Parents who work or study in the Netherlands are eligible for partial reimbursement of childcare costs from the government. The amount of the benefit depends on family income, the type of childcare, and the number of children. Learn more about the eligibility requirements for the kinderopvangtoeslag, the necessary documents, and the step-by-step application process

Order an immigration guide and receive clear instructions for your legal relocation abroad

ORDER GUIDE

The Netherlands provides financial support to parents who are working or studying and need childcare services. This assistance is called the kinderopvangtoeslag and helps cover a significant portion of the costs of daycare or after-school care. Residents of the country are eligible for this benefit; specifically, the same conditions apply to citizens of Ukraine and Moldova as to other residents of the Netherlands.

Who is eligible for this assistance, what documents are required, and how to apply—we explain further in this article.

Planning to move to the Netherlands and want to familiarize yourself with local benefits, documents, and administrative procedures in advance?

The migration guide from Visit World contains step-by-step instructions on legalization, registration, and applying for social assistance.

What is kinderopvangtoeslag and who is eligible for it?

Kinderopvangtoeslag is a government subsidy covering part of the costs of registered childcare in the Netherlands. The benefit applies to daycare (dagopvang) for preschool-aged children, after-school care (BSO — buitenschoolse opvang) for schoolchildren, as well as services provided by childminders (gastouderopvang). This allowance does not cover the full cost of care—parents always pay a mandatory co-payment.

To receive the benefit, several conditions must be met simultaneously:

• both parents (or the father and his partner) are employed, enrolled in an accredited educational institution, taking an integration course (inburgeringscursus), or participating in a return-to-work program (traject naar werk);
• the childcare facility is registered in the National Register of Childcare Facilities (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang, LRK) and has an LRK number;
• the child and parent live at the same address and are both registered with the municipality at that address;
• parents pay part of the childcare costs themselves and can confirm this with bank statements.

The form of employment does not matter—the allowance is available to employees, the self-employed, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.

Read also: The U.S. is introducing new immigration restrictions.

How much is the Kinderopvangtoeslag in 2026?

The amount of the benefit depends on several factors: the family’s income level, the number of children, the type of childcare, and its hourly cost. The government reimburses a maximum of 230 hours per child per month.

In 2026, the Dutch government invested €199 million to increase the amount of the Kinderopvangtoeslag.

Parents with a total annual income of up to €56,413 receive the maximum reimbursement rate—96% of the maximum hourly rate. Families with higher incomes are also eligible for a higher reimbursement rate compared to the previous year.

The maximum hourly rates used to calculate the allowance in 2026 are: €11.23 for daycare (dagopvang), €9.98 for after-school care (BSO), and €8.49 for in-home care (gastouderopvang). Facilities may charge higher rates, but parents must cover the difference between the actual cost and the maximum rate themselves.

Visit World services for tourists, migrants, and expats: Insurance | Guides | Legal advice

What documents and information are required to apply for the Kinderopvangtoeslag?

Before applying for the Kinderopvangtoeslag, you must have a contract with the childcare provider or an invoice. From these documents, you need to know: the name and address of the provider, its registration number in the LRK, the number of care hours per month, and the hourly rate for services.

You’ll also need to have on hand information about the applicant’s and partner’s (if applicable) annual income, the BSN (citizen service number) of all family members, and bank details for receiving payments. The childcare facility must also have the parents’ current personal information—this affects the accuracy of the benefit calculation.

By the way, we previously reported that the Spanish government is legalizing up to half a million refugees.

Step-by-step guide: how to apply for the child care allowance

The application is submitted online via the Mijn toeslagen portal on the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) website. The procedure consists of four steps.

1. The first step is to check eligibility. The Belastingdienst website has a special section where you can find out if you are eligible for the benefit. A trial calculation (proefberekening) is also available, allowing you to estimate the amount of the benefit in advance.
2. The second step is to prepare documents and data. Your childcare contract, income information, BSN numbers, and bank details should be on hand before you begin filling out the application.
3. The third step is logging into Mijn toeslagen using DigiD. After logging in, select the “Kinderopvangtoeslag” section from the menu and click “Aanvragen.”
4. Step four: Fill out and submit the application. Some information is filled in automatically based on your registration records. After answering all the questions, review and submit the application. An estimated benefit amount is usually displayed immediately after submission.

A decision on the application is usually received within five weeks by mail and in the Berichtenbox on the MijnOverheid portal.

Application deadlines: why is it important not to delay?

The application for the child care allowance must be submitted within three months of the child starting to attend the care facility.

You can apply as soon as you sign a contract with the childcare facility, but the child must be born and have a BSN number. Submitting the application after the three-month deadline results in the loss of part of the benefits for the previous period.

For the second and subsequent children, a separate application is not required—it is sufficient to make changes via Mijn toeslagen.

Special provisions for foreigners: what you need to know

All residents of the Netherlands who meet the established conditions are eligible for the kinderopvangtoeslag. Among the recipients of this benefit are parents of various nationalities, including citizens of Romania, Lithuania, and Poland who work or study in the Netherlands.

Previously, Dutch legislation restricted access to this benefit for parents with a partner outside the EU. This was particularly relevant for Ukrainian families where one parent remained in Ukraine due to the war. The Dutch government has lifted this restriction, and now parents with a partner outside the EU can also apply for the benefit provided they meet all other requirements.

Applying for financial assistance, registering with the municipality, obtaining a DigiD, signing a contract with a childcare facility—moving to the Netherlands involves a large number of administrative procedures. The Visit World portal offers a migration guide to help you navigate all stages of legalization and settling into your new country.

Order the migration guide from Visit World, simplify the adaptation process, and get step-by-step instructions for a comfortable life in the Netherlands!

Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed the two-tier asylum system in the Netherlands.

Photo: Magnific

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents for Netherlands;

Legal advice on immigration to Netherlands;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Netherlands;

Medical insurance all over the world.

We monitor the accuracy and relevance of our information, so if you notice any errors or inconsistencies, please contact our hotline.