Kids

CHILD CARE

Kinderopvang is the general term used in Dutch to cover child care. Waiting lists are long, so be prepared to wait anywhere between 6-18 months before your child is placed. General information and addresses can be found on www.kinderopvang.startpagina.nl, www.kinderopvang.net or www.kinderopvangonline.nl, or check your municipal guide/website (gemeentegids) or the telephone book.

Kinderdagverblijf
This is a cross between a day care center and nursery school and is available for children between the ages of 0 and 4 (infants as of six weeks). It is available anywhere from half a day to 5 days a week. Cost: approximately € 280 per full day per month.

Peuterspeelzalen (Toddler Groups)
These are for children age 2 - 4 and are usually open in the mornings. Often, they are liaised with (and on the same premises as) a primary school. The fees are often income-indexed and range from € 45 to € 150 per month for two mornings a week.
Peuterspeelzalen do not qualify for employer or government contributions.

After-School Day Care
Both the buitenschoolse opvang (BSO) as well as the naschoolse opvang provide day care during after/before-school hours and holidays to children between the ages of 4 and 12. Cost: approximately € 280 per full day per month.

Host Parent
A host parent usually has children of her own and cares for up to six children in her home. Cost: usually income-indexed and lies between € 4.50 - € 9.50 per hour. Government subsidy is available if the parent is registered.

Au Pair
Au pairs in Holland receive room and board. Aside from child care, they may be required to help with light housekeeping duties. You can select one through an intermediary or au pair organization, who charge you a fee. On top of that, you pay: room and board (€ 400 - € 800 a month), as well as visa, permit and insurance expenses.

Regulations and Subsidy
Parents who place their children in day care receive a fixed income-independent contribution, paid out by the Tax Authorities, and an income-dependent contribution. To arrange this, you visit www.toeslagen.nl, click on kinderopvangtoeslag and follow the instructions.
In short summary, to qualify for kinderopvangtoeslag, you and/or your partner must:
• legally reside in the Netherlands
• financially support the child and pay for the day care
• work in (self) employment, or study
Very important: the day care center your child attends (be it day care, after-school care, or a host family) must registered with the municipality as an acknowledged organization. The maximum government subsidy you will receive is € 5.93 per hour, for a maximum of 230 hours per month (2011).

LEGAL ISSUES

Zwangerschapsverklaring – ‘Statement Of Pregnancy’
If you are pregnant, employed and plan continue working after delivery, you need a zwangerschapsverklaring (or ‘statement of pregnancy’) from your midwife or gynecologist. This document confirms your estimated due date and is used to determine when you are eligible for zwangerschapsverlof (pregnancy leave).

Zwangerschapsverlof – Pregnancy Leave
You have a right to 16 weeks’ paid leave, starting no later than 4 weeks before your due date. When you take up your leave should be determined together with your employer. During pregnancy leave you receive 100% of your normal wages up to a maximum of € 188.88 (2011) a day. Some employers pay out your full last-earned salary.
Self-employed mothers have a right to a 16-week pregnancy leave. How much you receive depends on the number of hours you worked in self-employment the previous year. You request the benefit by contacting the Social Security Institution (UWV, www.uwv.nl).

Your Rights As a Pregnant Employee
You are not obligated to tell a prospective employer that you are pregnant, and he may not turn you down if he knows you are. You do have an obligation to tell your current employer that you are pregnant. At the latest three weeks before your pregnancy leave is due to start. You may not be fired during pregnancy or within 12 weeks following the birth of your child.
During pregnancy, your employer is obligated to protect your safety and health, and you are eligible for certain additional rights, such as other work if your current work is unsafe or hazardous to your health. Discuss these with your employer.

‘Delivery Leave’
The father of your child have a right to stand by you while you gives birth, followed by two days of paid ‘delivery leave’ (kraamverlof).

Child Benefit / Allowance
If you live and/or work here and pay Dutch wage taxes, then you are entitled to the Child Benefit (kinderbijslag). You can request the kinderbijslag by contacting the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank- www.svb.nl). You also have a right to an income-dependent Child Allowance, to be paid out by the tax authorities.

Parental Leave
Both working parents have the right to take an unpaid leave of absence to care for a child (adoption or foster child included) during the first eight years of your child’s life. The amount of leave is based on the number of hours you work per week, times 26. The standard rule is that you will work 50% during a period of one year.

Leave
There are a variety of other leaves available to parents:
- short care leave: a maximum of 2x the number of hours you work in a week, in order to care for a sick (foster) child, partner or parent
- long care leave: 12 weeks’ leave, during which you work at least 50%, to take care of a terminally ill or terminally threatened (foster) child, partner or parent
- calamity leave: for unforeseen situations in which you have to act immediately and personally.

USEFUL REFERENCES

RECOMMENDED READING
WHEN ABROAD DO AS LOCAL CHILDREN DO
Ori’s Guide For Young Expats
By Hilly van Swol-Ulbrich & Bettina Kältenhauser
This book reaches out to international mobile families with children between 8 and 12 years old. The activities and assignments in the book encourage the taking of initiatives in exploring the opportunities connected with the new environment.
www.ori-and-ricki.net
HOW TO BE A GLOBAL GRANDPARENT
Living With The Separation
By Anne Huscroft and Peter Gosling
Published by Zodiac Publishing
www.theglobalgrandparent.com
THE THIRD CULTURE KID EXPERIENCE
The Experience Of Growing Up Among Worlds
Published by Intercultural Press
By David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken
www.interculturalpress.com
RAISING GLOBAL NOMADS
Parenting in an On-Demand World
Published by Expatriate Press
By Robin Pascoe
With contributions from Barbara F. Schaetti, PhD and Lois J. Bushong, MS, LMFT
www.expatexpert.com
KIDS LIKE ME
Voices of The Immigrant Experience
Published by Intercultural Press
By Judith M. Blohm and Terri Lapinsky
www.interculturalpress.com 
 
DAY CARE (KINDEROPVANG)

ACCESS publishes a fact sheet with information regarding non-Dutch day care options
www.access-nl.org
www.kinderopvang.startpagina.nl  
www.eigenoppas.nl
www.gastouderservice.nl  
www.flexmoeders.nl  
www.regeltante.nl
COMPANANNY
English Speaking day care for children 0 to 4 years
and after school care for children 4 to 12 years
Several locations in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Oegstgeest
Tel.: 020 417 01 17
www.compananny.nl  
COMME A LA MAISON
International day care for children 0 to 6 years
www.commealamaison.nl  
PARTOU KINDEROPVANG
An independent organization with 74 day care centers in the Randstad and Emmen
www.partou.nl  
ROBBIE’S PLACE INTERNATIONAL DAY CARE (LEIDSCHENVEEN, THE HAGUE)
www.robbiesplace.nl
STICHTING KINDEROPVANG NEDERLAND (SKON)
has a national network for kinderopvang, naschoolse opvang and buitenschoolse opvang
www.skon.nl
NATIONAL INFORMATION BUREAU KINDEROPVANG
www.kinderopvang.net
STICHTING KINDEROPVANG HUMANITAS
Has approximately 70 kinderdagverblijven in the Netherlands as well as gastouder centers. It also has a national registration point for kinderopvang (Landelijk Meldpunt Kinderopvang) that can help you find a day care spot.
www.humanitas-kov.nl
TRIODUS KINDEROPVANG
has approximately 50 kinderdagverblijven in The Hague
www.triodus.nl  

PLAYGROUPS/KINDERGARTENS
The Activity Shop: www.tasid.nl
English-Speaking Playgroup: www.english-playgroup-voorschoten.nl
Kindergarden: www.kindergarden.nl
The Windmill Playgroup: www.thewindmillplaygroup.com 

AU PAIRS/NANNIES
Au Pair & Nanny World Wide: www.worldwideaupair-nanny.com
AuPair Agency Mondial: www.aupair-agency.nl
Activity International: www.activityinternational.nl
Nanny Association: www.nanny.nl 

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
AUTISM ASSOCIATION FOR OVERSEAS FAMILIES (NL)
Parents and professionals working together for children with autism
Berglustlaan 15b, 3054 BA Rotterdam
www.aaof.info  
SPECIALIZED AUTISM SERVICES (THE HAGUE)
Coordinator: Kelly Lynn Redden
tel.: 06 559 06 824
www.specializedautismservices.com
DOWN’S SYNDROME FOUNDATION
Hoogeveenseweg 38, 7943 KA Meppel
Tel.: 0522 281 337
www.downsyndroom.nl  
DYSLEXIA PARENT SUPPORT GROUP THE HAGUE
Tel.: 071 889 1552
 

More on these subjects can be found in The Holland Handbook 2011 - 2012