Netherlands admin steps

Claim maternity pay as a self-employed parent (ZEZ)

Self-employed people have their own arrangement, Zelfstandige en Zwanger (ZEZ), giving at least 16 weeks of benefit around the birth. It starts 6 to 4 weeks before your due date and you always keep at least 10 weeks after the birth. Checked against uwv.nl on 20 September 2026.

Who it applies to

Self-employed (zzp)

On your timeline

Paperbump schedules this usually between week 30 and week 34 of the pregnancy

Official source

uwv.nl

Last checked

20 September 2026

What else to know

You claim it from UWV yourself, at the latest 2 weeks before you want it to start, and you send a pregnancy statement from your midwife or doctor with the claim.

Work out your own dates — free, nothing leaves your device

Around the same time

• Get an approved car seat before you need it usually between week 32 and week 36 of the pregnancy
• Tell your employer when your maternity leave starts usually between week 26 and week 33 of the pregnancy
• Pack a bag, and write down what you want usually between week 36 and week 38 of the pregnancy