The following is an overview of the child care system (‘kinderdagverblijf’) in the Netherlands, quality standards, government reimbursem*nt, types of care and more…
Under the Dutch Childcare Act (‘Wet Kinderopvang’), the cost of formal care is shared between parents, employers and the government, making it affordable at all income levels. The amount the parents have to contribute is dependent on income. If both parents work, each of their employers is expected to cover a portion. If an employer cannot pay the expected allotment, the government will. A parent not employed but which is involved in study or reintegration course, may still be entitled to a contribution towards their childcare costs.
The Dutch government website has downloadable fact sheets about childcare in the Netherlands.
Childcare Expenses
The expense of daycare for children under 13 years of age is tax-deductible. The taxpayer must have performed paid work for which they received more than the fixed minimum salary. In the event the taxpayer has a partner, both must meet this condition.
The childcare tax arrangement has a number of parameters: there is a maximum amount deductible per child and the deduction is only possible over a specific income-related threshold.
Childcare Options
There is no formal preschool system in the Netherlands, although there are many local authority playgroups and some private crèches available. These come under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.
There are several forms of childcare in the Netherlands…
NANNIES
Nannies are not common in the Netherlands due to the high expense; in addition to salary, the employer must cover the nanny’s social security contribution.
AU PAIRS
Au pairs are a more popular form of childcare in Holland than nannies, especially when there are two or more young children and both parents work full-time. The au pair agency normally handles pre-screening (such as reference checks and language proficiency) as well as IND immigration paperwork.
PRIVATE BABY-SITTERS
Babysitters are useful for evening care and shorter periods of time as needed. Most neighborhood newspapers and local supermarket notice boards will have babysitter ads. You can also check with local schools or community organizations for sitter recommendations. Most Dutch teenagers speak English well so communication should not prove an issue with small children. Hourly rates vary from cities to towns and high income neighborhoods to lower ones. A premium may need to be paid when a babysitter is required to stay after midnight.
PRESCHOOLS & PLAYGROUPS (Peuterspeelzaal/Peutergroep)
Preschools and playgroups are commonly linked to a primary school. The emphasis is on preparing children between 2.5-4 years for elementary school (which they begin at 5 years of age). Preschool children are supervised by professional teachers and it is common for a child to attend multiple sessions per week (which usually last 3-4 hours). Some nurseries/preschools only accept toilet-trained children and most will in the Netherlands are Dutch-speaking. However, there are English-language preschools and playgroups in and around larger cities like Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. Your local gemeente will have information about registered organizations.
DAYCARE (Kinderdagverblijf)
Most childcare centers offer flexible care (full-time or part-time). They accept children from 6 weeks up to 4 years of age. Qualified caregivers take care of the children, supervising play, feeding them and putting them down for a nap if required.
Two changes were introduced in 2018 to improve the quality of Dutch childcare. The first reduced the maximum number of children per caregiver from 4 to 3 to allow more attention to be paid to each child’s development. Caregivers must also pass a Dutch language proficiency exam to ensure they meet the minimum language requirement.
The second change, effective 1st march 2018, established a national registry of childcare professionals. All daycare, after-school care and host family caregivers must now be registered in the database to help more efficiently identify problem individuals.
Because demand is high and places limited, it is recommended to register a child at multiple daycare centers. Most centers operate Monday to Friday from 08:00-18:00.
Privately-run childcare centers are more expensive but usually have shorter waiting lists.
HOST PARENTS (Gastouderopvang)
Host parents will take children from 6 weeks of age to 12 years and there can be a good deal of flexibility regarding hours of care provided. An agency will usually mediate between the client and host parent. The agency may also provide toys, a bed or playpen and other equipment for very young children.
More information about the Dutch government childcare allowance
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