In the paper, a system dynamics model of the Dutch health care system will be discussed. The description of the model will start with so called ‘patients flows’. It will be followed by a description of the most important factors that affect the patient’s flows and the costs generated by the system. Having outlined the system dynamics model, the outcomes of three policy alternatives aimed at reducing the costs of health care will be examined. They will serve to demonstrate that the system dynamic model does have the potential to be used in workshops to elicit and increase the knowledge policy makers have regarding the problem of rising costs of health care.