A baby on the way is wonderful, and the Netherlands backs it with genuinely generous leave, but the system is a thicket of similar-sounding Dutch words: geboorteverlof, aanvullend geboorteverlof, ouderschapsverlof. Ask HR for the wrong one (or under-ask) and you leave time, and money, on the table. Here is what you are entitled to, and how to email HR for it.
The leave types, untangled
There are several, and they stack:
For the partner: geboorteverlof. As the government explains birth leave for partners, the partner of someone who gives birth gets one fully-paid week of geboorteverlof right after the birth (employer pays, cannot refuse). Then, as the UWV sets out the additional birth leave, up to 5 more weeks of aanvullend geboorteverlof in the first 6 months, paid at about 70% of daily wage by the UWV.
For both parents: ouderschapsverlof. On top of the above, both parents can take 9 weeks of paid ouderschapsverlof at about 70% (via UWV) in the child’s first year, as unions summarise the leave rules, with further unpaid parental leave available beyond that.
For the mother: zwangerschapsverlof and bevallingsverlof (pregnancy and maternity leave), the dedicated maternity period.
| Dutch | What it is |
|---|---|
| geboorteverlof | partner’s 1 week, fully paid |
| aanvullend geboorteverlof | +5 weeks, ~70% (UWV) |
| ouderschapsverlof | 9 weeks paid ~70% (UWV) + unpaid |
| zwangerschaps-/bevallingsverlof | maternity leave |
The money reality
Crucial for planning: most of this paid leave is at 70% and paid by the UWV, not your employer (only the partner’s first week is 100%). So budget for the dip. Beyond the paid weeks, leave is generally unpaid.
Emailing HR
Be clear and early. State the leave type, the dates, and how you want to take it (e.g. spread over months for ouderschapsverlof). A usable line:
“Ik verwacht in [maand] een kind en wil graag mijn geboorteverlof en aanvullend geboorteverlof opnemen, plus ouderschapsverlof in overleg. Kunnen we de planning bespreken?”
Your employer largely cannot refuse statutory leave, though the timing of ouderschapsverlof can be discussed. Confirm everything in writing. This sits in the same direct, written workplace register as defending your weekend and a clean ziekmelding.
Where it connects
Parental leave is the family side of the UWV, the counterpart to navigating UWV for unemployment. It begins with the midwife-led pregnancy and kraamzorg, and leads into the long parenting road of choosing a school. Generous leave is one mark of a modern Dutch workplace; another is inclusive language, covered in LGBTQ+ etiquette and pronouns at work.
The bottom line
Dutch parental leave stacks: the partner’s geboorteverlof (1 paid week) plus aanvullend geboorteverlof (5 weeks at ~70%, UWV), then 9 weeks of paid ouderschapsverlof (~70%, UWV) for each parent in the first year, with unpaid leave beyond. Email HR early and clearly, naming the leave and dates. Learn geboorteverlof, ouderschapsverlof, and verlof opnemen, budget for the 70%, and you’ll claim the full, generous time the Netherlands actually offers new parents.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the work-leave Dutch an HR email needs, ouderschapsverlof, geboorteverlof, verlof opnemen by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can request the leave you’re entitled to clearly instead of under-asking out of confusion.
Frequently asked questions
What parental leave do you get in the Netherlands?
Several types. The mother gets pregnancy and maternity leave (zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof). The partner gets geboorteverlof: one fully-paid week right after the birth, plus up to 5 weeks of aanvullend geboorteverlof at about 70% of daily wage (paid by UWV). And both parents can take 9 weeks of paid ouderschapsverlof at about 70% (via UWV) in the child’s first year, with further unpaid parental leave on top.
Is parental leave paid in the Netherlands?
Partly. The partner’s first week of geboorteverlof is fully paid by the employer. The additional 5 weeks (aanvullend geboorteverlof) and the 9 weeks of paid ouderschapsverlof are paid at about 70% of your daily wage by the UWV, not your employer. Beyond the 9 paid weeks, parental leave is generally unpaid. So you get meaningful paid time, but mostly at 70%, plan your finances around that.
How do I ask HR for parental leave in Dutch?
Be clear and early. State which leave you want (geboorteverlof, aanvullend geboorteverlof, or ouderschapsverlof), the dates, and how you want to take it (e.g. spread over weeks). A line like ‘Ik wil graag [aanvullend geboorteverlof / ouderschapsverlof] opnemen rond [datum]’ works. Your employer largely cannot refuse statutory leave, though timing of ouderschapsverlof can be discussed. Confirm in writing.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for work leave and HR emails?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the work-leave Dutch an HR email needs, ouderschapsverlof, geboorteverlof, verlof opnemen, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can request the leave you’re entitled to clearly instead of under-asking out of confusion.
