Claim maternity pay as a self-employed parent (ZEZ)
ZEZ (Zelfstandige en Zwanger) is maternity pay for self-employed parents in the Netherlands: at least 16 weeks around the birth, 20 weeks for twins. 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 22 September 2026.
- Who it applies to
- People who are 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
- 22 September 2026
What else to know
Apply to UWV yourself between 4 and 2 weeks before the date you want it to start. The benefit is at most the statutory minimum wage: you get the full minimum wage if you worked at least 1,225 hours as self-employed in the calendar year before the benefit starts, and otherwise it is lower and worked out from your income. Have your pregnancy statement from your midwife or doctor ready; UWV can ask for it.
Before you contact them
Who you need UWV, who you apply to yourself
What to ask
- Which figures do you use to work out my benefit?
- What do I need to send with the application?
- When would the money actually arrive?
What happens next You apply to UWV yourself, rather than through an employer.
Work out your own dates — free, nothing is sent to us