The Netherlands is one of the few countries in Europe where abortion is legal on request up to 22 weeks of pregnancy — with no need to give a reason. For many women whose own country offers no access, it is the only realistic option. This step-by-step guide explains how it works in practice.
Last updated: July 18, 2026
In most of the countries bordering Poland (Germany, Czechia, Austria, Slovakia), abortion on request is only possible up to 12 weeks. The Netherlands allows the procedure up to 22 weeks, with no reason required and regardless of where you live — which is why, for many women who found out late or needed more time to decide, it is the only realistic route.
Yes, entirely. A procedure carried out in the Netherlands complies with Dutch law, and Polish legislation — relevant to most of our patients — imposes no criminal liability on a woman for ending her own pregnancy, including abroad. You will find the details and the legal basis on the page legal questions.
Vacuum aspiration — the method recommended by the WHO, 5–10 minutes, under sedation. Details: methods and procedure.
An instrumental procedure (D&E), always under general anaesthetic. Details: abortion after 12 weeks and the procedure from 13 to 22 weeks.
The whole trip, using the optional transport from Poland, usually fits into 20–24 hours. You will find the full step-by-step account — the stages of the journey, the ultrasound, the procedure itself and the way home — on the page terminating a pregnancy in the Netherlands — the whole process.
The cost depends on how far along the pregnancy is and on the method. Always included: the ultrasound, anaesthesia and follow-up appointment — transport from Poland and a Polish-speaking interpreter are available as options. For those insured in the Netherlands the procedure is free. Full price list: procedure prices.
Deciding on an abortion is never easy. If you have questions about pain, privacy, cost, or whether it is "too late" — we have gathered the most common concerns on the page ending a pregnancy in the Netherlands — questions and concerns. Or you can simply call us — the conversation is discreet and puts you under no obligation.
Physical recovery usually takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks — the details are in our guide to after the procedure. Emotions afterwards vary — relief, sadness, calm, sometimes all at once. If you want to know how to work through them, read how to work through emotions after an abortion.
The conversation is discreet and free of judgement.
