Did you know that in the Netherlands the government automatically transfers money to you just for having children? It’s not a rumour or an exclusive benefit for citizens. If you live and work here legally, you most likely have the right to receive it. I’ll tell you how it works.

Do you want to see all Dutch government benefits in one place? We have a complete guide to the most common subsidies in the Netherlands, including a calculator.

In the Netherlands, there are two main subsidies aimed at families with children: the kinderbijslag (child benefit) and the kindgebonden budget (child-related budget). They are different, come from different institutions and are calculated in different ways. Let’s take it one by one.

1. Kinderbijslag: the basic child benefit

The kinderbijslag is a quarterly payment made by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) — the social insurance bank — to all families with children under 18. Almost everyone receives it: it does not depend on your income or employment situation.

How much do you receive?

The amount varies according to the child’s age. The official SVB amounts for 2026 (valid from the first quarter of 2026) are:

• 0 to 5 years: €295.07 per quarter
• 6 to 11 years: €358.30 per quarter
• 12 to 17 years: €421.53 per quarter

Payments are made four times a year: in January, April, July, and October. They are deposited directly into your bank account.

Who is eligible?

To receive the kinderbijslag you need to:

• Be insured in the Netherlands (work here or be registered in the social security system)
• That your child lives with you or that you contribute to their upkeep
• That the child is under 18 years old

If you arrive in the Netherlands with children, as soon as you start working and paying taxes, you enter the system. The SVB often contacts you automatically, but you can also apply for it directly on the SVB website with your DigiD.

2. Kindgebonden Budget: the extra for low to middle-income families

The kindgebonden budget is an additional monthly subsidy granted by the Belastingdienst Toeslagen (the tax administration) to families whose income does not exceed a certain threshold. Unlike the kinderbijslag, this one does depend on how much you earn.

How much can you receive?

In 2026, according to the Belastingdienst, the maximum annual amounts are:

• Couple with 1 child: €2,511 per year
• Couple with 2 children: €5,022 per year
• Single-parent family with 1 child: €5,900 per year
• Single-parent family with 2 children: €8,411 per year

Additionally, there are additional amounts for children aged 12 to 15 (€703 extra) and 16 to 17 (€936 extra), as compensation for education expenses.

The exact amount you are entitled to depends on your annual taxable income (toetsingsinkomen). For 2026, there is a slight increase for low and middle-income families, and a small reduction for high incomes. Always use the official Belastingdienst calculator to find out your exact current amount.

How to apply?

You apply through the Mijn Toeslagen portal on the Belastingdienst website, using your DigiD. If you already receive zorgtoeslag (healthcare benefit), the system is the same. Once applied for, the money arrives monthly in your account.

3. Kinderbijslag vs Kindgebonden Budget: which is which?

To avoid confusion, here’s a quick summary:

• Kinderbijslag: given by the SVB, is quarterly, does not depend on income, almost everyone receives it
• Kindgebonden budget: given by the Belastingdienst, is monthly, does depend on income, needs to be applied for

In many cases, you can receive both at the same time. They are independent subsidies.

4. What if you haven’t applied for them?

It’s more common than you think for immigrant families to go months or years without receiving these subsidies simply because they didn’t know they existed. The good news: you can apply for the kindgebonden budget retroactively for up to 3 months. The kinderbijslag also has the possibility of recovering past payments if there is a justified reason.

If you have children and have been in the Netherlands for a while, check your account on Mijn Toeslagen and the SVB today. There might be money waiting for you.

Next step

If you send your child to daycare or BSO, there’s another equally important subsidy you should know about: the kinderopvangtoeslag. It can cover a significant part of the monthly daycare cost. I’ll explain everything in the next article in this series.

And if instead of spending the kinderbijslag you prefer to invest it, you might want to see how much that money could turn into by the time your child turns 18.