The amount of your childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) you can calculate in the current system depends on the following factors:
- The percentage of the hourly rate you get reimbursed (which depends on your assessed income (link: 3. Hoe vraag ik aan)
- The maximum hourly rate set by the government
- The actual hourly rate of your childcare provider
- The number of hours you pay for (based on the opening hours of the childcare)
- The type of childcare (daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV), after-school care (BSO) or childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang))
- Is it your first child in childcare or a subsequent child?
Below we give two examples to show you how to calculate this. You can also use the government's calculation tool (link: https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/toeslagen/content/hulpmiddel-proefberekening-toeslagen).
Calculating childcare benefit: Example 1
The situation for family 1 is as follows:
- 1 child at daycare center (kinderdagverblijf), 3 days per week
- Assessed income €40,000 → 96% is reimbursed
- Maximum hourly rate: €11.23
- Daycare center hourly rate: €11.50
- Hours per day: 12 hours. The opening hours are 07:00–19:00, your contract covers the full opening hours
Calculation:
- Weekly childcare rate: 12 hours × €11.50 × 3 days = €414.00
- Monthly childcare rate: €414.00 × 52 weeks / 12 months = €1794.00
- Weekly benefit: 96% × €11.23 × 12 hours x 3 days = €388.11
- Monthly benefit: €388.11 × 52 weeks / 12 months = €1,681.80
- Monthly out-of-pocket costs: €1794.00 – €1681.80 = €112.20
In other words, the childcare bill is €1,794 per month, of which you get €1,681.80 back as benefit, and so you pay €112.20 per month yourself.
For reference, at the same hourly rate but with opening hours of 10 hours per day (08:00-18:00), your out-of-pocket costs would be €93.51.
Calculating childcare benefit: Example 2
The situation for family 2 is as follows:
- 1 child at daycare center (kinderdagverblijf), 3 days per week
- Combined assessed income of both parents: €96,000 → 76.7% is reimbursed
- Maximum hourly rate: €11.23
- Daycare center hourly rate: €12.50
- Opening hours: 11 hours per day (07:30–18:30), you pay for the full opening hours
Calculation:
- Weekly rate: 11 hours × €12.50 × 3 days = €412.50
- Monthly rate: €412.50 × 52 weeks / 12 months = €1,787.50
- Weekly benefit: 76.7% × €11.23 × 11 hours × 3 days = €284.24
- Monthly benefit: €284.24 × 52 weeks / 12 months = €1,231.72
- Monthly out-of-pocket costs: €1,787.50 – €1,231.72 = €555.78
Because the hourly rate is lower than the maximum hourly rate, the full hourly rate is reimbursed. You pay no extra costs per hour.
You receive €1,231.72 in benefit and pay €555.78 per month yourself.
With opening hours of 12 hours, the benefit would be €1,343.69 and your out-of-pocket costs €606.31.
Daycare center, after-school care or childminder?
The calculation works exactly the same; only a different maximum hourly rate is used. These are the rates for 2026 for the different types of childcare:
- Daycare center (kinderdagverblijf): €11.23
- After-school care (BSO): €9.98
- Childminder/host parent care (gastouder): €8.49
The hourly rate itself also differs, and with after-school care (BSO) you use far fewer hours because the children go to school first.
Municipal reimbursements
Do you receive social assistance benefits and are you following a pathway to work, training or integration? Then you may be entitled to an additional reimbursement from your municipality. Contact your municipality for this.
Read here (link: 3. Hoe vraag ik kinderopvangtoeslag aan?) how to start applying for childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag).
Get started
Want to know exactly what childcare will cost you? Use the trial calculation from the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax and Customs Administration) to enter your personal situation. Then compare different childcare locations on Kiddie.nl by hourly rate, type of childcare and availability. This way you combine financial insight with a well-considered choice for your child.
