Maternity & Paternity Leave Netherlands 2026

Dutch parental leave comes in several parts, and the terminology (zwangerschapsverlof, geboorteverlof, aanvullend geboorteverlof, ouderschapsverlof) is confusing even for Dutch people. This guide sets out what the leave covers, what it pays and how to apply, based on UWV and Rijksoverheid information.

The short version: at least 16 weeks maternity leave paid by UWV at 100% of daily wage (up to the maximum daily wage). Partners get 1 week of birth leave paid by the employer plus up to 5 weeks at 70% via UWV. Each parent can take up to 9 weeks of paid parental leave (70%) in the first year, plus 17 weeks unpaid. Self-employed women have a separate scheme (ZEZ).

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Dutch Parental Leave at a Glance

UWV pays at most the maximum daily wage. From 1 July 2026 it is EUR 309.91 gross per day, including holiday pay; it is adjusted on 1 January and 1 July (UWV).

Zwangerschapsverlof: Maternity Leave for Mothers

How It Works

Dutch maternity leave is called zwangerschapsverlof before birth and bevallingsverlof after. Together they last at least 16 weeks.

• You are entitled to 6 weeks of pregnancy leave before the due date. To find the start date, count back 6 weeks from the day after your due date.
• Pregnancy leave must start at the latest 4 weeks before the day after the due date.
• Leave after birth lasts at least 10 weeks.

What Happens If You Take Less Pregnancy Leave or the Baby Arrives Early

Any pregnancy leave you take less than 6 weeks is added to your leave after birth. If you start 5 weeks before the day after the due date, for example, you add 1 week to your leave after birth (Rijksoverheid). The total is always at least 16 weeks.

What Happens If the Baby Needs Hospital Care After Birth

If your newborn is in hospital for more than 7 days during your leave after birth, you may be entitled to extra leave. The first 7 hospital days never count: you get extra leave for the days beyond that, and a statement from the hospital is needed (UWV). The Rijksoverheid gives the maximum as 10 weeks of extra leave, while UWV’s own page names 9 weeks. Plan on the lower figure and confirm the exact number with your employer or UWV. Apply in the last 2 weeks of your original leave.

Pay During Maternity Leave

UWV pays 100% of your daily wage during maternity leave, up to the maximum daily wage of EUR 309.91 gross per day (from 1 July 2026). Your employer usually receives the benefit and continues to pay your salary.

If your daily wage is higher than the maximum, UWV pays the maximum. Employers can choose to top up the difference but are not required to. Check your employment contract or cao (collective labour agreement) for a top-up.

How to Apply

Your employer handles the UWV application. The steps:

1. Tell your employer at the latest 3 weeks before your pregnancy leave begins. That is at least 7 weeks before your due date, because the leave begins at the latest 4 weeks before it.
2. Ask your huisarts or midwife for a pregnancy statement (zwangerschapsverklaring) with the expected due date. Keep it in your own records; UWV can ask for it up to a year after the benefit ends.
3. Your employer applies to UWV, between 4 and 2 weeks before the leave begins.
4. UWV pays the employer, who normally continues to pay your salary.

As an employee you do not apply to UWV yourself. Your employer may not refuse the leave.

Geboorteverlof: Partner Leave (Birth Leave)

Who Counts as a Partner?

According to the Rijksoverheid, you are the mother’s partner if you are married to her, are her registered partner, live with her unmarried, or recognise her child.

The First Week (100% Pay)

The partner gets geboorteverlof of once the number of hours worked per week. The employer continues to pay the full salary. Take the leave within 4 weeks of the birth; this period does not shift if the baby stays in hospital. Inform your employer beforehand or as soon as possible after the birth; this can be verbal or written, and the employer may not refuse (Rijksoverheid).

The Additional 5 Weeks (70% Pay via UWV)

After the first week, partners can take up to 5 weeks of aanvullend geboorteverlof (5 times the weekly working hours) within 6 months of the birth. The first week of birth leave must be taken first. During this leave you receive a UWV benefit of at most 70% of your daily wage (and at most 70% of the maximum daily wage), and your employer applies for it and pays it out.

How to take it (Rijksoverheid):

• Notify your employer in writing (letter or email) at least 4 weeks before the leave starts.
• State when you want to take it and how many whole weeks you want (1 to 5).
• You can spread the leave over more weeks, for example 5 working days spread over 5 weeks. In total you can take up to 25 working days.

Some cao agreements top up the 70%. Check your contract or ask HR.

Ouderschapsverlof: Parental Leave for Both Parents

Ouderschapsverlof is separate from maternity and partner leave. Each parent has the right to up to 26 times their weekly working hours per child, for children up to 8 years old (Rijksoverheid).

The Paid Portion (9 Weeks at 70%)

UWV pays 70% of the daily wage for up to 9 weeks of ouderschapsverlof, if taken within the first year after the child’s birth (for adopted or foster children, within the first year after the child joined the family). The benefit covers a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 9 times your weekly working hours. You decide how to take it: in one block or spread out. Hours you do not use as paid leave can be taken as unpaid leave (UWV).

The Unpaid Portion (17 Weeks Until Age 8)

The other 17 weeks are unpaid and can be taken until the child is 8.

How to Apply for Ouderschapsverlof

1. Discuss the leave with your employer at least 2 months before the first leave day (UWV).
2. Agree on the start date, the number of weeks and how you want to take the hours.
3. Your employer applies to UWV for the paid part.

Your employer cannot refuse the leave, but can ask to schedule it differently for a serious business reason (Rijksoverheid).

ZZP and Self-Employed Parental Leave

ZEZ: Maternity Benefit for Self-Employed Mothers

Self-employed women (ZZP, freelancers, sole proprietors) can apply to UWV for the ZEZ benefit (Zelfstandige en Zwanger). It lasts at least 16 weeks, at least 10 of them after the birth.

What it pays: If you worked at least 1,225 hours as a self-employed person in the calendar year before the benefit starts, the benefit equals the minimum wage (€14.99 gross per hour for ages 21 and over from 1 July 2026). With fewer hours, the benefit depends on your profit in that year (Rijksoverheid).

How to apply: You apply to UWV yourself, between 4 and 2 weeks before the start date you want. The benefit starts on a date you choose between 6 and 4 weeks before the day after the due date. You will need your BSN, your income as shown in your income tax return, your hours worked and the due date from your pregnancy statement (UWV).

ZZP Partners

Self-employed partners have no right to geboorteverlof; the leave is for employees (Rijksoverheid). If you are self-employed and your partner is employed, your partner gets their own employee entitlements.

Some occupational disability insurance (AOV) policies also pay out at pregnancy. This does not affect the ZEZ benefit, but your insurer may reduce its payment; ask your insurer.

Adoption and Foster Leave

For adoption or a foster child, employees can take up to 6 weeks of adoptieverlof or pleegzorgverlof, from 4 weeks before the child joins the family until 22 weeks after. UWV pays 100% of the daily wage, up to the maximum, and the employer applies for it between 4 and 2 weeks before the leave begins (Rijksoverheid, UWV).

How the Netherlands Compares With Other Countries

Leave rules differ a lot between countries, and the rules in your home country do not apply once you work here. For your own country’s rules, use its official government or social-security website; this guide only covers the Dutch rules above.

Practical Timeline: What to Do and When

Early in the pregnancy:

• Check your employment contract and cao for entitlements above the legal minimum.

At least 7 weeks before the due date:

• Tell your employer in writing about your pregnancy leave, at the latest 3 weeks before it begins.
• Ask your huisarts or midwife for a pregnancy statement.
• If self-employed: apply for ZEZ between 4 and 2 weeks before your chosen start date.

At birth:

• The partner takes birth leave within 4 weeks.
• The partner tells their employer in writing at least 4 weeks before aanvullend geboorteverlof starts.

In the first year:

• Plan ouderschapsverlof if you want the paid 9 weeks, which must be taken within the first year after birth. Discuss it with your employer at least 2 months before the first leave day.

Your Rights During Leave

• No dismissal: Your employer may not dismiss you because you are pregnant, nor during pregnancy leave, leave after birth and the first 6 weeks after that leave (Rijksoverheid).
• Holiday entitlement: You keep building up holiday days during pregnancy leave and leave after birth, and your employer may not ask you to use holiday days for your leave (Rijksoverheid). Aanvullend geboorteverlof does not affect your statutory holiday days.
• Pension: Pension accrual is not set by law; the arrangements are made between employer, employee and pension provider (Rijksoverheid). Check your pension scheme.
• Holiday allowance: The daily wage that UWV uses always includes holiday pay (UWV). Check your pay slip guide for how it appears.

Benefits and Toeslagen During Leave

A lower income during leave can change your entitlement to toeslagen. See the Dutch health insurance guide for zorgtoeslag, the Dutch childcare guide for kinderopvangtoeslag and the zorgtoeslag and huurtoeslag guide for the rent allowance. Pass changes in your expected income to Dienst Toeslagen so your payments are adjusted during the year.

Common Mistakes Expats Make

Assuming the employee applies to UWV: For employees, your employer applies. Ask your employer to confirm in writing that the application has been submitted.

Missing the paid ouderschapsverlof window: The 9 paid weeks must be taken within the first year after the birth.

Forgetting about cao top-ups: Some cao agreements top up the 70% or extend leave. Ask HR or check your cao.

Not checking your residence permit: If your residence permit is linked to employment and you plan a long period of unpaid leave, check with the IND whether it affects your permit. The student and expat legal guide covers related residency topics.

Practical Leave Checklist

1. Tell your employer in writing at least 3 weeks before pregnancy leave begins.
2. Confirm that your employer submits the UWV application.
3. Partner takes birth leave within 4 weeks and gives 4 weeks’ notice for the additional weeks, to be taken within 6 months.
4. Plan paid ouderschapsverlof before the child’s first birthday.
5. Check your cao for top-ups.
6. Update your income estimate with Dienst Toeslagen if your income changes.

For more on working in the Netherlands, see the Dutch employment contract guide, the Dutch work culture guide for expats and public holidays and time off. When your child arrives, the expat family guide to raising kids in the Netherlands covers the next stages from childcare to schooling.

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