All international students are required by law to have appropriate health insurance for the duration of your stay in the Netherlands.
You are also advised to take out an appropriate general third-party insurance (liability insurance). For non-EEA/EU students requesting a residence permit through the UvA, liability insurance is mandatory.
Please check before you come to the Netherlands whether your insurance will cover the complete period of your stay abroad, and what type of coverage it consists of.
If you are not employed, private health care agreements for international students will most likely suffice for you.
If you are a citizen from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You can obtain the European Health Insurance Card free of charge by contacting your local health authority. EHIC will cover the most basic and emergency healthcare costs.
From the moment you start a (part-time) job, or an internship that pays more than €150 per month, you are required by law to take out basic health care insurance, even if you are covered by another health insurance provider.