Childcare in the Netherlands for Expats – Find Daycare & After-School Care
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Looking for childcare in the Netherlands as an expat? Finding the right daycare or after-school care can feel overwhelming, especially in a new country.
Kinderopvang-wijzer helps you quickly find reliable, up-to-date information about childcare locations and organisations across the Netherlands.
Whether you’re searching for daycare near your home, comparing cities, or understanding how childcare works in the Netherlands, you’re in the right place.
Start your search for childcare
Use our tools to find childcare that fits your situation:
- Find childcare per municipality – compare availability and capacity
View municipalities - Search by city or town – explore childcare in 1,700+ places
View places - Find childcare organisations – search providers and their locations
View organisations
Tip for expats: availability can differ a lot per region. Larger cities often have waiting lists, so it’s smart to compare multiple locations.
Types of childcare in the Netherlands
If you’re new to the Dutch system, these are the main types of childcare:
- Daycare (KDV – Kinderdagverblijf): for children aged 0–4
- After-school care (BSO – Buitenschoolse opvang): for children aged 4–12
- Childminders (Gastouders): smaller, home-based childcare
Each type has different availability, pricing and waiting times depending on where you live.
Reliable childcare data you can trust
All information on Kinderopvang-wijzer is based on the official National Childcare Register (LRK). This means:
- accurate and up-to-date childcare locations
- insight into number of childcare places
- easy comparison between regions
This makes it easier for expat parents to make informed decisions.
Understand childcare quality and inspections
Childcare in the Netherlands is strictly regulated. The GGD (Municipal Health Service) inspects childcare locations to ensure safety and quality.
Learn more about inspections:
About GGD and childcare
Stay informed about childcare in the Netherlands
Want to understand changes in childcare policy, availability or pricing?
Read news and insights:
News & childcare developments
Why expats use Kinderopvang-wijzer
- clear overview of childcare in the Netherlands
- easy search by location and organisation
- reliable, government-based data (LRK)
- useful for comparing cities and regions
Start finding childcare today
Looking for daycare or after-school care in the Netherlands? Start your search now and find the best options for your situation.
De gegegevens in dit artikel zijn voor het laatst bijgewerkt en gecontroleerd op 3 april 2026
