Family allowances in the Netherlands
The Netherlands combines the universal Kinderbijslag (€271–388/quarter by age) with the means-tested Kindgebonden budget (up to €6,459/year for 1 child). Parental leave reformed in 2022 with 9 weeks paid at 70% (Betaald Ouderschapsverlof).
Quarterly Kinderbijslag (€271–388 by age), Kindgebonden budget up to €6,459/year (1 child) means-tested, 16-week maternity leave at 100% via UWV, 5-week paternity (1 at 100%, 4 at 70%), Betaald Ouderschapsverlof 9 weeks at 70% (2022 reform). Kinderopvangtoeslag for nursery up to 96%.
Kinderbijslag — universal benefit
Paid by SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) to all residents:
- 0–5: €271.67/quarter (≈ €90/month)
- 6–11: €329.87/quarter (≈ €110/month)
- 12–17: €388.07/quarter (≈ €129/month)
- No means test
- Paid quarterly (January, April, July, October)
Kindgebonden budget — targeted allowance
For low/middle-income families, managed by Belastingdienst (tax administration):
- 1st child: up to €2,522/year (€210/month)
- 2nd child: +€2,522/year
- 3rd child and beyond: +€1,750/year
- Alleenstaande ouder bonus (single parent): +€3,389/year
- 2025 income cap: ~€26,800 (couple)
Zwangerschapsverlof / Bevallingsverlof — Maternity
Maternity leave managed by UWV:
- Zwangerschapsverlof: 4–6 weeks before birth
- Bevallingsverlof: minimum 10 weeks after birth
- Total: 16 weeks at 100% of salary
- Capped at a max daily salary (~€228/day gross in 2024)
- + extra days for multiple births
Geboorteverlof — Paternity leave 5 weeks
Progressive reform 2019–2020:
- 1 week at 100% of salary (employer, to take within 4 weeks of birth)
- + 5 weeks at 70% of salary (Aanvullend Geboorteverlof, UWV, to take within 6 months)
- Total: 6 weeks (1 at 100% + 5 at 70%)
- Also available for co-parental spouse
Betaald Ouderschapsverlof — Paid parental leave (2022 reform)
Since August 2022, EU directive reform:
- 9 paid weeks at 70% of salary per parent (UWV)
- + 17 unpaid weeks (total 26 weeks parental leave per parent)
- To use before child turns 1 for the 9 paid weeks (the 17 unpaid can be taken up to age 8)
- Capped at max daily salary
Kinderopvangtoeslag — Childcare allowance
Allowance for nursery fees, managed by Belastingdienst:
- Up to 96% of nursery fees reimbursed (by income)
- Conditions: both parents work (or study)
- Accredited nursery/gastouder required
- Hourly caps: €10.25/hour (nursery), €7.53/hour (gastouder)
- 2027 reform planned: simpler scheme with 96% for all
Combinatiekorting + Inkomensafhankelijke combinatiekorting
Tax credits for working parents:
- Inkomensafhankelijke combinatiekorting (IACK): up to €2,950/year for the working parent with a child under 12
- The higher the income, the larger the credit
- Conditions: child < 12 in household + working parent
- 2025 reform: will be removed in 2025 for children born after 1 January 2025
How Illizeo helps on the HR side
Illizeo is not a consulting firm or a paying body. However, our HR layer manages all of an employee’s family variables: family composition (dependent children, ages), supporting documents, event declarations (birth, adoption), leave workflows (maternity, paternity, parental) with key date calculations, and automatic feed to your payroll software.
Official sources
Manage the HR side of family allowances
From birth declarations to parental leave calculation, Illizeo centralises variables and feeds your payroll automatically.
Book 30 minutes