Daycare
In the Netherlands, it is common for working parents to leave their children during the day in a crèche or childcare centre. Childcare is subject to certain laws. Employers, for example, are encouraged to contribute to the cost of childcare.
Daycare
Children up to four years old can be looked after in a daycare centre or crèche. Some daycare centres have special groups for babies and toddlers; others combine the two age groups. There is typically a strict timetable for play, eating and sleeping. Young babies are normally kept to their home feeding and sleeping patterns.
Most daycare facilities are open from 08:00 to 18:00 and offer all-day care. Some have longer opening hours and offer the possibility of half-day or even 24-hour care. All childcare centres must comply with a strict standard of quality according to Dutch law.
Babysitters
Parents may also choose to have their baby, toddler or young child looked after by a babysitter. In this case, a babysitter, who is registered with an agency, would care for your child(ren) in their home or yours. Babysitters may only care for a maximum of four children at any one time. Babysitter may also agree to care for your children during the evening, night or weekend. Parents and babysitters can get in touch with each other through an agency. The agency selects personnel and inspects places of care for safety and hygiene on a regular basis.
Childcare through an employer
Employers are not legally obliged to contribute to the cost of childcare. Some employers rent spaces at daycare centres, and others have their own daycare centres. In both cases the waiting lists are often shorter and the costs lower.
Expatcenter Partner: Childcare Services
Blue Umbrella
Shared service center for English speaking childcare providers and parents
Website: www.blueumbrella.nl
CompaNanny
English Speaking child care from 0 - 4 years
Website: www.compananny.nl
For a full list of the Expatcenter's partners or for more information on the Partnership Program, please click here.
Additional contacts
The Amsterdam Childcare Register (Register Kinderopvang van Amsterdam) has a list of daycare centres, where you can check if they satisfy quality demands. It is useful to know that a red dot means the centre has had a negative report.
Humanitas Childcare Foundation (Stichting Kinderopvang Humanitas)
A network of about 80 daycare centres and addresses of child minders
Website: www.humanitas-kov.nl (Dutch)
The Netherlands Childcare Foundation (Stichting Kinderopvang Nederland, SKON)
A national group of daycare centres
Website: www.skon.nl (Dutch)
Related topics
Pregnancy & birth in the Netherlands (two-part series)
- Tell a friend
You can also reach us by phone:
+31 (0)20 254 79 99