Informatie > Information in English.
Information in English.
What is transgender or gender diverse?
The terms transgender and gender diverse are used in two ways:
- As umbrella terms for a wide range of gender identities and expressions. They apply to anyone—children, adolescents, and adults—who does not fully identify with the sex assigned at birth, or identifies to a lesser extent with it.
- In a more specific sense, they refer to individuals who are pursuing or have undergone a full or partial transition to a gender different from the one assigned at birth.
Transgender or gender-diverse children may question their gender identity. They may feel that, despite being assigned a boy or girl at birth, they do not truly identify with that gender. This mismatch between perceived gender identity and biological sex is often referred to as gender incongruence or gender dysphoria.
Gender incongruity, or the difference between a child’s gender identity and biological sex, is unrelated to sexual preference. It involves a deep, long-term sense of dissonance with the gender assigned at birth. As with individuals whose gender identity aligns with their biological sex, sexual preferences—whether heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, or otherwise—can vary independently of gender identity.
How do you find out that you might be transgender or non-binary?
How do you know if you are transgender or gender diverse? The answer to that question isn’t always straightforward. Often, it’s a personal journey or quest. You may feel that something doesn’t quite fit, even if you’re not entirely sure what it is—though sometimes you are. Several factors can influence your understanding of yourself, such as your age, the environment you grew up in, the information available to you, and the degree of gender incongruity (the feeling that your inner identity and outer appearance don’t align).
Gender incongruity can vary in intensity. For some, it becomes clear at a very young age—whether in infancy, during primary school, or in puberty—that their gender identity doesn’t match their biological sex. For others, this realization may not surface until later in life—as an adult, during middle age, or even in older age.
For older individuals, the social climate or zeitgeist may play a significant role in their decision to come out. Social circumstances, family expectations, work, or religion can also act as barriers to coming out. You might have struggled with these feelings for a long time, or you might have reached a point of certainty: “I am a woman/man/non-binary, and this is how I will live my life, no matter what anyone thinks.”
WhatsApp line for transgender migrants.
Trans in NL Advice Line: New WhatsApp Line for Transgender and Gender Diverse Migrants
A new WhatsApp line is now available for transgender and gender-diverse individuals who are new to the Netherlands. This service allows users to easily ask questions about healthcare, discrimination, legal matters, and social connections.
Whether you are a refugee, expat, labor migrant, status holder, or international student, navigating life as a trans or gender-diverse person in the Netherlands can be challenging. Questions may arise about how the healthcare system works, where to seek help if you experience discrimination, how to change your gender registration, and where to meet like-minded individuals.
The Trans in NL Advice Line from the Transgender Network is available to answer these and other questions. You can send a message via WhatsApp to 020-2446558 and receive a response within 24 hours on working days. The service is available in Dutch, English, Spanish, and French.
The initiative for the Trans in NL Advice Line came from Samira Hakim and Alejandra Ortiz. “We regularly visited asylum seekers’ centers, where we spoke with trans people,” says Hakim. Sometimes these visits were organized by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, and other times they were made on their own initiative. “We noticed that trans and gender-diverse asylum seekers often don’t know what their rights are, despite facing many challenges—such as not receiving the necessary healthcare.”
This inspired the idea of creating an information line specifically for trans individuals who have recently arrived in the Netherlands. In addition to asylum seekers, the line also aims to assist expats, migrant workers, and international students, who may struggle with understanding the Dutch healthcare system or finding legal help. Many also face social isolation and are in need of contact with other trans people. “We offer advice on how to connect with the community too,” adds Hakim.
Both Hakim and Ortiz emphasize the importance of speaking to trans individuals from a place of shared experience. “It makes a difference when you know the person helping you has faced similar challenges.”
Transgender Network is a Dutch advocacy group for gender-diverse people. In addition to its general information line, the organization runs a phone and chat service for young people called Genderpraatjes (Gender Talks). “We’re easily accessible to Dutch-speaking people, and through Gender Talks, we’re also connecting with young people,” says Hakim. “But if you don’t speak Dutch and have no idea where to begin, this multilingual WhatsApp line provides a simple, accessible way to get answers.”
You are not alone.
Some people seek help with their journey. In that case, you can turn to a specialized mental health (GGZ) institution. Others may want a diagnosis or potential treatment, in which case they can contact a specialized gender team or one of the specialized psychologists. For more information, visit our page on therapists for adults or therapists for children and adolescents.
Working with a therapist can be helpful to explore your feelings and decide if, and to what extent, you might want to consider a transition (see the topic on transition). Transvisie can assist you in finding local support and guidance. Feel free to call or email us—our contact details are available on the website.
Health care in the Netherlands for transgender and gender diverse people
- You need a referral from your GP/doctor to go to a specialist transgender care practitioner.
- The transgender health care is provided in the Amsterdam UMC (VUmc), UMC in Groningen and a few other practitioners. See the ‘Transgender Wegwijzer‘ (Transgender Guide).
- The Amsterdam UMC and the UMCG offer psychology, hormone treatment and surgery. Both hospitals have long waiting lists. Not only for the first psychological session, but also before hormone treatment and before surgery.
- Hormone treatment for MtF is based on estradiol (oestrogen) and a testosterone-suppressant.
- Hormone treatment for FtM is based on testosterone, injectable or gel.
- If you have a Dutch health insurance, treatment is nearly fully covered. There are some limitations though. For instance not all sorts of testosteron are covered by the ‘Basisverzekering’. There are more limitations, so ask for information about this at te hospital. The ‘Basisverzekering’ covers psychological help, hormone treatment (the hormones itself as well as the monitoring by the doctor) and the SRS (surgery) (see also our page (in Dutch) ‘Zorgverzekering-vergoedingen‘.
- For MtF the health insurance also covers facial hair removal (limited) and facial surgery (under strict conditions). Breast enhancement is not covered.
- For FtM the health insurance also covers mastectomy, hysterectomy and colpectomy.
- You need approval from the genderteam from the hospital and their psychologist before any surgary is being performed.
- If you have been diagnosed as ‘genderdysphore’ in your country of origin, the possibility exists that the hospital adopt this diagnosis.
- If possible, bring as much possible information from psychologists, doctors etc. in English from your country of origin.
- If possible, take sufficient hormone medication or a prescription with you to cater for at least 1 1/2 year.
Activities by other organisations for (transgender) asylum seekers and refugees
- The COC has buddy projects for (transgender) asylum seekers and refugees. See for information.
- I-psy has started a LGBTI-team in Amsterdam for LGBTI-migrants, expats and refugees with a psychic complaints. See for information their website.
- Stichting Trans United Nederland organizes a peer group in Amsterdam special for transgender and gender diverse people with another cultural background.
- Asylum Support for information and buddy’s.
- Maruf is an international platform for Queer Muslims