Europe region
With 44 physiotherapy associations, Europe is the largest World Physiotherapy region
Koninklijk Nederlands Genootschap voor Fysiotherapie (KNGF)/Royal Dutch Society for Physiotherapy is the professional association for physiotherapists in the Netherlands. KNGF has been a member of World Physiotherapy since 1956 and is part of our Europe region.
KNGF, or its national special interest groups, are members of the following specialty groups recognised by World Physiotherapy:
Our 17th general meeting took place in Amsterdam.
1889
1956
2024
12,738
Primary contact
Chairman
36,031
20.15
61%
In this country/territory
In this region
Globally
12,738
57%
In this MO
In MOs in this region
In MOs globally
Bachelors degree
4
12
Please contact the Royal Dutch Society for Physiotherapy for details of entry level education programmes in the Netherlands
* = Continuing Professional Development
To practice in the Netherlands, physiotherapists must be registered in the BIG registry (www.bigregister.nl) and at the Quality Register Physiotherapy Netherlands: https://www.kngf.nl/krf
Ministry of Health or another government department
More than one
All programmes
Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners
Assess patients/clients
Make a diagnosis
Offer preventative advice/services
Refer to other specialists/services
Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)
Provide telehealth services
*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional
What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?
Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)
Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)
Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)
Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)
Other
In order to start and reimburse physiotherapy treatment in patients with specific conditions, such as Parkinsons Disease or rehabilitation after surgery, a referral letter from a medical doctor is required for the healthcare insurance companies. Hence, for the financial aspects of care. It is not required for the pure delivery of care since we have direct access to physiotherapy.
Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
Educators in physiotherapy
Intellectual disability
Mental health
Orthopaedics/manual therapy
Older people
Oncology/palliative care and HIV
Paediatrics
Sports physiotherapy
Womens health
Neurology
Occupational health and ergonomics
List of education progammes
A global profile of the profession is also available.
6,194 (1000-10000)
20.59 (>20)
75% (60-80%)
75% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
4.93 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, More than one
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
5,032 (1000-10000)
35.13 (>20)
64% (60-80%)
60% (60-80%)
Masters degree
1.69 (1-5)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
No
No
Yes
No
No
312 (100-1000)
2.24 (1-5)
54% (40-60%)
63% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
38.93 (>20)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Private only
Yes
Yes
No
240 (100-1000)
6.22 (5-10)
66% (60-80%)
60% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
1.56 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
No
No
No
No
2,005 (1000-10000)
5.2 (5-10)
65% (60-80%)
65% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
11.68 (10-15)
Yes
Member organisation
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
Yes
No
1,300 (1000-10000)
10.32 (10-15)
43% (40-60%)
43% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
11.9 (10-15)
Yes
Cyprus Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Establishments Registration Council https://seff.org.cy/en/home/ (Other)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
Yes
965 (100-1000)
7.27 (5-10)
73% (60-80%)
63% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
5.98 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
14,044 (>10000)
34.54 (>20)
67% (60-80%)
78% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
10.09 (10-15)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
326 (100-1000)
6.22 (5-10)
87% (>80%)
82% (>80%)
Bachelors degree
14.64 (10-15)
No
Not defined
No
No
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
6,701 (1000-10000)
17.21 (15-20)
81% (>80%)
78% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
13.43 (10-15)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, More than one
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
106,426 (>10000)
15.61 (15-20)
52% (40-60%)
52% (40-60%)
Masters degree
3.96 (1-5)
Yes
Member organisation
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
23,240 (>10000)
24.27 (>20)
76% (60-80%)
72% (60-80%)
Diploma
15.62 (15-20)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
5,004 (1000-10000)
10.88 (10-15)
54% (40-60%)
54% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
2.41 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
1,122 (1000-10000)
7.32 (5-10)
94% (>80%)
91% (>80%)
Bachelors degree
4.17 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
710 (100-1000)
18.8 (15-20)
69% (60-80%)
67% (60-80%)
Masters degree
12.7 (10-15)
Yes
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
3,058 (1000-10000)
10.62 (10-15)
75% (60-80%)
75% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
6.65 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
790 (100-1000)
6.15 (5-10)
61% (60-80%)
67% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
2.56 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
2,806 (1000-10000)
12.25 (10-15)
53% (40-60%)
52% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
3.57 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
96 (<100)
3.35 (1-5)
49% (40-60%)
37% (20-40%)
Bachelors degree
7.5 (5-10)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
786 (100-1000)
4.48 (1-5)
58% (40-60%)
58% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
11.39 (10-15)
Yes
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
No
Yes
Yes
1,334 (1000-10000)
2.49 (1-5)
51% (40-60%)
51% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
8.41 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
No
No
No
No
Yes
100 (<100)
25.52 (>20)
77% (60-80%)
76% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
No
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
105 (100-1000)
6.16 (5-10)
78% (60-80%)
68% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
19.15 (15-20)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
1,117 (1000-10000)
26.92 (>20)
55% (40-60%)
52% (40-60%)
Masters degree
14.96 (10-15)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Private only
No
No
No
104 (100-1000)
13.09 (10-15)
56% (40-60%)
60% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
9.04 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
12,738 (>10000)
20.15 (>20)
58% (40-60%)
62% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
3.36 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, More than one
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
142 (100-1000)
8.28 (5-10)
55% (40-60%)
56% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
13.8 (10-15)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
8,668 (1000-10000)
24.15 (>20)
74% (60-80%)
69% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
5.44 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
1,160 (1000-10000)
2.25 (1-5)
59% (40-60%)
59% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
6.78 (5-10)
No
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
12,109 (>10000)
11.5 (10-15)
73% (60-80%)
73% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
10.93 (10-15)
Yes
Member organisation
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
Yes
Yes
7,537 (1000-10000)
3.96 (1-5)
63% (60-80%)
63% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
0.52 (<1)
Yes
Member organisation
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
546 (100-1000)
7.31 (5-10)
65% (60-80%)
70% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
5.53 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
807 (100-1000)
7.54 (5-10)
63% (60-80%)
57% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
16.5 (15-20)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
8,380 (1000-10000)
14.23 (10-15)
61% (60-80%)
61% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
6.1 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
Yes
No
No
10,593 (>10000)
16.63 (15-20)
77% (60-80%)
75% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
3.8 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
11,775 (>10000)
24.86 (>20)
74% (60-80%)
74% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
5.65 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, More than one
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
510 (100-1000)
0.3 (<1)
59% (40-60%)
43% (40-60%)
Diploma
1.29 (1-5)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Private only
No
No
Yes
1,498 (1000-10000)
4.57 (1-5)
57% (40-60%)
51% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
6.68 (5-10)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
121 (100-1000)
0.81 (<1)
55% (40-60%)
50% (40-60%)
Masters degree
9.59 (5-10)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
No
Yes
Private only
Yes
Yes
No
49,768 (>10000)
10.44 (10-15)
71% (60-80%)
70% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
9.07 (5-10)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
With 44 physiotherapy associations, Europe is the largest World Physiotherapy region
World Physiotherapy is a global hub for information and resources about COVID-19 relevant to the physiotherapy profession.