Yes, you can get tested for STIs in the Netherlands without a GP referral. You arrange it yourself and discreetly online, have blood or another sample analysed, and pay for it yourself. Chlamydia is the most reported STI in the Netherlands.
This article covers which STIs you can test for, when testing makes sense, and how a test without a referral works exactly.
Honest? For many people the barrier isn't the test itself, but the conversation beforehand. You can skip that step.
Can you get an STI test without a referral?
Yes. You may request an STI test yourself from a private provider, without your GP's involvement. You choose which STIs to test for and arrange it entirely online.
There's also the route via the GGD (public health service) and the GP. Which fits depends on your situation, your risk, and how quickly and discreetly you want to arrange it.
Why do people choose a private STI test?
Often for three reasons: discretion, speed and control. You don't have to explain a reason, and you can arrange it at a time that suits you.
The GGD sometimes tests for free for certain risk groups, but not everyone qualifies. People who fall outside that more often choose a private test.
Which STIs can you test for?
The most common ones. You can choose individual measurements or combine them into your own test. The best known are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and syphilis.
- Chlamydia PCR, the most reported STI in the Netherlands.
- Gonorrhoea PCR.
- HIV screening.
- Syphilis screening.
Want to decide yourself what to test? Build your own panel via build your test.
When is the best time to test? The window period
That depends on the STI. The window period is the time between infection and the moment a test can reliably detect it. Testing too early can miss an infection.
For HIV and syphilis, the RIVM uses a window phase of 90 days to rule out an infection with certainty (RIVM LCI). For chlamydia and gonorrhoea less is known about the exact window, and in practice testing often happens sooner (RIVM).
Unsure about the timing after unprotected contact? Discuss it with your GP or the GGD. They can help you decide what's sensible in your case.
How does an STI test without a referral work?
Broadly the same as a regular blood test. You pick your test online, get a referral, have a sample taken at a location, and receive your result digitally.
- Pick your test online. Individual STIs or your own combination.
- Receive your referral. At VitalCheck usually within 2 to 3 hours on business days.
- Have a sample taken. Blood, and depending on the STI a urine sample or swab.
- Read your result. With an explanation from a BIG-registered doctor.
Is a private STI test discreet?
Yes. You arrange everything online and your data falls under the GDPR. Unlike a fully anonymous GGD test, this test is in your own name, but you share nothing with your GP unless you choose to.
For anyone who values privacy, that's often exactly the reason to choose a private test.
What if your result is positive?
A positive result means an infection was found. Many STIs are treatable, but that starts with a diagnosis and a treatment plan. With a positive result, contact your GP or the GGD.
It's also important that any partners can get tested. The GGD can help with that, including anonymously.
STI test via the GGD, GP or private?
None of the routes is "the best". They differ in cost, speed and privacy. This table sets them side by side.
| Route | When it fits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| GGD | Risk group, anonymous testing | Sometimes free, but not accessible to everyone |
| GP | Symptoms or questions | The lab usually counts toward your deductible |
| Private, without referral | Discreet and quick to arrange yourself | You pay yourself, separate from your deductible |
Want the whole picture on testing without a GP? Read our guide on a blood test without a referral, or see how to arrange a blood test without a GP.
Frequently asked questions about an STI test without a referral
Do you need a referral for an STI test?
No. You can request a private STI test yourself, without a referral from your GP.
How soon after unprotected contact can you test?
It varies by STI. For HIV and syphilis a window period of up to 90 days applies, for chlamydia and gonorrhoea often shorter. When in doubt, your GP or the GGD can help.
Is a private STI test anonymous?
Not fully anonymous like the GGD, but private. The test is in your name and you share nothing with your GP unless you choose to.
What does an STI test without a referral cost?
You pay for it yourself, depending on which STIs you test. It's separate from your deductible.
Every blood test result at VitalCheck includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, always discuss your results with your GP.
References
- RIVM. LCI guideline and testing policy, sexual health consultation. lci.rivm.nl, accessed 2026.
- RIVM. When can you test for chlamydia and gonorrhoea after unprotected sex? rivm.nl, 2014.
- RIVM. STIs in the Netherlands, figures and facts. rivm.nl/soa, accessed 2026.
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