Decide where you want to give birth
If your pregnancy is healthy you choose: at home, in a birth centre (geboortecentrum), or in hospital with your own midwife. Research has found that for a low-risk pregnancy a home birth with your own midwife is as safe as giving birth in hospital with her, and your midwife will talk the choice through with you. Checked against zorginstituutnederland.nl on 23 September 2026.
- Who it applies to
- Everyone having a baby in the Netherlands
- On your timeline
- Paperbump schedules this usually between week 12 and week 20 of the pregnancy
- Official source
- zorginstituutnederland.nl
- Last checked
- 23 September 2026
What else to know
Her care is fully covered wherever you give birth. Giving birth in hospital or a birth centre without a medical reason costs you a part-payment: €22.50 a day for you and €22.50 a day for the baby, so €45 a day between you. Extra insurance often covers it — check your policy, because insurers set their own maximum.
Before you contact them
Who you need Your midwife, who talks the choice through with you
What to ask
- Which hospitals and birth centres do you work with?
- What would make a home birth not an option for me?
- What happens if we need to transfer during labour?
- What does each choice cost me, if anything?
What happens next Your midwife goes through the options with you rather than deciding for you.
Work out your own dates — free, nothing is sent to us