Is the treeknorm legally binding?

It isn’t a hard legal maximum, but a widely accepted norm. Insurers do have a legal duty of care to help you within a reasonable time.

Does the treeknorm apply to mental health care?

Yes. For mental health treatment the treeknorm is 14 weeks; shorter terms apply to the intake.

Where does the name ‘treeknorm’ come from?

The norms were set in the so-called Treek consultation between providers and insurers, and are named after it.

Explainer

What is the treeknorm? The maximum waiting time in Dutch care

The treeknorm is the agreed maximum time you should have to wait for care in the Netherlands. Know the norm and you can tell at a glance whether your wait is reasonable or worth acting on.

What does the treeknorm mean?

The treeknormen are national agreements between healthcare providers and insurers about the maximum acceptable waiting time. It’s not a hard legal guarantee, but it’s the norm everyone is expected to meet — and the benchmark we use on this site to assess waiting times.

The treeknormen

A separate norm applies per type of care:

Type of care	Treeknorm
First outpatient visit	4 weeks (28 days)
Diagnostics or tests	4 weeks (28 days)
Treatment or surgery	7 weeks (49 days)
Mental health treatment	14 weeks (98 days)

Insurers have a duty of care (zorgplicht): they must ensure you can be seen within a reasonable time.

Green, orange or red

On Wachttijdvergelijker we colour every waiting time against the treeknorm, so you can see at a glance how a hospital is doing:

Green — Well within the norm — up to 75% of the treeknorm.
Orange — Close to the norm — between 75% and 100%.
Red — Over the treeknorm — a good moment to ask for action.

What if your wait exceeds it?

If you’re over the treeknorm, you don’t have to accept it. Your insurer is obliged to help you find a faster provider through waitlist mediation.

See the waiting times per specialty

Compare how hospitals score against the treeknorm:

Waiting times Orthopedie Waiting times Oogheelkunde Waiting times Cardiologie Waiting times Dermatologie Waiting times Neurologie Waiting times Gynaecologie Waiting times Urologie Waiting times Plastische chirurgie

Frequently asked questions

Is the treeknorm legally binding?: It isn’t a hard legal maximum, but a widely accepted norm. Insurers do have a legal duty of care to help you within a reasonable time.
Does the treeknorm apply to mental health care?: Yes. For mental health treatment the treeknorm is 14 weeks; shorter terms apply to the intake.
Where does the name ‘treeknorm’ come from?: The norms were set in the so-called Treek consultation between providers and insurers, and are named after it.

Wait too long? What you can doAll your options when the wait is too long.Waitlist mediationYour insurer finds a faster provider, for free.Getting a second opinionA second view on your diagnosis or treatment.GP referral explainedWhen you need a referral — and whether you can choose.The deductible explainedWhat counts towards it, and what it means for hospital care.Switching health insuranceWhen switching pays off with long waits, and how.

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