A Dutch drogist sells personal-care products, toiletries and certain non-prescription medicines. An apotheek is a pharmacy and is the route for prescription medicines. The distinction matters when you arrive with a prescription or need medication advice.
The three self-care medicine categories
| Category | Where sold | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| UA | Apotheek only | Non-prescription, but pharmacy-only. |
| UAD | Apotheek or drogist | Non-prescription medicine sold through pharmacies/drugstores. |
| AV | General sale | May be sold more widely, often in smaller packs. |
Prescription medicines are obtained through an apotheek with a prescription. Do not assume that because a supermarket sells some paracetamol or another AV product it can dispense prescription medicine.
What to use a drogist for
Typical drogist shopping includes shampoo, toothpaste, skincare, cosmetics, vitamins, baby/personal-care items and permitted self-care medicines. Chains such as Kruidvat, Etos and Trekpleister are commercial examples, not endorsements. Promotions can be aggressive, so compare the actual pack size and price.
When to use the pharmacy
Use an apotheek for prescriptions, UA medicines and professional pharmacy support around medicines and interactions. For urgent medical problems, shopping advice is not a substitute for the GP/huisartsenpost/112 routes described in the healthcare guides.