The number of independent treatment centres in the Netherlands is expected to almost double from 156 in 2006 to 264 in 2009.

Some 92% of the Dutch are paying small supplements which entitle them to extra care items, such as luxury dentistry, homeopathy and even cosmetic surgery. Most of the care delivered by these centers is elective, high volume and routine care. This type of care is also most interesting from a commercial point of view.

Most centers are established by medical specialists, often in collaboration with the hospitals they are affiliated with and a private investor company. Hospitals have also begun to set up their own centers as a kind of counter strategy. They fear to lose market share. In these cases, the hospital is the majority stakeholder.