The Netherlands, due to its density of population (415 residents per square kilometer) has ambulance services organized under municipal and district health departments (emergency services) or private services (routine transportation). The law requires that each patient be reached by an ambulance within 15 minutes everywhere in the country.

Emergency services are generally performed by the health departments, whereas more routine patient transport is carried out by private firms. In the Netherlands, it is usual that emergency complaints are first directed to the family physician who makes further decisions concerning the use of ambulance services. All ambulance services are coordinated from central district ambulance posts.