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Pre school education

The Dutch childcare landscape offers various forms of care for children aged 0–4 years and 4–12 years, tailored both to the child’s developmental stage and to working parents’ needs. Below is a concise overview of the options, including funding and registration requirements.

Childcare

Childcare 0-4 years old

Childcare 0-4 takes place in two different forms:

  • Daycare (0-4 years): Daycare (Kinderdagverblijf) is popular with working parents. Daycare centers offer care for children who are not yet allowed to go to primary school. Children are supervised during the day in a safe environment by professional pedagogical staff. 
  • Pre-kindergarten (2-4 years): At the pre-kindergarten (peuteropvang) toddlers develop through play in a safe but challenging environment. Many parents choose this option so their children learn to interact with peers and stimulate their development.  Pre-kindergarten is often offered for 40 weeks.
    • Preschool Education (VE program) is often used in pre-kindergartens (and daycare centers). Preschool Education is a program for children aged 2.5 to 4 years that stimulates their development in various areas such as social-emotional, language, motorical and cognitive development. This contributes to a good start at primary school. 
    • At many pre-kindergarten locations children are also admitted when both parents are not working (i.e. if they are not entitled to Childcare Benefit). The municipality often helps with funding in these cases. Each municipality itself determines the guidelines and conditions for paying subsidies for children of non-working parents and participation in VE. For example, the starting age, target group, number of hours or personal contribution may differ per municipality.

Childcare 4-12 years old

Primary schools are responsible for organizing preschool care (VSO) and after-school care (NSO) for parents who want to use this. This form of care is also called as out-of-school care  (BSO). For this purpose schools work together with childcare organizations . The child must be registered directly with the childcare organization. Out-of-school care (BSO) is meant for working parents.

Childminder

In addition to care provided by a childcare organization, formal small-scale care with host parents is also possible. A childminder is someone who provides paid professional childcare at his/her home. A childminder may care for a maximum of 6 children at the same time. The exact number depends on the age of the children. It also happens that a childminder provides childcare at your home. 

Waiting lists in childcare

Please note: There are waiting lists in childcare so it is important to register your child early. A place at daycare or pre-kindergarten does not automatically guarantee a place at out-of-school care (BSO 4-12 years old); separate registration is required for this.