Expecting a baby is an exciting time, but it can also bring a lot of questions, especially when it comes to work and leave arrangements in the Netherlands. How many weeks of maternity leave do you get? What is your partner entitled to? And how does parental leave actually work?
The good news is that the Netherlands offers several types of leave for parents before and after the birth of a child. From maternity leave and partner leave to parental leave and emergency leave, there are many options designed to give families more time together during this special period.
Below I least all types of leave related to pregnancy and parenthood for you and your partner.
1. Maternity leave
If you are pregnant in the Netherlands, you are entitled to at least 16 weeks of paid maternity leave. Your leave starts 4 to 6 weeks before your due date, and after giving birth you will receive at least another 10 weeks of leave. If you are pregnant with twins you are entitled to a longer maternity leave. During this period, you continue to receive 100% of your daily wage.
2. Special leave
If your doctors or midwife appointment are during working hours – you can take a special leave.
3. Partners leave
As a partner, you are entitled to birth leave. You can take one working week off while continuing to receive 100% of your salary. The number of leave hours you receive depends on how many hours you normally work each week.
For example, if you work 40 hours per week, you are entitled to 40 hours of paid birth leave. You can use these hours whenever it suits you, as long as you take them within 4 weeks after the birth of your child. If you work part-time, you will be entitled to a proportional number of hours based on the hours you work.
In addition to regular birth leave, partners in the Netherlands are also entitled to additional birth leave. This gives you up to 5 extra weeks off to spend time with your newborn and support your family during those first special weeks.
The amount of leave you receive depends on how many hours you work each week. For example, if you work 40 hours per week, you are entitled to 5 × 40 hours = 200 hours of additional birth leave.
During this leave, you will receive 70% of your daily wage. Some employers choose to top this up to 100% of your salary, so it is always worth checking your collective labour agreement or employment contract to see what applies to you.
4. Emergency leave
Your partner is also entitled to emergency leave so they can be present during the birth. This type of leave, sometimes called short-term leave, can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the situation.
Emergency leave is meant for unexpected or important life events , and the birth of your child is certainly one of them. During this time off, your partner will continue to receive 100% of their salary for the hours they are absent from work.
5. Carer’s leave
Sometimes recovery after childbirth does not go as expected. In that case, your partner may be able to take care leave to help look after you or your baby.
There are certain rules and conditions for taking care leave, so it is not automatically granted in every situation. You can read more about how it works and whether you qualify here.
6. Parental leave
In the Netherlands, each parent is entitled to a total of 26 weeks of parental leave. Part of this leave is paid, and part is unpaid.
Paid parental leave
You can take up to 9 weeks of paid parental leave during your child’s first year. During this time, you will receive 70% of your daily wage.
Unpaid parental leave
In addition, you are entitled to 17 weeks of unpaid parental leave. You can use these weeks anytime until your child turns 8 years old, giving you flexibility to take extra time off when your family needs it most.
Until next time, stay savvy.
