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Having a baby in the Netherlands works differently from most other countries. If the pregnancy is healthy, you are looked after by a midwife (verloskundige), not a doctor. A midwife is a trained health worker who looks after pregnant women and helps them give birth. Many women here give birth at home. And after the birth, a maternity nurse (kraamverzorgende) comes to your home every day for the first week to help you and the baby. This guide explains, from the start, how care during pregnancy works, what it costs in 2026, what you must arrange after the birth, and how much time off work both parents get.
The idea in simple words
In the Netherlands, pregnancy is seen as something natural, not an illness. So a midwife looks after you, not a doctor. You only see a hospital doctor if there is a medical reason.
You can give birth at home, in a birth centre, or in a hospital. After the birth, a nurse comes to your home for about a week to help.
Most of this is paid by your basic health insurance. Both parents also get paid time off work.
The most important facts
- Midwife first: book a midwife as soon as you know you are pregnant. You only see a A hospital doctor who specialises in pregnancy, birth and women's health. if there is a medical reason.
- Mostly paid by basic health insurance, and the midwife and the help at home don't count towards your In Dutch: eigen risico. The first part of your healthcare costs each year that you pay yourself, before the insurance starts paying.. In 2026 you pay €5.70 an hour towards the help at home after the birth (kraamzorg).
- Book kraamzorg early, ideally in the first months of your pregnancy, through your health insurer or a kraamzorg agency.
- Register the birth within 3 days at the The local government of your town or city. In Dutch: gemeente. where your baby was born.
- Time off work: at least 16 weeks of paid leave for the mother. For the partner, 1 week with full pay, plus 5 weeks at 70% pay. And 9 weeks of paid parental leave at 70% for each parent.
Pregnancy care: the midwife
If your pregnancy is healthy, a midwife in your area looks after you during the pregnancy, the birth, and the first week after. You don't need a note from your General practitioner, in Dutch huisarts: your family doctor. (family doctor). Look for a midwife practice (verloskundigenpraktijk) near your home and call them once your pregnancy test is positive. The first appointment is usually around 8 to 10 weeks into the pregnancy.
A normal pregnancy has about 12 to 14 check-ups, an ultrasound scan to find out how far along you are, and a test you can choose to do for Down syndrome and other conditions. The scan at 13 weeks and the scan at 20 weeks (which checks the baby's body for problems) are free and don't count towards your deductible. If there is a medical reason, such as high blood pressure, An illness where the body can't control the sugar in the blood properly. Some women get it only during pregnancy., twins, or an earlier An operation to take the baby out through the belly, instead of a natural birth., the midwife sends you to a gynaecologist at the hospital, who then takes over your care.
Many expats find this approach very relaxed at first. If you are worried about anything, you can always call your midwife. Every practice has an emergency number you can call day and night.
At home, in a birth centre, or in hospital?
With a healthy pregnancy, you can choose where to give birth:
| Where | What to expect | Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| At home | Your own midwife helps your baby to be born, with help from the maternity nurse. You need a raised bed, and some things from the maternity package (kraampakket) your insurer sends you. | Paid by basic insurance |
| Birth centre or hospital, with your midwife (poliklinische bevalling) | Your midwife helps your baby to be born in a birth room. You usually go home a few hours later. | Without a medical reason: €22.50 a day for the mother and €22.50 for the baby, plus anything above the legal price of €278 a day |
| Hospital, with a gynaecologist | When there is a medical reason, before or during the birth. You stay as long as you medically need to. | Paid, but your deductible counts |
About one in eight babies in the Netherlands is born at home, far more than in most countries. If the birth at home doesn't go as planned, your midwife takes you to the hospital. Asking for pain relief, such as an An injection in the lower back that numbs the pain of giving birth. Only given in hospital., counts as a medical reason for a hospital birth, because it is only given in hospital. Pain relief can't always be given straight away, so talk about your wishes with your midwife well before the baby is due. Many Extra health insurance you can choose to buy on top of the basic insurance. In Dutch: aanvullende verzekering. policies also pay back what you pay yourself for a hospital birth without a medical reason.
Kraamzorg: help at home after the birth
Kraamzorg is one of the things expats like most. In the first 8 to 10 days after the birth, a maternity nurse comes to your home for a few hours a day. She checks that mother and baby are healthy, helps with breastfeeding or bottle feeding, shows you how to bathe your baby, and does light jobs in the house.
- How many hours: the hours are decided with a national set of rules, based on your situation. After a normal birth it is up to 49 hours, and at least 24 hours by law.
- What it costs: basic insurance pays for kraamzorg, but you pay €5.70 an hour yourself in 2026. For 49 hours that is about €280. Many extra insurance policies pay back part or all of this. The deductible doesn't count here.
- When to book: as early as you can, through your health insurer or directly with a kraamzorg agency that has a contract with your insurer. In the busiest months, booking late can mean you get fewer hours.
Parliament has talked about stopping the payments you make yourself for kraamzorg and for a hospital birth without a medical reason. No date has been set. So check your insurer's rules for 2027 when you choose your insurance for next year.
Tip: check your health insurance before you get pregnant
Extra insurance policies are very different in what they pay towards kraamzorg, a hospital birth without a medical reason, pregnancy classes and the maternity package. You can change insurer every year before 1 January. Our health insurance guide explains how to compare policies.
After the birth: what you must arrange
- Register the birth within 3 days (aangifte geboorte) at the municipality where your baby was born. The day of the birth doesn't count. If the last day is a weekend or public holiday, you have until the next working day. It's free. Bring ID for both parents and, if you married abroad, your marriage certificate. Parents who are not Dutch can't always register online, so check your municipality's website before the birth.
- Choose the surname. When you register, you choose your child's last name. If you have a foreign nationality, the law of your own country may apply, so ask the municipality in advance.
- Get your baby's BSN. After you register, your baby is added to the population register and gets a BSN (personal Dutch ID number), usually within a few days.
- Add your baby to your health insurance within 4 months. Children under 18 are insured for free, from the day they are born.
- The heel prick test (hielprik): a nurse takes a few drops of blood from the baby's heel at home in the first week, to check for rare illnesses. A hearing test follows. After that, you visit the child health clinic (A free clinic where nurses and doctors check how your baby grows and develops, and give vaccinations, until age 4.) regularly for free check-ups and vaccinations.
- Child benefit (kinderbijslag): this is money from the government for each child. The Sociale Verzekeringsbank: the Dutch government office that pays child benefit. usually sends you a form after you register the birth. Child benefit is paid every three months. Read our child benefit guide.
Not married? Recognise your child before the birth
If you are not married and not in a A legal partnership registered at the municipality. In the Netherlands it gives almost the same rights as marriage., the partner who didn't give birth is not automatically the child's legal parent. They must officially recognise the child (erkenning). You can do this at any municipality during the pregnancy. Since 2023, recognising the child also automatically gives both parents shared legal responsibility for the child (gezag). For people from other countries, the municipality may ask for extra papers, such as a recent birth certificate or proof that you are not married. Sometimes these must be officially stamped (legalised) or translated. Start early.
Leave for both parents
Dutch leave is made up of several separate schemes. Some are paid by your employer, and some by the The Dutch government office for work-related benefits, such as unemployment and leave payments.:
| Leave | For | How long | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy and maternity leave (zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof) | The mother who gives birth | At least 16 weeks (20 for twins or more) | 100% of your daily pay, up to the maximum daily amount, paid by the UWV |
| Birth leave (geboorteverlof) | The partner | One working week (the hours you work in a week), within 4 weeks after the birth | 100%, paid by your employer |
| Extra birth leave (aanvullend geboorteverlof) | The partner | Up to 5 working weeks, within 6 months after the birth | 70% of your daily pay, up to 70% of the maximum daily amount, paid by the UWV |
| Paid parental leave (betaald ouderschapsverlof) | Each parent | 9 working weeks, in the baby's first year | 70% of your daily pay, up to 70% of the maximum daily amount, paid by the UWV |
| Unpaid parental leave (onbetaald ouderschapsverlof) | Each parent | The other 17 working weeks, until the child turns 8 | Unpaid, unless your In Dutch: cao. An agreement between unions and employers for a whole sector, setting pay, leave and other rules. says otherwise |
Pregnancy leave starts between 6 and 4 weeks before the date the baby is due. If your baby comes later than expected, the leave after the birth doesn't get shorter. So you always have at least 10 weeks after the birth. Tell your employer at least 3 weeks before your pregnancy leave starts. Your employer asks the UWV for the money, and normally keeps paying your salary.
The maximum daily amount matches a salary of about €80,000 a year before tax in 2026. If you earn more, the payment stops at that level, unless your employer or collective agreement (cao) adds the rest. Many employers do, so ask HR. The government has suggested lowering the maximum daily amount from 2029, which may also affect pregnancy leave. This hasn't been decided yet.
Freelancers and mothers who work for themselves can ask the UWV for a pregnancy and maternity payment for the self-employed (ZEZ-uitkering). It lasts 16 weeks and is up to the The lowest pay an employer may legally give. In Dutch: minimumloon., depending on your income.
Plan your leave together
The partner's extra birth leave can only start after the normal birth leave has been taken. Paid parental leave can be taken all at once, or spread over the first year, for example one day a week. Together with daycare starting at around 3 or 4 months, this is how many Dutch families manage the first year.
Your pregnancy checklist
- Positive test: sign up with a midwife practice near your home.
- First months: book kraamzorg through your insurer, and sign up at daycares if you will need them, because waiting lists are long.
- Not married? Recognise the child at the municipality during the pregnancy.
- Around week 20: tell your employer if you haven't yet, and plan leave for both parents.
- Around week 30: talk about where you want to give birth, get the maternity package ready, and raise the bed if you plan to give birth at home.
- After the birth: register the birth within 3 days, add your baby to your health insurance, and apply for child benefit.
Official sources and useful links
- Rijksoverheid: registering a birth (Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: who can get paid parental leave? (Dutch)
- UWV: payment for extra birth leave and paid parental leave (Dutch)
- Zorgwijzer: what each insurer pays for kraamzorg in 2026 (Dutch)
This is general information based on the 2026 rules. Your own costs depend on your health insurance policy, and your leave can be better under your work contract or collective agreement. Your midwife, insurer and HR department can tell you what applies to you.
