We aimed to assess and characterize gender differences in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported to the national pharmacovigilance centre in the Netherlands while taking into account differences in drug use.

ADRs spontaneously reported by healthcare professionals and patients to the Netherlands pharmacovigilance centre Lareb were used.

Drug‐ADR combinations reported at least 10 times between 2003–2016 for drugs used by ≥10,000 persons in that period were included.

Data about the number of drug users was obtained from the National Health Care Institute.