Your child is turning 4: what does that mean for childcare and benefits? Amidst the birthday bustle, most parents still need to arrange the transition from daycare center to after-school care. You'll face new hours, a different benefit percentage, and the question of whether your child can already join during the holidays.
Child turns 4: from daycare to after-school care, what exactly changes?
The transition from daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) to after-school care (BSO) is more than an administrative change. Your child goes from full or half-day care to a schedule aligned with school hours. This requires you as a parent to think ahead about contract changes, new childcare locations, and how to structure your workdays.
Some preparation is needed for the transition. While your child is still enjoying their final months at the daycare center, it's wise to already be in conversation with the new BSO and your current childcare provider about notice periods and lead times. Finding a suitable BSO takes an average of two to four months, especially in busy regions.
New opening hours and a different rhythm
BSOs operate hours that align with school times: usually from 7:00 to 8:30 AM for before-school care and from 3:00 to 6:30 PM after school. During school holidays and teacher training days, extended hours often apply, similar to a daycare center. This means your work schedule needs to be flexible, or you and your partner need to smartly divide pickup times.
Ask explicitly during a tour about options for early care and late pickup. Some BSOs work with fixed contract hours, others offer flexible check-in and check-out. It's also relevant to know how the childcare handles teacher training days and school holidays that differ from the BSO's. Will you be offered an alternative, or do you need to arrange this yourself?
When can your child officially start after-school care?
Officially, BSO starts from the first school day after your child has turned 4. In practice, this means children with summer birthdays don't begin at the BSO until after the summer. For children whose birthday falls during the school year, they can usually transition immediately or at the month change.
The exact start date depends on your current contract and the waiting list at the new BSO. Some daycare centers offer a bridging contract for the period between the fourth birthday and the BSO start. This is especially relevant if your child's birthday is in June or July and the school holiday is still ahead.
Changing childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag): what you need to report
As soon as your child transitions from daycare center to BSO, you must report this change to the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst) via toeslagen.nl. Don't do this in advance, but only when the new childcare actually starts. The reason: the benefit is calculated based on the actual type of care and registered hours.
For the change, you'll need the LRK number of the new BSO. You can find this number in the National Childcare Register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang) or on the childcare provider's own website. Check that the number is entered correctly; an error here leads to delays in payment. The Tax Authority usually processes changes within four to eight weeks.
Note: if you report the change too late, you won't receive the benefit retroactively for the period your child was already at the BSO. Conversely, you no longer receive benefit for the daycare center from the date your child actually left there. An overlap of several weeks is common, but you'll need to pay for this yourself.
Fewer care hours, less benefit: how does that work?
A daycare center contract often runs to 8 to 10 hours per day, sometimes 5 days a week. A BSO contract is usually more limited: 2 to 4 hours for before-school care and 3 to 5 hours after school. In practice, the number of care hours drops by 30 to 50 percent. This has direct consequences for your childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag).
The benefit is linked to the registered hours at the childcare provider and your working hours. For BSO, a maximum hourly rate of €9.98 applies in 2026, lower than the maximum of €11.23 for daycare centers. This means both the number of hours and the maximum contribution amount per hour decrease. For many parents, this results in a lower monthly benefit and a higher own contribution, despite the total number of care hours decreasing.
You can get an indication yourself here by comparing your new BSO hours with your current daycare center hours. Take into account the hour estimate provided by the childcare provider; some BSOs use standard packages that don't precisely match your working hours.
Holiday timing: can your child already join in the summer?
The question of whether your child can already participate in summer holiday care depends on the start date of the BSO contract. If your child only turns 4 after the summer, your daycare center contract remains valid until then and you can use the regular holiday care there. If your child turns 4 in June or July, a gray area often arises.
Some BSOs offer the option to purchase holiday days in advance or arrange a short-term holiday contract. This is not standard and requires early communication with both your current childcare provider and the new BSO. Also ask about the possibility of childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang) in the meantime; this can be a flexible interim solution that does qualify for benefit.
Practical tip: note the teacher training days and holidays of the primary school in your calendar, even if your child doesn't attend that school yet. Most BSOs follow the schedule of a specific school or school group. Differences between school and BSO holidays occur regularly and then require extra coordination from you as a parent.
How to choose the right BSO near you
Choosing a BSO differs from choosing a daycare center. Where a daycare center focuses on the pedagogical atmosphere and daily rhythm, location relative to school and home plays a larger role with BSO. Some BSOs pick up children from school, others work with fixed pickup point locations. Ask how the transition from school to BSO works and how many children there are per caregiver.
Visit at least two BSOs before making a choice. During the tour, pay attention to the activities offered, the availability of outdoor space, and how caregivers communicate with parents. Ask about the pedagogical policy for older children; the approach for a 4-year-old differs fundamentally from that for a 10-year-old. The Municipal Health Service (GGD) inspection reports also provide insight into the quality and safety of the care.
On Kiddie.nl you compare BSOs based on inspection results, location, and facilities. This way you quickly find a place that fits your work rhythm and where your child feels at home after school.
Getting started with the transition
Begin exploring BSOs in your area three to four months before the fourth birthday. Schedule tours, ask about notice periods at your current daycare center, and prepare the change with the Tax Authority. The earlier you start, the more room you have to make a suitable choice without time pressure. On Kiddie.nl you easily compare BSOs near you and view the GGD inspection reports directly, so you can make the transition with confidence.