Host Parents, or Gastouders

In addition to childcare centers, host parents are also available to care for children from six weeks to 12 years of age. This arrangement tends to be more flexible as parents and host parents can mutually agree on the hours of care.

A host parent agency mediates and is in charge of supervision, and the agency generally provides items such as toys, a bed, a playpen and a bottle warmer. Gastouders, or host parents, are also covered under the Dutch Childcare Act from 1 January 2005 as outlined below.

Dutch Childcare Act (Wet Kinderopvang)

This act provides for the quality and financing of childcare and applies to:

• Day nurseries (kinderdagverblijf)

• After school care (naschoolse opvang)

• Host parents (gastouderopvang)

The level of the employer's contribution depends on the level of your income. Parents can apply to the Inland Revenue Department (Belastingdienst) for an extra allowance. This extra allowance will make childcare affordable for parents with lower incomes as well.

If you do not have an employer, you may still receive an employer's contribution, for example if you are participating in a reintegration program, if you are a student or if you’re taking a compulsory integration course. Self-employed persons may also receive a contribution.

More information on the Dutch Childcare Act can be found on the website of the Rijksoverheid (in Dutch) or Blue Umbrella (in English). You can also phone the Information Desk of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science during office hours at tel: 070 - 308 19 85.