written materials, though, are frequently in Dutch, so check with the centre beforehand.
Also available in Dutch. Author: Gijs Bodenstaff. Last reviewed: September 2026.