In the Netherlands, the government distributes hundreds of euros each month in direct subsidies to the bank accounts of millions of residents. These are called toeslagen and are designed to help those with lower and middle incomes cover essential expenses such as rent, healthcare insurance, or childcare. What’s surprising is that a significant portion of people who are entitled to these subsidies simply don’t apply for them—often due to lack of knowledge or the assumption that ‘as an outsider, I don’t qualify.’
Spoiler: if you live and work legally in the Netherlands, you have exactly the same rights as any Dutch citizen to receive these subsidies. In this article, I explain the four existing ones, how much you can receive, who qualifies, and how to apply for them.
What You Need Before Starting
To apply for any toeslag, you need two basic things:
- BSN (Burgerservicenummer): the citizen identification number you receive when registering with your municipality. Without it, you can’t do anything in the Dutch system.
- DigiD: your digital identity to access government online services. If you don’t have one yet, you can apply for it at digid.nl. It takes a few days to arrive by mail.
Once you have both, manage all your toeslagen from one single site: toeslagen.belastingdienst.nl.
An important fact: you can claim toeslagen with up to 3 years of retroactivity. If you’ve been in the Netherlands for a while and never applied, it’s worth checking if you were entitled and how much you could recover.
1. Zorgtoeslag — Healthcare Subsidy
The zorgtoeslag is a monthly aid to cover part of the cost of mandatory healthcare insurance (zorgverzekering). As the monthly premium ranges from €135–€175, this subsidy can significantly alleviate that expense.
Who Qualifies? (2026)
- Age 18 and older with Dutch healthcare insurance
- Individual income below ~€40,857 gross per year
- Combined household income with partner below ~€51,142 gross per year
- Net worth below €146,011 (individual) or €184,633 (with a partner)
How Much Can You Receive?
- Maximum individual: up to €129/month (~€1,548 per year)
- Maximum with a partner: up to €246/month (~€2,952 per year)
The exact amount depends on your income: the more you earn, the less you receive, until it disappears completely. If you earn close to the minimum wage, you likely receive the maximum or near it.
Change from 2025: The zorgtoeslag decreased slightly in 2026 (€2 less for individuals, €4 less for couples) because the standard healthcare premium used as a reference for calculation also adjusted downward.
2. Huurtoeslag — Rental Subsidy
The huurtoeslag is the aid for housing rental. It’s one of the most valuable subsidies for new immigrants, as the Dutch rental market is expensive and this subsidy can amount to hundreds of euros per month.
Who Qualifies? (2026)
- Age 18 and older who rent their primary residence
- The property must be independent: own entrance with key, kitchen, bathroom, and WC
- Maximum rental amount: €932.93/month (for those over 21) — if you pay more, you don’t qualify
- Maximum for young people under 21 years old: €498.20/month
- Net worth below €38,479 (individual)
- Doesn’t apply to shared rooms without personal space or corporate housing from ETTs
Important Change in 2026: The huurtoeslag system was reformed. The minimum age for receiving the full subsidy dropped from 23 to 21 years old. Additionally, around 170,000 people who previously didn’t qualify now do (average of €175/month additional). Starting in 2026, only the base rent (kale huur) is considered, without including common service costs — which may slightly reduce the amount for those already receiving it with these costs included.
The amount varies greatly depending on income and rental price but can reach €400–€500/month in cases of low income and rental near the maximum. We have a full guide on how to apply here: Help for Rental in the Netherlands: How to Apply for Huurtoeslag.
3. Kinderopvangtoeslag — Childcare Subsidy
If you have children attending daycare (kinderdagverblijf), after-school care (buitenschoolse opvang or BSO), or with a registered caregiver (gastouder), the government covers a significant portion of the cost. In some cases, the subsidy can reach 96% of the hourly rate.
Who Qualifies? (2026)
- Both parents or guardians must work, study, or be in a job reintegration program
- The childcare center must be registered in the Landelijk Register Kinderopvang (LRK)
- The child and parents must be registered at the same address or have a shared custody agreement
Subsidized Tariffs 2026:
- Daycare (kinderdagverblijf): up to €11.23/hour
- After-school care (BSO): up to €9.98/hour
- In-home caregiver (gastouder): up to €8.49/hour
If your hourly rate exceeds these maximums, you pay the difference yourself. The government’s contribution depends on your income: the lower your income, the higher the coverage.
An important detail: the subsidy is calculated based on actual usage hours, not contracted hours. If your child misses a day, it still counts. But if you withdraw your child from daycare without informing the Belastingdienst, you may end up having to repay overpaid subsidies.
4. Kindgebonden budget — Child Allowance
The kindgebonden budget is a monthly supplement for families with children under 18 years old. It adds to the kinderbijslag (the universal child allowance that all families with children receive automatically) and is intended for middle-to-low-income families.
Who Qualifies?
- Families with children under 18 years old who already receive kinderbijslag
- Income below a certain threshold (varies by number of children)
- Net worth below €146,011 (individual) or €184,633 (with a partner)
The amount increases with the number of children and decreases with income. Single-parent families receive an additional supplement. It is often granted automatically if you already receive kinderbijslag and your income is within the threshold, but it’s best to check on the toeslagen portal if you have doubts.
The Most Important Warning: Toeslagen Are Provisional
This is the point that causes the most problems, especially for newcomers who don’t know the system. Toeslagen are granted during the year based on an estimate of your income. At the end of the year, when the Belastingdienst knows your actual income, they make a final adjustment:
- If you earned less than estimated: they pay the difference in your favor
- If you earned more than estimated: you have to repay part or all of what was received (terugbetalen)
To avoid unpleasant surprises, update your estimated income on the portal whenever your situation changes: if you get a raise, change jobs, or your partner starts working. It’s a simple process that can save you from having to repay hundreds or thousands of euros at once.
How to Know If You Qualify Before Applying
Before formally applying, you can use two free tools for an indicative calculation:
- Proefberekening Toeslagen (official simulator from the Belastingdienst): enter your data and it tells you how much you would be entitled to
- BerekenUwRecht from Nibud: independent calculator that also includes other municipal benefits
Summary: The Four Toeslagen in a Nutshell
| Toeslag | For What | Maximum 2026 | Average Income Limit Approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zorgtoeslag | Healthcare insurance | €129/month (individual) | ~€40,857/year |
| Huurtoeslag | Rental | ~€400–500/month | Varies by composition |
| Kinderopvangtoeslag | Childcare | Up to 96% of the cost | No fixed limit (scale-based) |
| Kindgebonden budget | Children under 18 | Varies by number of children | Varies by composition |
If you have questions about any of these subsidies or want to know if you qualify for the huurtoeslag in your specific situation, all details are available here: Help for Rental in the Netherlands: How to Apply for Huurtoeslag. And if you want a better understanding of the tax system where these subsidies fit in: The IR System in the Netherlands.
Have you been living in the Netherlands for a while and never applied for toeslagen? You might be entitled to claim up to 3 years back. Let us know in the comments, and we’ll check it out.
