Drogist

Drogist is a term used in Dutch and some Central European contexts to describe either a person who sells medicines and health-related products or a shop that does so. Historically, a drogist could be a licensed pharmacist or chemist, and the word is related to the broader family of terms for drugs and medicines. In contemporary Dutch usage, the term often refers to a retail outlet known as a drogisterij, a drugstore that stocks over-the-counter medicines, cosmetics, personal care items, vitamins, and other health-related products. Prescription medicines are generally dispensed in a separate facility called an apotheek (pharmacy) run by a licensed pharmacist.

In practice, drogisterijen are run by owners or chains and may be part of larger retail groups. In the Netherlands and Belgium, large chains such as Etos and Kruidvat operate as modern drogisterijen, offering a broad range of non-prescription medicines and consumer goods, often alongside beauty and wellness products. In many other European countries, the closest equivalents are drugstores or chemist shops, where the legal framework distinguishes between outlets that dispense prescription medicines and those that primarily sell OTC products and cosmetics.

Across history, the drogist role has shifted from a general chemist supplying medicines to a modern retail worker focusing on OTC products, advice, and customer service. The concept remains tied to public health supply chains and consumer health shopping, with regional variations in terminology and regulatory practice. Related terms include pharmacy, drugstore, and chemist.