- Step 1: referral via your GP (huisarts) or a specialist.
- Step 2: information session, often online and free.
- Step 3: multidisciplinary screening.
- Step 4: preparation: food, lifestyle, stop smoking.
- Steps 5-6: operation and at least five years of aftercare.
From referral to operation date
After your referral, the centre checks whether your application is complete and whether you meet the main criteria. Vitalys then gives a positive or negative first advice; only after a positive advice are you invited for the full screening. Vitalys also asks you to attend a free online information evening of an hour and a half first.
During screening you see several disciplines: internist, psychologist, dietitian and sometimes a lifestyle coach, as WeightWorks describes. Blood tests are taken, and deficiencies of for example vitamin B12, vitamin D, folic acid or iron are corrected before surgery. Smokers stop in this phase.
What the preparation phase asks of you
Ziekenhuis Rivierenland asks you not to gain weight between the information session and the operation and, if possible, to lose a little; to order the right multivitamins in advance; and to bring your CPAP or MRA to the hospital if you use one. Many centres work in groups, so you share experiences with others in the same phase.
Tips for expats and international residents
In the Netherlands the GP is the gatekeeper: without a referral, hospital care is not covered. Register with a GP first and bring your medical history, translated if possible. Check which bariatric centres your insurer has contracted and ask for a referral to one of those.
Ask the centre early which parts are available in English: information session, screening appointments, group sessions and written materials. If your Dutch is limited, consider bringing a Dutch-speaking friend or asking whether an interpreter can join key appointments.
What makes the pathway easier and what makes it harder
Advantages
| Advantage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Online information session | you know what to expect |
| Documents ready | faster assessment |
| Group sessions | support from peers |
| Vitamins ordered early | start right after surgery |
Points of attention
| Point of attention | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Gaining weight before surgery | can cause postponement |
| Smoking | must stop |
| Incomplete application | delay |
| Language barrier | ask about English materials early |
Cost and insurance (2026)
The whole pathway, from screening to five years of aftercare, is covered by the basic package with a valid indication.
| Item | Amount or arrangement |
|---|---|
| Covered pathway | €385 deductible 2026 |
| Information session | usually free |
| Vitamins | €10-€15 a month, own cost |
Treatment pathway: key figures
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Check-ups Vitalys | 6, 12, 18 months and 2, 3, 4, 5 years |
| Care pathway ETZ | 5 years |
| Online information session Vitalys | 1.5 hours |
| OBESI-Q questionnaire | before surgery and yearly to 5 years |
| Screening team | internist, psychologist, dietitian |
Who you will see during the pathway
| Discipline | Role | When |
|---|---|---|
| Internist | medical assessment, blood values | screening and aftercare |
| Psychologist | eating behaviour, motivation, support | screening and first year |
| Dietitian | food build-up and supplements | before and after surgery |
| Surgeon | choice of procedure and operation | preparation and operation |
| Nurse specialist | check-ups and questions | aftercare |
Step by step
- Referral. GP or specialist refers you.
- Information session. Often online.
- Screening. Medical, psychological and dietary.
- Preparation. Food, lifestyle, stop smoking.
- Operation. Keyhole surgery and a short stay.
- Aftercare. Check-ups for at least five years.
Read next
- Eligibility criteria — who qualifies
- The operation itself — duration and risks
- Aftercare in detail — check-ups and vitamins
- Cost and insurance — what you pay
How to speed things up
Start with the online information session of two or three centres to see which one suits you. Check your policy for contracted centres and ask your GP for a targeted referral to that centre; a general referral to internal medicine often costs weeks.
Keep a folder with your weight history, earlier attempts, medication list and test results. Arrange practical matters for the first weeks after surgery in advance, such as help at home and days off work.
Finally, keep your GP informed throughout: the GP receives the letters from the centre and remains your first point of contact after the aftercare period ends.
Planning ahead makes the first weeks after surgery much calmer.
Frequently asked questions about the treatment pathway
Register with a GP and ask for a referral to a bariatric centre. Check first which centres your insurer has contracted.
It differs per centre and depends on waiting times and screening. WeightWorks reports that after a positive screening surgery can be scheduled within a few weeks; ask the centre for its current planning.
You see an internist, psychologist and dietitian, and blood tests are taken. They assess whether surgery is responsible and which procedure fits best.
At many centres, yes. Vitalys asks you to follow a free online information evening of an hour and a half first.
Parts of it often are, because many Dutch healthcare professionals speak English, but group sessions and materials are frequently in Dutch. Ask the centre in advance.
That can lead to postponement. Centres ask you to keep your weight stable and, if possible, lose a little.
A questionnaire about your experienced health and quality of life that you fill in before surgery and yearly up to five years for the national DATO register.
At least five years. At Vitalys you are seen at 6, 12 and 18 months and then yearly up to five years, each time with blood tests.
You receive an explanation and advice on how you could qualify later. Screening costs may count towards your deductible even if you are turned down.
Yes, and it helps. Bring earlier weight loss attempts, medication lists and relevant test results, ideally translated into Dutch or English.
Call +31 6 38048347 (Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00) or email info@maagverkleining-info.nl. This page is also available in Dutch.
Sources
- Vitalys (Rijnstate): the pathway, criteria and FAQ
- WeightWorks: screening and planning
- Ziekenhuis Rivierenland: patient information
- Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital: obesity centre
- DATO Annual Report 2024, DICA
Search terms leading here: weight loss surgery process Netherlands, how to get bariatric surgery Netherlands, GP referral weight loss surgery, bariatric screening.
Author: Gijs Bodenstaff. Last reviewed: September 2026.