Belgian ambulances are expected to be allowed to take patients to any Dutch hospital by the end of 2026, according to Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. Under the current rules, they may only go to Maastricht UMC+, even when a hospital elsewhere in the Netherlands is closer or better suited to the patient’s needs. In emergencies in the border region, Belgian dispatchers currently identify the nearest hospital without considering the border.

The rule change is in its final phase. Belgium and the Netherlands are still discussing differences in how ambulance journeys and medical care are reimbursed. Dutch ambulances can already take patients to Belgian hospitals. No structural agreements have yet been reached for prolonged crises, while cross-border cooperation is primarily prepared for urgent large-scale emergencies.