Childcare Costs Made Easier: your Guide to Dutch Childcare Allowance

This article is provided by our partner CompaNanny.

If your child is enrolled in childcare in the Netherlands, you may be eligible for a childcare allowance. This allowance helps cover a portion of your childcare costs. Below you will find what it is, how it works, and how you can apply.

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What is childcare allowance?

Childcare allowance (in Dutch: kinderopvangtoeslag) is a contribution from the government towards the costs you pay for childcare. The Dutch government sets maximum hourly rates for different types of childcare, such as daycare, after-school care (BSO) and child-minder care, which apply to all recognised providers.

How much allowance can you receive?

The actual amount you receive depends on your personal situation, including:

• Your income (and that of your partner, if applicable);
• The number of children you have in childcare;
• The type of childcare services you use;
• The hourly rate charged by your childcare provider.

There is also a limit to the number of hours the allowance covers: the government reimburses up to 230 hours per child per month.

Maximum hourly rates for 2026

For the year 2026, the following maximum hourly rates apply:

• € 11.23 for daycare;
• € 9.98 for after-school care (BSO);
• € 8.49 for child-minder care.

In 2026 the government has allocated additional funds for childcare allowance. As a result, parents with a combined income up to € 56,412 may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to 96% of their childcare costs.

Am I eligible for childcare allowance?

To qualify for the allowance, you and your childcare must meet certain conditions:

1. The childcare provider must be officially registered in the National Childcare Register (LRK);
2. Both parents (or the parent) must be working, studying, or participating in a recognised reintegration or integration programme;
3. Both parents must have Dutch nationality or hold a valid residence permit.

How and when to apply

You should apply for childcare allowance within three months of your child’s first day at the childcare centre. If you apply later, you may not receive the allowance for the first three months. Applications are made online using your personal DigiD account via the “Mijn Toeslagen” portal on the website of the Belastingdienst. You need to submit a separate application for each child. Payments are generally made around the 20th of each month. More information can be found on the government's website.
 

About CompaNanny 

CompaNanny offers bilingual childcare at their locations in Benoordenhout and the Archipel neighbourhood. If you’d like to learn more about how childcare works in the Netherlands or if you wish to learn more about the services offered by CompaNanny — please feel free to contact CompaNanny.