Having a baby in the Netherlands: the deadlines that matter
Having a baby in the Netherlands sets off 9 deadlines that carry a real consequence for missing them. Three of them catch people out. Checked 22 September 2026.
Register the birth at the municipality (geboorteaangifte): within 3 days of the birth, at the municipality where the baby was born. Add the baby to your health insurance: within 4 months of the birth. Acknowledge the baby before the birth (erkenning): before the birth, if you are not married or in a registered partnership.
Arrange maternity care at home (kraamzorg)
Many organisations take registrations from week 12, and the popular ones fill up. Being late costs you the choice of organisation, not the care itself. Check the organisation has a contract with your insurer.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Acknowledge the baby before the birth (erkenning)
Before the birth, if you are not married or in a registered partnership. The mother must attend or give written consent. Without it the mother's partner is not automatically the baby's legal parent. Doing it before the birth means two legal parents from the moment the baby is born, and since 2023 joint custody with it.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Tell your employer when your maternity leave starts
At least 3 weeks before the leave starts, so at the latest 7 weeks before your due date. You pick the start date inside the window, but the notice period is fixed.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Claim maternity pay as a self-employed parent (ZEZ)
Apply to UWV between 4 and 2 weeks before the date you want the benefit to start. The benefit is capped at the statutory minimum wage, and the full amount needs 1,225 self-employed hours in the calendar year before it starts.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Register the birth at the municipality (geboorteaangifte)
Within 3 days of the birth, at the municipality where the baby was born. The day of the birth does not count. If the third day is a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday you get 1 extra working day, and you always get at least 2 working days. Late registration is reported to the public prosecutor and can mean a fine.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Partner's extra birth leave (aanvullend geboorteverlof)
Tell your employer at least 4 weeks before the leave starts, and take the first week of birth leave before it. UWV pays 70% of the daily wage up to a maximum daily wage, and only for leave taken in the first 6 months.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Add the baby to your health insurance
Within 4 months of the birth. Register inside it and cover runs from the day they were born. Register later and cover starts only from the day you register, leaving you to pay anything spent before that.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Claim childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag)
By the end of the third month after the month childcare starts — childcare in May means applying by 31 August. Apply later and the benefit is only backdated to 3 months before the month you applied in. The months in between are lost.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Claim child benefit (kinderbijslag)
Child benefit starts in the quarter after the birth quarter, and is paid once that quarter ends. The SVB writes to you about 2 to 4 weeks after the birth is registered. If nothing has arrived after a month or so, contact them: the claim does not start itself.
What this step involves · Official source, checked 22 September 2026
Get these dated from your own due date — free, nothing is sent to us