New (or expecting) parents in the Netherlands get the same urgent advice from everyone: sign up for daycare now. Dutch kinderopvang waitlists are notoriously long. Here is how the application works, why you register during pregnancy, and how to get the allowance that makes it affordable.
Register early, and widely
As childcare providers advise on registering a baby, the standard counsel is to register during pregnancy, as soon as you know, because dagopvang (0 to 4) waitlists can be long.
Two tactics:
- Register at multiple locations.
- Know that the most popular days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) fill fastest.
Send an official registration to reserve your spot, not just an informal enquiry. Many places charge a small inschrijfgeld (registration fee) and there’s often a plaatsingsgarantie only once a contract is offered, so being on a list isn’t the same as having a place.
Daycare, gastouder or peuteropvang?
You also choose a type. A kinderdagverblijf (KDV) is a nursery with groups and fixed days; a gastouder is a registered childminder caring for a few children at home (more flexible, smaller scale); and peuteropvang (often a few mornings a week, from age 2) focuses on play and pre-school development. All can qualify for kinderopvangtoeslag if the provider, or the gastouderbureau, is LRK-registered. Decide which suits your hours and your child, then prioritise it when you register.
The LRK number matters
A non-negotiable check. As Ondernemersplein explains the LRK, your provider must be in the Landelijk Register Kinderopvang (LRK), and you need its LRK number to claim kinderopvangtoeslag.
So before signing, confirm the provider is LRK-registered, otherwise you can’t get the allowance, which hugely changes the real cost.
The allowance: kinderopvangtoeslag
As the government explains entitlement to kinderopvangtoeslag, working parents can claim a contribution toward costs (depending on income, hours, number of children).
Two rules to get right:
- You need a written contract with an LRK-registered provider.
- Apply via Mijn toeslagen (DigiD) within 3 months of the first care day, or you lose those months.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de kinderopvang | childcare |
| de dagopvang | daycare (0 to 4) |
| de wachtlijst | waiting list |
| het LRK-nummer | childcare-register number |
| de kinderopvangtoeslag | childcare allowance |
| aanmelden / inschrijven | to register |
Where it connects
Daycare registration is the very start of the Dutch childcare-and-school road, leading to after-school care (BSO), lunchtime overblijven, a possible VVE language boost, the consultatiebureau check-ups, and later the voluntary parental contribution at school. The allowance side mirrors claiming kinderbijslag.
The bottom line
Dutch dagopvang has long waitlists, so register early (during pregnancy) and at several places, the popular Mon/Tue/Thu go first. Make sure the provider has an LRK-nummer (you need it for the allowance), sign a contract, and claim kinderopvangtoeslag within 3 months of the first day. Learn kinderopvang, wachtlijst, LRK-nummer and kinderopvangtoeslag, act early, and you’ll have a place when you need it.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the childcare Dutch these applications use, kinderopvang, wachtlijst, LRK-nummer, kinderopvangtoeslag by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can sort daycare and the allowance instead of losing a place to the waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
When should I register my child for Dutch daycare?
As early as you can, the common advice is to register during pregnancy, as soon as you know, because dagopvang (0 to 4) waitlists can be long. Register at multiple locations to improve your chances, and be aware the most popular days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) fill up fastest. Sending an official registration reserves your spot, so don’t just enquire informally.
What is the LRK and why does it matter?
The Landelijk Register Kinderopvang (LRK) is the national register of childcare providers. Your daycare (or childminder agency) must be registered in it, and you need its LRK number to claim kinderopvangtoeslag (childcare allowance). So before signing up, check the provider is LRK-registered, otherwise you can’t get the allowance, which makes a big difference to the real cost.
How do I get the childcare allowance for daycare?
Working parents can claim kinderopvangtoeslag, a government contribution toward childcare costs depending on income, hours and number of children. You need a written contract with an LRK-registered provider and you apply via Mijn toeslagen with DigiD, crucially within 3 months of the first day of care, or you lose those months. The allowance is paid monthly and reconciled later against your actual income.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for childcare and family admin?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the childcare Dutch these applications use, kinderopvang, wachtlijst, LRK-nummer, kinderopvangtoeslag, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can sort daycare and the allowance instead of losing a place to the waitlist.
