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You may not know this, but the government of the Netherlands grants subsidies for certain conditions. In this post shared by Taxin, you can see the most common types of subsidies that can be applied for in the Netherlands.

Subsidies for individuals

1. ZORGTOESLAG (HEALTH INSURANCE ALLOWANCE)

The health insurance allowance is a contribution towards the cost of Dutch health insurance. You must be at least 18 years old when submitting the application, you must be paying for Dutch health insurance independently or through the company you work for in the Netherlands, you can be a resident or non-resident, and your annual income (2026) must be less than 40,857 euros per year. If you have a tax partner, the combined annual income of both of you cannot exceed 51,142 euros per year. If any of the requirements change at any point, you must inform the subsidies department to avoid recalculations that are sometimes not in your favour.

* It is NOT a requirement to have used or not used the health insurance; only the aforementioned requirements are considered.

💡 Do you already have the cheapest possible health insurance? The zorgtoeslag compensates part of the premium, but combining this allowance with competitively priced insurance is the smartest way to save. Compare options and find the policy that best suits your needs. → Compare health insurance on Independer

2. HUURTOESLAG (RENT ALLOWANCE)

The rent allowance is a contribution towards your housing rental costs. From 2026, there will no longer be a maximum rent ceiling that excludes you in advance (even if your rent exceeds €932.93/month, the allowance is calculated on that portion). However, the amount of the allowance significantly decreases or can become zero if the rent is too high. You should not have very high savings; each resident must have a maximum of 38,479 euros as of 1 January 2026. If you have an allowance partner (a person registered at the same address as you), you can jointly hold a maximum of 76,958 euros in assets as of 1 January 2026.

An independent dwelling with a private entrance, kitchen, and bathroom is required (as of 1 March 2024, a private bath/shower is required). Student rooms do not qualify for this allowance.

🏠 Looking for housing in the Netherlands? If you are looking for a rental flat, Huurstunt is one of the most comprehensive platforms to find options across the country. The sooner you find your new address, the sooner you can apply for the huurtoeslag. → Search for flats on Huurstunt

3. WW UITKERING (UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT)

If you have been working in the Netherlands for at least 26 of the last 36 weeks and will soon be unemployed, you may be entitled to unemployment benefit. You can apply for the benefit from 1 week before your first day of unemployment. For the first 2 months that you are unemployed, the gross unemployment benefit is 75% of your last salary. After that, the benefit is 70%. You are entitled to a minimum unemployment benefit for 3 months or more. The exact duration of your unemployment benefit depends on your total work history and when you became unemployed.

4. BIJSTANDSUITKERING (SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BENEFIT OR SUBSISTENCE WAGE)

If you are temporarily out of work, have little money to live in the country, and are not entitled to other benefits, such as unemployment benefit, then you can apply for social assistance benefit.

5. STAP BUDGET (STUDY PAYMENT ASSISTANCE)

This subsidy was officially abolished as of 1 January 2024. It is no longer possible to apply for this study subsidy.

Subsidies for families

1. KINDEROPVANGTOESLAG (CHILDCARE ALLOWANCE)

If your children attend childcare, you can receive an allowance or assistance with the costs incurred for childcare. You can apply if you use a childcare facility (kinderopvang) with a registration number (LKR), and if you and your partner work (it does not necessarily have to be stable employment), or if you are self-employed, or are following an integration course (inburgeringscursus), or a work reintegration programme (traject naar werk), or are following an accredited education course (regular secondary school, MBO, HBO, University, ROC, Vavo, PhD). Volunteer work does not count. This means that if you cannot care for your child every day due to the aforementioned activities, and you and your child are registered at the same address, you may be eligible. The amount of the allowance you receive depends on the hours you work, the type of childcare, and how many hours you use childcare.

2. KINDGEBONDEN BUDGET (CHILD-RELATED BUDGET)

The child-related budget is a contribution towards the expenses for your children up to 18 years of age. This budget also depends on the income as a couple. Although there isn’t a universal fixed income limit, the eligibility and the amount are based on the combination of your annual household income (yours and your potential tax partner’s), the number of children, and their ages. The higher the income, the lower the allowance, until it reduces to zero.

You must not have capital greater than 141,896 euros as a single person and 179,429 euros as a couple as of 1 January 2025.

3. KINDERBIJSLAG (FAMILY ALLOWANCE)

The family allowance depends on your child’s age. This amount increases when the child turns 6 and increases again when the child turns 12. The family allowance is transferred at the end of each quarter (January, April, July, and October). For example, as of 1 January 2025, for children aged 0–5, the amount paid is 291.49 euros; for children aged 6–11, the amount paid is 353.95 euros; and for teenagers aged 12–17, the amount paid is 416.41 euros.

Subsidies for self-employed individuals

1. ZELFSTANDIG EN ZWANGER (ALLOWANCE FOR SELF-EMPLOYED PREGNANT WOMEN)

If you are self-employed and pregnant, you can apply for maternity allowance for a period of at least 16 weeks. The same rules apply to the duration of the leave as for a regular employee. You can apply from 6 to 4 weeks before the day after your probable due date.

Calculate your potential allowance

You can use the calculator below to get an idea of whether you are entitled to any allowance. This is for informational purposes only, as the final decision is made by the Belastingdienst.

Tax Partner in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, a tax partner refers to two individuals who are legally recognised as a fiscal unit by the Dutch tax administration (Belastingdienst). This includes both married couples and registered partners (geregistreerd partnerschap), a legal status that grants rights and obligations similar to marriage. The designation of a tax partner has significant implications for tax matters, as it allows both members to file a joint tax return and benefit from specific tax deductions and credits for couples. Furthermore, being recognised as a tax partner in the Netherlands affects other legal and financial aspects, such as inheritance, succession rights, survivor’s pensions, and, in the context of mortgages, the ability to apply for joint financing based on the combined income of both members. 

For specific case inquiries, we recommend contacting:

Taxin

With over 13 years of experience in taxes in the Netherlands
Website: http://www.tax-in.com/
Email: info@tax-in.com
Whatsapp: +31618786126

Related guides on allowances

• The four Dutch government allowances (toeslagen 2026) — zorgtoeslag, huurtoeslag, kinderopvangtoeslag and kindgebonden budget explained one by one.
• Huurtoeslag 2026 — what it is, how much you get, and how to apply for rent assistance step by step.
• Kinderbijslag and Kindgebonden Budget — child benefits in the Netherlands.