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Dutch Childcare System
The Dutch system recognizes two primary forms of childcare; informal and formal care. Formal childcare must adhere to the rules and regulations of the official Childcare Act. All parents in the Netherlands using formal childcare are entitled to the childcare allowance.
Daycare centers and home daycares are both considered formal childcare, however home daycares require the involvement of a daycare bureau, such as Blue Umbrella, in order to qualify for the childcare allowance.
Dutch Childcare Allowance
All home daycares which are organized through an accredited daycare provider are eligible for the childcare allowance from the Dutch tax office. The childcare allowance is provided on a per child basis, whereby an allowance is determined and provided for each child.
In order to be eligible for the childcare allowance you must meet the following requirements:
- be a member of a household where both partners are employed (however, no minimum income is required)*
- have children between the ages of 0 – 12 years (children over 12 are not eligible for the allowance)
* there is no upper income limit, although higher income families will receive a lower allowance than lower income families.
You can use the Blue Umbrella childcare allowance calculator to obtain an estimate of the allowance amount you are entitled to.
The childcare allowance is based on the following factors:
- The childcare allowance covers all childcare costs provided by a registered/approved childcare provider. These costs can also include expenses directly related to the care such as meals, diapers, retainer fee, etc.
- The allowance is determined by the maximum hourly rate of € 6.10 per hour (2009 rate), which is adjusted annually
- Special circumstances may affect the allowance, such as single parent families, students, etc. These circumstances are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
