STI care at the GGD is funded by the national Additional Sexual Health Care scheme (ASG). Within that scheme both test and treatment are free: no referral is needed, your deductible stays untouched and you can be helped anonymously if you wish, without a citizen service number. The scheme is meant as a safety net alongside the GP — and has a fixed budget, which forces the GGD to choose whom it helps.
The priority groups
You qualify for a free test if at least one of these applies to you:
- You are under 25.
- You are a man who has sex with men, or a transgender person.
- You have been notified by a (former) partner who has an STI.
- You have symptoms that could indicate an STI.
- You work in the sex industry, or you receive money or goods for sex.
- You come from a region where HIV or hepatitis B is common, or your partner does.
- You have experienced sexual violence.
Fall outside all these groups? Then the GGD will not test you — not even if you offer to pay — and you are referred to the GP or a private provider.
How an appointment works
You book online or by phone with the GGD in your region. Beforehand you answer triage questions about your situation; the GGD uses these to decide whether you qualify and which tests make sense. The visit itself usually takes half an hour: you collect swabs and urine yourself and blood is drawn where needed. The result normally follows within a week, and a positive result is treated free of charge. Do bear the window period in mind: test too soon after the risk contact and the result is not yet reliable.
New since 2025: chlamydia only with symptoms
Since 1 January 2025 the GGD no longer routinely tests for chlamydia in people without symptoms. Under the revised national guideline the body clears most chlamydia infections on its own, and there is no evidence that treating symptom-free infections prevents complications — while using fewer antibiotics also counters resistance. Testing does still happen with symptoms, after a partner notification, during pregnancy and around IUD placement. If you want a chlamydia test without symptoms anyway, that is now only possible via the GP or a private provider.
Waiting times and shrinking capacity
Demand for free testing outstrips the budget. In 2025 the Centres for Sexual Health carried out 146,982 consultations — 8% fewer than the year before and, for the first time, fewer than before the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile gonorrhoea (14,297 diagnoses) and syphilis (1,927, +7%) remained stubbornly high and an STI was found in 17% of consultations. GGDs absorb the shortfall with waiting lists and stricter triage: anyone outside the core groups is referred on sooner. Expect days to weeks of waiting in many regions — and if you have symptoms, say so, because then you are seen with priority.
Not eligible? These are your routes
- The GP: the consult is free, but the lab costs (± €40–€150) count toward your €385 deductible.
- ZIZ: a non-profit foundation with results within 90 minutes and treatment included, from €39.
- Home tests and private clinics: no waiting time and anonymous if you wish, but check what the price does and does not cover.
Unsure which route fits your situation? Our decision helper walks the questions through with you, and the comparison shows each provider’s total price including treatment. Under 25 and worried about something? Sense (sense.info) offers free, anonymous help with all your questions about sex and STIs.
This information is general and was compiled with care from public sources, but it does not replace medical advice. For symptoms or doubt, always consult a doctor.
