GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond
Free STD test at the GGD in Rotterdam: who qualifies?
The GGD is the municipal health service, and it does test for STIs free of charge. The catch is that free applies to certain groups only. Here is who qualifies in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region, what you pay if you do not, and what the alternative costs.
GP: €385 deductible
Home test from €69
In short
- Meet the GGD conditions and testing there is genuinely free, and it does not touch your deductible.
- If you do not, they refer you to a GP. The consultation is covered, the laboratory work is not.
- The mandatory deductible is €385 in 2026, so until that is used up you pay the lab yourself.
- A home test is a fixed price from €69, with no conditions and no registration.
Who can test for free at the GGD?
The programme is aimed at the groups where infections are most common, so that public money prevents the most infections. It is not a judgement about you, it is how the funding is set up.
You usually qualify if
- you are under 25
- you have had several sexual partners
- you are a man who has sex with men
- your partner has an STI, or you had contact with someone who does
- you work in the sex industry
- you have had sex you did not want
- your partner comes from a region where STIs are more common
Source: GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond. Conditions change, so check the current ones on their website.
Under 25? Ask about Sense
The GGD runs a Sense consultation for people under 25. It is free, including the testing, and you can also ask questions about sex, contraception and relationships. You book it online.
And if you fall outside the groups?
If you are 25 or over, have no symptoms and fit none of the categories, the GGD will not test you. They refer you to a GP, and that is where most internationals get stuck, because you have to be registered with a practice first.
Through a GP it is not free, even though it feels like it
Dutch basic insurance covers the consultation, so the conversation costs you nothing. The laboratory work the GP orders is a different matter: that comes out of your own risk, the yearly deductible of €385.
The consultation
GP care sits outside the deductible, so the appointment itself is covered however often you go.
The laboratory
Lab work does count towards your deductible. The bill lands with you until the €385 is used up.
Under 18
The deductible does not apply below 18, so for minors the GP route is free of charge.
To be fair: if you have already used your deductible this year on other care, the GP is by far the cheapest route. It is worth checking before you order anything.
The mandatory deductible is €385 in 2026 for everyone aged 18 and over.
The three routes compared
Which one fits depends on your age, your situation and whether you are registered with a GP in Rotterdam.
| GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond | Your GP | Home test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay | Nothing, if you meet the conditions | Consultation covered, lab from your €385 deductible | Fixed price from €69 |
| Who it is for | Only the higher risk groups | Anyone registered with a practice | Anyone |
| Appointment | Yes, booked in advance | Yes | No |
| Privacy | Confidential, separate from your GP file | Recorded in your medical file | Anonymous, neutral packaging |
| Strong point | Free, and you speak to someone in person | A familiar face and direct follow up | No waiting room, whenever it suits you |
What we offer if you fall outside the groups
No conditions, no appointment and no registration. Four steps from your sofa.
Order
Pick the test that fits your situation and pay securely.
Unpack
Neutral packaging, delivered to your address.
Test at home
Take the sample yourself and send it back anonymously.
Get your result
Your result appears online, in a secure environment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GGD test really completely free?
Yes, if you meet their conditions. It does not go through your health insurance, so it does not touch your deductible either. If you do not meet them, you cannot be tested there.
I am over 25 with no symptoms. Can I still go to the GGD?
Usually not. The GGD tests groups with a higher chance of an STI. Outside those, they refer you to a GP or you choose a home test.
Do I need to speak Dutch at the GGD?
Their information is mostly in Dutch, though staff generally speak English. If that makes you hesitate, a home test removes the conversation entirely.
What does a test at the GP cost exactly?
It depends on which infections are tested for. The consultation is covered, the laboratory work comes out of your €385 deductible until that is used up.
Does a test end up in my medical file?
At the GP yes. At the GGD it stays confidential and separate from your GP file. A home test is anonymous.
No conditions, no waiting list, fixed price
If you do not qualify at the GGD, or you simply do not want to wait, order your STD test online and test at home in Rotterdam.