Waiting times for weight loss surgery in the Netherlands

By Gijs Bodenstaff · Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

The waiting time for weight loss surgery in the Netherlands varies greatly per centre: from 1 day to 142 days (ZorgkaartNederland, accessed 25-09-2026). Together with your GP (huisarts), you are free to choose where you go. Below are the waiting times of all centres, including centres that are not partners of this site, with an explanation of how to read them and choose.

In brief

At the 15 centres with enough measurements, the waiting time is between 1 and 142 days; the median is 45 days (ZorgkaartNederland, 25-09-2026).
For 21 other hospitals, too little has been measured to show a waiting time (ZorgkaartNederland, 25-09-2026).
The NZa collects the waiting times every 2 weeks; they are an indication, not a promise (ZorgkaartNederland, 2026).
The fastest place is not always the best choice: also consider aftercare, distance and the contract with your insurer.

Waiting times per centre

The table lists all bariatric centres for which ZorgkaartNederland shows a waiting time, from short to long. The figures have been checked on the reference date and we update them every month. Below the table are the hospitals for which there are too few measurements.

Waiting times for weight loss surgery per centre, from short to long (reference date 25-09-2026; Source: ZorgkaartNederland, accessed 25-09-2026.)
Centre	Location	Waiting time
Nederlandse Obesitas Kliniek (10 locations)	Amsterdam, Velp, Beverwijk, Den Haag, Gouda, Heerlen, Hoogeveen, Nieuwegein, Terneuzen, Venlo	1 day
Vitalys	Elst	5 days
OLVG, West location	Amsterdam	7 days
WeightWorks Clinics (partner of this site)	Amersfoort	21 days (3 weeks)
ZorgSaam Ziekenhuis, De Honte	Terneuzen	21 days (3 weeks)
Bravis ziekenhuis	Roosendaal	34 days (just over 4 weeks)
Zuyderland Medisch Centrum	Heerlen	35 days (5 weeks)
Maasstad Ziekenhuis	Rotterdam	45 days (just over 6 weeks)
Ziekenhuis Rivierenland	Tiel	60 days (just over 8 weeks)
Catharina Ziekenhuis	Eindhoven	62 days (just over 8 weeks)
Máxima MC	Veldhoven	70 days (10 weeks)
Rode Kruis Ziekenhuis	Beverwijk	85 days (just over 12 weeks)
Franciscus Gasthuis	Rotterdam	112 days (16 weeks)
St. Antonius	Utrecht	127 days (just over 18 weeks)
Frisius MC	Leeuwarden	142 days (just over 20 weeks)

For 21 other locations, too little has been measured to show a waiting time: Albert Schweitzer ziekenhuis, locatie Dordwijk (Dordrecht), Albert Schweitzer ziekenhuis, locatie Zwijndrecht (Zwijndrecht), Amsterdam UMC, locatie AMC (Amsterdam), Amsterdam UMC, locatie VUmc (Amsterdam), ETZ Elisabeth (Tilburg), ETZ TweeSteden (Tilburg), ETZ Waalwijk (Waalwijk), HMC Antoniushove (Leidschendam), HMC Bronovo (Den Haag), HMC Westeinde (Den Haag), LUMC (Leiden), Martini Ziekenhuis (Groningen), OLVG, locatie Oost (Amsterdam), Radboudumc (Nijmegen), Rijnstate Arnhem (Arnhem), Rijnstate Elst (Elst), Rijnstate Zevenaar (Zevenaar), Spaarne Gasthuis, locatie Hoofddorp (Hoofddorp), UMCG (Groningen), UMC Utrecht (Utrecht), Ziekenhuis St Jansdal (Harderwijk). Source: ZorgkaartNederland, accessed 25-09-2026. The centres report their waiting time themselves; ask exactly what it covers (first appointment, screening or operation).

The Nederlandse Obesitas Kliniek is listed as a single row, with ten locations. WeightWorks Clinics in Amersfoort is a partner of this site; this does not change the order or the figures. Those who refer patients can find the same data with the referral route on the page with referral support for GPs and practice nurses (POH).

Bar chart of the waiting time for weight loss surgery at 15 centres: shortest 1 day, median 45 days, longest 142 days — Shortest, median and longest waiting time of the 15 centres with enough measurements. Source: ZorgkaartNederland, accessed 25-09-2026.

What a waiting time does and does not tell you

A waiting time seems like a simple number, but there is more behind it. ZorgkaartNederland distinguishes three types of waiting time in hospitals:

the waiting time for a scheduled outpatient appointment;
the waiting time for scheduled tests, such as a blood test or a scan;
the waiting time for a scheduled treatment, such as the operation itself.

With weight loss surgery, the pathway also goes in steps. After the referral (verwijzing) comes a first appointment or information session, then the screening by the team, and only after that the operation. So a waiting time of 7 days does not mean you will have surgery in a week. Always ask the centre exactly what their figure covers: the first appointment, the screening or the operation. Also ask how long the whole pathway takes on average.

The data come from the centres themselves. The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) collects them every 2 weeks and ZorgkaartNederland puts them online. It is an indicative figure: in practice it may turn out shorter or longer. If a centre has too few measurements, ZorgkaartNederland does not show a figure.

Worked example: when will it be your turn?

Suppose your GP (huisarts) refers you on 1 October 2026 to a centre with a waiting time of 45 days. October has 31 days, so after 30 days it is 31 October. Another 15 days later it is 15 November 2026. You can expect your first appointment around that date. Screening and preparation follow after that, so the operation itself comes later. At a centre with a 142-day waiting time, by the same reasoning it would only be your turn around 20 February 2027.

Why shorter is not automatically better

It is understandable that you want to be helped quickly. Often you have already struggled for years before taking the step to see your GP (huisarts). Even so, the waiting time is only one of the things that count. Weight loss surgery is not a one-off procedure, but the start of years of support. After the operation you will often go back to the centre for check-ups, appointments with the dietitian and blood tests. That aftercare is the responsibility of the centre and not your GP (NHG and LHV, 2025).

A centre that has a place available quickly now, but is far away or has no contract with your health insurer, may cost you more time and money later. Conversely, a centre with a longer waiting time may be a good fit precisely because it is close by and you already know people there. You can also make good use of the time until your first appointment. Many people prepare during that time, for example with a lifestyle programme or by reading about other people's experiences, such as on the page with experiences of people with obesity and weight loss surgery.

Worked example: travel time in the first year

Suppose you go to the centre eight times in the first year after the operation. That number is an example; ask what the real number is. The centre is 60 kilometres from your home. The return trip is 120 kilometres per visit, so 8 × 120 = 960 kilometres in one year. If another centre is 15 kilometres away, that is 8 × 30 = 240 kilometres. This shows that distance can weigh heavily, especially if you do not have a car.

What should you look for when choosing?

Use the table below as a checklist for the conversation with your GP (huisarts) and for the first appointment at the centre. There is no centre that is best for everyone.

What should you look for when choosing a weight loss surgery centre?
Point	Why it matters	What to ask
Waiting time	Determines how soon your pathway starts	Does the figure apply to the first appointment, the screening or the operation?
Contract with your insurer	Without a contract, part of the bill may be for you	Does the centre have a contract with my health insurer for this year?
Aftercare	You remain under the centre's care for years	How long does the aftercare last, who will I see, and can part of it be online?
Travel distance	You come back often, especially in the first year	How often do I need to come and how long is each journey?
Quality	Centres record outcomes in the national registry DATO	Does the centre take part in DATO and what are its own figures?
Help with complaints	After an operation you want to be able to get help quickly	Where can I go at night and at weekends?

On quality: in the national registry DATO, on average 1.4% of patients had a serious complication in 2024, with a range per centre of 0.0% to 2.3% (DATO-jaarverslag 2024). So ask about the centre's own figures. What you pay at a centre with or without a contract can be read at insurance cover for weight loss surgery and your compulsory excess. Still unsure whether you are eligible? Then first look at the criteria for weight loss surgery.

Free choice of provider and waiting list mediation

In the Netherlands you are free to choose which hospital or clinic you go to. Your GP (huisarts) refers you, usually via ZorgDomein, and you may state your preference. Do you not yet know which centre suits you? Then discuss it at the appointment; how to prepare for it is described at discussing your weight with the GP.

Free choice does mean that costs can differ. Your health insurer may reimburse less at a centre without a contract, but according to case law this must not be an actual obstacle to going to that centre. The Consumentenbond mentions 75% as a possible lower limit (07-08-2026).

Is the wait taking too long for you? Then you can ask your health insurer for waiting list mediation (wachtlijstbemiddeling). They will then look for a centre where you can be seen sooner; you often hear within 2 working days what the options are (Consumentenbond, 17-08-2026). This usually does not shorten the waiting time at the original hospital. For hospital care, the so-called Treeknormen apply as the maximum acceptable waiting time: 4 weeks for a first outpatient visit and 7 weeks for a treatment with admission (Consumentenbond, 17-08-2026).

Waiting times by region

If you live outside the Randstad, the choice nearby is often smaller. On the overview page of overweight by region you will find the obesity rate per municipality and the nearby centres with their waiting times. A few examples (reference date 25-09-2026):

On the page about overweight and help in Rotterdam you can see two hospitals in the city itself, with waiting times of 45 and 112 days.
At obesity and centres in Heerlen: Zuyderland Medisch Centrum reports 35 days there; the Nederlandse Obesitas Kliniek has a location there with 1 day.
At overweight and waiting times in Tiel: Ziekenhuis Rivierenland reports 60 days there; Vitalys in Elst reports 5 days.
From obesity and help in Almere, the nearest centres are in Amsterdam, with 1 and 7 days.

When choosing, look at the whole list and not just your own region. Discuss it with your GP (huisarts).

Waiting for an operation? Use that time. Read about the combined lifestyle intervention as preparation, about support during the waiting time and about what a gastric balloon can and cannot do.

Frequently asked questions about waiting times for weight loss surgery

How up to date are the figures in the waiting times table?

The figures are as up to date as the reference date shown with them: we update the table every month with the figures from ZorgkaartNederland. The Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) collects the data from the centres every 2 weeks. A waiting time may therefore change between two updates. Call the centre for the current situation. GPs can sign up for a monthly update via the referral support for GPs.

Why do some hospitals not show a waiting time?

Because there are too few measurements to show a reliable figure. ZorgkaartNederland then leaves the figure out. That says nothing about the quality of that hospital. So you can go there too. If you want to know how long you will have to wait there, call that hospital's bariatric department directly.

Does a short waiting time mean the operation will follow soon?

No. A short waiting time usually refers to the first appointment or information session, not the operation. After that come the screening and the preparation. So always ask exactly what the figure covers. An explanation of the whole pathway can be found on the page about weight loss surgery.

How long does the whole pathway from referral to operation take?

That differs per centre and per person, and there is no national figure for it. After the waiting time come screening and preparation, which together can take several months. Sometimes additional tests or treatment are needed first. Ask the centre about the average length of the whole pathway. Also discuss your planning with your GP (huisarts).

Can I switch centres if the wait is too long?

Yes, you can. You are free to choose where you go. Ask your GP (huisarts) for a referral (verwijzing) to the other centre, and check beforehand whether your health insurer has a contract with it. Otherwise part of the bill may be for you. How that works can be read at insurance cover for weight loss surgery.

What is waiting list mediation?

Waiting list mediation (wachtlijstbemiddeling) is help from your health insurer to find a healthcare provider where you can be seen sooner. You request it by phone or online. You often hear within 2 working days what is possible (Consumentenbond, 17-08-2026). Then discuss the outcome with your GP (huisarts).

Is a centre with a long waiting time worse?

No, a long waiting time says nothing about quality. Sometimes a lot of people choose that centre precisely for that reason. For quality, it is better to look at the national registry DATO, the aftercare and the experience of the team. Use the selection table on this page and read the personal stories of people who went before you.

Why is WeightWorks in the table?

Because the table shows all centres for which ZorgkaartNederland reports a waiting time. WeightWorks Clinics in Amersfoort is a partner of this site and is therefore listed in the table with that note, in the same position as it would have based on the figures. The order depends only on the waiting time. How we work can be read at about this site and our partner.

Which centre is closest to me?

You can see this most quickly on the regional pages. They list the nearby centres per municipality with their waiting times, including centres that are not partners of this site. Look at the page on overweight and obesity by region. Your GP (huisarts) often also knows the centres in the area and the experiences of other patients.

Can I use the waiting time to prepare?

Yes, and that is sensible. During that time you can already work on eating, exercise and sleep, for example through a lifestyle programme. It also helps to talk with those close to you about what an operation means for you all. Tips for family and friends can be found at supporting someone with obesity.

Is a centre far from home a smart choice?

It can be, but work it out first. There is no rule that you have to go to the nearest centre. Do bear in mind that in the years after the operation you often have to go back for aftercare. So work out how much travel time that costs. Also ask whether part of the aftercare can be done online or closer to home.

How do I know whether a centre has a contract with my insurer?

Look on your health insurer's website under contracted care, or call customer service. Also ask the centre itself. Contracts can change from year to year, so check again if your operation falls in a new calendar year. More explanation can be found at insurance cover for weight loss surgery.

What are the Treeknormen?

The Treeknormen are agreements on the maximum acceptable waiting time in hospital care. For a first outpatient visit this is 4 weeks, for a treatment with admission 7 weeks (Consumentenbond, 17-08-2026). If you wait longer, you can ask your health insurer for waiting list mediation (wachtlijstbemiddeling). Also discuss this with your GP (huisarts).

Do I have to call the centre myself after the referral?

Usually the centre contacts you after the referral, or you receive an invitation to an information session. This differs per centre. If you hear nothing after a few weeks, call them yourself. Then ask straight away what the next step is and how long it will take. Keep the conversation card and other downloads to hand.

What if the centre gives me a different waiting time from the table?

Then go by what the centre tells you itself, because that is the most up-to-date situation. The table gives an indicative figure that is updated monthly. Healthcare providers can report a discrepancy to us; the editorial team reviews every report first. How we deal with figures and sources can be read in this site's editorial policy.