GGZ waiting lists 2026: how long do you really wait and what can you do now?
On 1 October 2024, the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) counted 108,878 waiting spots in mental health care. Those are places on a waiting list, not people: roughly one in five people is on several lists at once. Of those waiting for a first appointment, 67 percent wait longer than the agreed four weeks. You do not have to wait for that: via PsyIntake you arrange an intake with a psychologist within 24 hours, without a referral letter (around €195). Below you can read how long the waiting lists are in 2026, why they are so long, and how to arrange a first conversation sooner yourself.
How long is the waiting list in 2026?
The maximum agreed waiting time (the Treek standard) is 14 weeks in total: roughly 4 weeks until your first appointment and then 10 weeks until treatment begins. In practice this standard is significantly exceeded at many providers, with waiting times that can run to six months or longer, depending on your complaint and your region. For some specialisms, such as personality or trauma problems, the waiting times are longest.
Why are the waiting lists so long?
There are several causes. Demand for psychological help has risen sharply over the past ten years, partly due to increased awareness around mental health. At the same time, the supply of qualified care providers grew too slowly. Contract arrangements between insurers and providers, and staff shortages, cause additional delay.
The signpost has disappeared, just when you need it
Since early 2026 there are temporarily no reliable national waiting-time figures, because the data is being collected differently. The well-known government signpost 'Kiezen in de GGZ' is also offline. Precisely now it is therefore harder than ever to see where you can be helped quickly. That makes it important to actively pursue several routes at the same time.
The fastest route: an intake straight away, without a waiting list
You do not have to wait passively. Without a referral letter and without reimbursement, you can often see a psychologist within 24 hours. Via PsyIntake you book an intake yourself (€195), usually available within 24 hours, also online and in the evening or at the weekend. You then quickly gain insight into what is going on and which approach fits you, instead of standing still on a list for months. No referral letter is needed.
What else you can do
Also register with several care providers at once, that is allowed. Ask your GP for an urgent referral if your complaints are severe. Bridge the waiting time with proven digital self-help (for example via Mentaal Vitaal or Thuisarts.nl) and seek support from peers, friends or family. And ask your health insurer for waiting-list mediation: they are obliged to help you find a provider with a shorter waiting time. It costs nothing extra and many people do not know about this route.
Then arranging reimbursed care afterwards
An intake via PsyIntake does not rule out reimbursed follow-up care. After the intake, the provider can draw up a treatment plan and, if needed, refer you to a provider offering reimbursed care. This way you use the waiting time actively instead of passively. Note: reimbursed follow-up treatment runs via your basic insurance and counts towards your excess (€385 in 2026); some complaints, such as burnout and relationship problems, are not reimbursed at all.
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