Having a baby in the Netherlands: every admin step, in English
Every official step of having a baby in the Netherlands, in plain English, each one checked against an official source and dated. 22 steps, from registering with a midwife to your baby's passport.
- Register with a midwife practice (verloskundige) usually between week 5 and week 8 of the pregnancy
- Decide about the NIPT and the 13-week scan usually between week 9 and week 14 of the pregnancy
- Arrange maternity care at home (kraamzorg) usually between week 10 and week 16 of the pregnancy
- Decide where you want to give birth usually between week 12 and week 20 of the pregnancy
- The 20-week scan (20 wekenecho) usually between week 18 and week 21 of the pregnancy
- Acknowledge the baby before the birth (erkenning) usually between week 20 and week 34 of the pregnancy
- Choose the baby's surname (naamskeuze) usually between week 20 and week 36 of the pregnancy
- Tell your employer when your maternity leave starts usually between week 26 and week 33 of the pregnancy
- Claim maternity pay as a self-employed parent (ZEZ) usually between week 30 and week 34 of the pregnancy
- Get an approved car seat before you need it usually between week 32 and week 36 of the pregnancy
- Pack a bag, and write down what you want usually between week 36 and week 38 of the pregnancy
- Register the birth at the municipality (geboorteaangifte) within 3 days of the birth
- Heel prick and hearing test (hielprik en gehoortest) between 4 days and 7 days after the birth
- Partner's birth leave (geboorteverlof) within 4 weeks of the birth
- Partner's extra birth leave (aanvullend geboorteverlof) within 6 months of the birth
- Paid parental leave (betaald ouderschapsverlof) within 1 year of the birth
- Add the baby to your health insurance within 4 months of the birth
- Claim child benefit (kinderbijslag) between 2 weeks and 6 weeks after the birth
- The child health clinic (consultatiebureau) between 2 weeks and 9 weeks after the birth
- Claim childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) within 6 months of the birth
- Get the baby their own passport or ID card between 2 weeks and 1 year after the birth
- Sort out the baby's nationality and papers with your own country within 4 months of the birth