Nobody warns you about this before you have kids in the Netherlands: childcare can cost more than your rent. What also doesn’t get mentioned is that there’s a subsidy system that brings that number way down. Let’s go through the real numbers.
The three types of childcare in the Netherlands
Before talking prices, it helps to know your options. The government recognizes three types for subsidy purposes:
Dagopvang (day care). The classic daycare center for kids aged 0 to 4. Usually open from 7:30-8:00 to 18:00-18:30, with age groups, certified caregivers (pedagogisch medewerkers) and a pedagogical program. It’s the most expensive and most structured option. In cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht or Eindhoven, waiting lists are long — people sign up while still pregnant, and that’s not an exaggeration.
BSO (buitenschoolse opvang, out-of-school care). For kids aged 4 to 12 who already attend primary school (basisschool). It covers before and after school hours, plus holidays. Many BSO locations are attached to or very close to the school, which makes logistics easy. Since it covers fewer hours, it’s usually cheaper per month than dagopvang.
Gastouder (registered childminder). A certified individual who cares for children at their home or yours, at any age. It’s the most personal and flexible option, ideal if you have irregular hours or prefer a more home-like setting. For the subsidy to apply, the gastouder must be registered with a gastouderbureau and officially certified (check the Landelijk Register Kinderopvang).
How much does it cost? Real 2026 prices
It varies by city and provider, but these are the hourly ranges you’ll see in 2026:
- Dagopvang: €10.50 – €13.50 per hour
- BSO: €9.00 – €11.50 per hour
- Gastouder: €7.00 – €10.00 per hour (varies more depending on the individual)
To put that in perspective: if your child goes to dagopvang 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, that’s roughly 170 hours a month. At €11/hour, that’s €1,870 a month before any subsidy. That’s when you understand why kinderopvangtoeslag matters so much.
The rate cap the government subsidizes
Kinderopvangtoeslag only covers up to a maximum hourly rate set by law. Based on Rijksoverheid figures for 2026:
- Dagopvang: subsidized up to €11.23/hour
- BSO: subsidized up to €9.98/hour
- Gastouder: subsidized up to €8.49/hour
If your provider charges €13/hour and the dagopvang cap is €11.23, that €1.77/hour difference comes out of your pocket. Worth checking closely when choosing a provider, since it adds up fast over 170 hours a month.
How much do you actually pay out of pocket?
It depends on your income and hours. Two examples with 2026 figures:
Example A — a couple with €45,000 combined income, child in dagopvang 4 days/week (~144 hours/month) at €11.23/hour (the cap):
- Gross monthly cost: ~€1,617
- Government covers 96% (€45,000 falls in the new 2026 bracket): ~€1,552
- You pay: about €65 a month
Example B — same situation but with €75,000 combined income:
- Gross monthly cost: ~€1,617
- Government covers ~80%: ~€1,294
- You pay: about €323 a month
The difference between earning €45,000 and €75,000 works out to €258 a month in childcare. For your exact case, use the official Belastingdienst calculator.
Waiting lists: the real problem
In many cities, especially the bigger ones, dagopvang waiting lists run 6 to 18 months. That’s not an exaggeration either. A few tips:
- Sign up at several providers at once.
- Register as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.
- Consider a gastouder as a stopgap while you wait for a dagopvang spot.
- Ask your municipality if they offer any support finding childcare.
What about school holidays?
If your child is in BSO, holidays are usually included in the contract as vakantie-opvang, and they’re subsidized too. With dagopvang there’s no distinction — the child can attend year-round.
Add up kinderopvangtoeslag, kinderbijslag and kindgebonden budget, and having kids in the Netherlands becomes a lot more manageable than it looks at first glance. You can see all the subsidies in our guide to the four Dutch government subsidies you might be missing. Even so, a lot of couples end up asking themselves the same question: does it actually pay off for both of us to keep working? We cover that in the next article in this series.
And one idea that goes beyond childcare: if you’re already crunching numbers for your kid, it’s a good moment to start building something for their future. Many families invest their kinderbijslag month after month in an investment account for children — a simple way to put compound interest to work over 18 years instead of letting the money sit idle.
