Dutch parental leave complete guide (ouderschapsverlof)
Your complete guide to Dutch parental leave rights, payment options, and application process for 2026
⚡ CRITICAL: 2026 parental leave essentials
- 9 weeks paid leave: 70% salary (€203.47/day max) within first year
- 17 weeks unpaid leave: Available until child turns 8
- Partner leave: 1 week 100% paid + 5 weeks 100% paid (aanvullend geboorteverlof)
- Application deadline: Request from employer 2 months in advance; UWV within 15 months
Parental leave in the Netherlands provides both paid and unpaid options for new parents and adopting families. 9 weeks of paid leave (at 70% salary) plus 17 weeks of unpaid leave are available per parent until the child turns 8. For more on childcare subsidies and family benefits, see our Family Guide Netherlands.
Understanding Dutch parental leave basics
What is ouderschapsverlof?
Ouderschapsverlof (parental leave) is a statutory right for employed parents in the Netherlands to take time off work during a child's early years without losing employment protection. This applies to biological parents, adoptive parents, and foster parents. Each parent has their own independent entitlement to leave, meaning both parents can take separate periods of time off.
The total parental leave entitlement is 26 working weeks per parent, which can be taken until the child reaches 8 years of age. This translates to different amounts depending on your working hours per week. For example, if you work 5 days a week, your 26-week entitlement equals 130 hours of leave.
Paid vs unpaid breakdown
Paid parental leave: 9 weeks
- • Payment: 70% of regular daily wage from UWV
- • Maximum: €203.47 per day (2026)
- • Timeline: Must be taken within child's first year
- • Holiday days: Continue accruing normally
- • Holiday allowance: Received on top of 70% benefit
Unpaid parental leave: 17 weeks
- • Payment: No salary or UWV benefits
- • Timeline: Anytime until child turns 8
- • Holiday days: Do NOT accrue during unpaid leave
- • CAO benefits: Some employers provide better terms
- • Financial planning: Requires saved funds or partner income
Partner leave (geboorteverlof) and additional rights
Initial partner birth leave (geboorteverlof)
Entitlement:
- • 1 week of paid leave
- • 100% salary (fully paid by employer)
- • Equals your normal weekly working hours
- • Example: 40-hour workweek = 40 hours paid leave
Timeline:
- • Must be taken within 4 weeks of birth
- • Request in writing to employer ASAP after birth
- • No formal approval required (legal right)
- • Specify which days you'll take
Aanvullend geboorteverlof (additional partner leave)
Partners can take up to 5 weeks of additional paid partner leave, paid at 100% salary from UWV (not the employer):
Key details:
- • Eligibility: Child born on or after July 1, 2020
- • Payment: 100% wage from UWV
- • Duration: Maximum 5 weeks (5x weekly working hours)
- • Timeline: Within 6 months of birth
Why this matters:
- • Full wage replacement vs 70% for regular parental leave
- • Strong incentive for partners to take extended leave
- • Must take initial 1 week first (prerequisite)
- • Valuable for immediate post-birth family support
Adoption and foster care leave
- • 6 weeks of adoption/foster leave: Both adoptive and foster parents receive this
- • Payment: Benefit paid through UWV
- • Timing flexibility: Spread between 4 weeks before and 22 weeks after child's arrival
- • Application: Request at least 3 weeks in advance from employer
- • Multiple placements: 9 weeks total for multiple children in same placement; 9 weeks per placement if fostering children at different times
How to apply for paid parental leave
Step 1: Request from your employer
The formal process begins with your employer, not UWV:
- Submit written request: Send your request in writing (email or letter)
- Required notice: At least 2 months in advance of when you want to start leave
- Specify details: Number of hours, specific working days (e.g., "Thursdays and Fridays"), start and end dates
- Employer response: 4 weeks to respond (can only modify if serious operational difficulties)
⚠️ Important: Self-employed individuals without employees are NOT eligible for paid parental leave.
Step 2: Apply to UWV for the benefit
After arranging leave with your employer and taking at least 1 full working week:
- • Timing: Apply after taking at least 1 full week of paid leave, but no later than 15 months after first day of leave
- • How to apply: Log in to Mijn UWV account using DigiD, select "Aanvragen" → "uitkering betaald ouderschapsverlof"
- • Payment options: Full payment upfront or installments (up to 3 payments total)
- • Required documents: Employment contract copy, proof of weekly hours, child's date of birth
Step 3: Payment and timing
- • Processing time: Allow several weeks for UWV to process and approve
- • Payment method: UWV pays benefit to employer, who forwards it to you
- • Amount: €203.47 per day maximum (70% of statutory maximum in 2026), or 70% of actual wage if lower
- • Holiday pay: Normal holiday allowance received on top of 70% wage replacement
Example: Earning €50,000 annually (€2,100/week), taking 9 weeks paid leave in weekly blocks = approximately €1,470/week for 9 weeks.
Special situations and edge cases
Multiple births
Paid leave entitlement increases per child:
- • 9 weeks per child: Twins = 18 weeks paid; triplets = 27 weeks
- • Applies to biological multiples and multiple adoptions
- • Each child's leave taken before that child turns 8
Switching parents mid-leave
Parents can alternate who's on leave:
- • One parent takes leave while other returns to work
- • After several weeks, swap roles
- • Doesn't affect each parent's independent 26-week entitlement
- • Requires employer and UWV coordination
Combining with other leave types
Parental leave is separate from:
- • Sick leave: Doesn't count toward parental leave allowance
- • Vacation days: Continue accruing during paid parental leave
- • Maternity leave: 16 weeks separate paid leave at 100% (birthing parents)
- • Total possible: 16 weeks maternity + 9 weeks paid parental = 25 weeks largely-paid leave
After parental leave, consider childcare subsidies which can cover 33-96% of costs.
Leaving employment during leave
If you resign or are fired while on parental leave:
- • Paid leave weeks already taken are not affected
- • You forfeit remaining unpaid weeks
- • UWV benefits already paid do not need to be returned
- • Consult employment lawyer if this occurs
2026 updates and current rates
Current rates for 2026
Payment details:
- • Maximum daily payment: €203.47/day
- • Payment rate: 70% of regular daily wage
- • Tax treatment: UWV benefit is tax-free income
- • Annual indexation: Rates adjusted January 1 based on wage inflation
Recent legislative context:
The paid parental leave system (Wet betaald ouderschapsverlof) came into effect on August 2, 2022, marking a significant expansion from the previous unpaid-only system. The 9 weeks of paid leave and aanvullend geboorteverlof for partners represent a major improvement for Dutch families.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take parental leave while working part-time?
Yes. Your leave entitlement is calculated based on your working hours. For example, if you work 3 days per week, your 26-week entitlement equals 78 hours of leave. You can take this as partial days off each week while remaining part-time employed.
What if my employer refuses my leave request?
Employers cannot refuse parental leave rights unless the company would face serious operational difficulties (determined by law, not the employer's preference). If your employer refuses, contact FNV (labor union), a labor lawyer, or UWV for assistance.
Do I need to take all 9 paid weeks within the first year?
Yes. Paid leave must be taken within the child's first 12 months. However, the remaining 17 unpaid weeks can be taken anytime until the child turns 8.
What happens to my health insurance contributions during unpaid leave?
You remain employed (just on unpaid leave), so your employer continues paying health insurance contributions. You remain insured during this period.
Can I take parental leave as a self-employed person?
No. The paid parental leave system only applies to employees. Self-employed individuals must arrange coverage through other means (hiring temporary staff, reducing workload, etc.).
Is parental leave paid if I'm on a temporary contract?
Yes, parental leave rights apply equally to permanent and temporary employees. The 2-month notice requirement still applies, so give adequate notice on a temporary contract.
What if I have a child outside of marriage?
Parental leave rights apply regardless of relationship status or marital status. Both biological parents have equal rights to parental leave.
Key contacts and resources
UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen)
www.uwv.nl - Handles paid parental leave applications and benefit payments
Your employer's HR department
Initial point of contact for requesting and arranging leave
Rechtsbijstandbureau
Free legal aid if you encounter refusal or complications
CAO Database
www.cao.fenit.nl - Check your specific industry collective labor agreement for enhanced benefits
Related guides
Family guide Netherlands
Schools, childcare, kinderbijslag, and family benefits
Health insurance guide
Mandatory insurance explained (required for newborns within 4 months)
Tax allowances & benefits
Kinderbijslag, kindgebonden budget, and other family benefits
Employee rights guide
Dutch labor laws, sick leave, and employment contracts