Choosing Childcare: Everything You Need to Know (From Research to Registration)

Is this your first pregnancy? Or has your work schedule changed? Whatever your reason, choosing childcare for the first time is a big step. You want a place where your child feels safe, can grow and develop — and where you can drop them off with complete peace of mind. But how do you know what's right for you?

Kiddie wants to support parents at every step of the process: from initial research to registration. We've put together an overview of key information and practical tips to help you make your decision with confidence.

In a Nutshell

• How to choose childcare: what do you need to know to make the best decision?
• What types of childcare are available, and which one suits you and your child?
• When and how should you register for a childcare location?
• What's useful to know about the enrollment process?

Starting Your Search: What Should You Look For?

How Do You Choose Childcare?

Start by mapping out your practical needs: which days, how many hours per day, and what's your budget? Then make a list of what matters most to you for your child: the educational approach, group size, outdoor space, activities, or perhaps a calm and structured environment. And which location works best for you — somewhere close to home, or near your workplace?

On Kiddie.nl, you can search by postcode or city and instantly see all childcare locations near you. From there, it's easy to compare prices and facilities. Make an initial shortlist, then visit your favourite locations to get a feel for the atmosphere. Pay close attention to how the staff interact with the children and what the spaces look like.

What Is the Best Childcare?

Once you've sorted out your practical requirements, the next step is assessing quality. There's no single "best childcare" that works for everyone. The best childcare is the one that fits your child and your family. That said, there are clear quality indicators to look out for:

• Staff qualifications
• Safety and hygiene standards
• Group size and child-to-staff ratio (in line with the Childcare Act)
• Educational philosophy and daily routine
• Communication with parents (app, handover moments, parent meetings)
• Location, pricing, and what's included (meals, nappies, outings)

Much of this information can be found in the Municipal Health Service (GGD) inspection reports, which are also available through Kiddie. You'll find a clear summary as well as the full documents.

Choose Childcare With the Right Opening Hours

Opening hours matter more than they might seem at first glance. They need to align with your working hours and commute time — including potential traffic or irregular shifts.

In most cases, you pay for all the hours the childcare centre is open, regardless of whether your child is actually there. Longer opening hours therefore mean higher costs. At the same time, you need to be able to drop off and pick up your child on time. Some locations even charge a fee for late pick-ups, while others are more flexible.

Take a close look at the opening hours and the terms and conditions of each location. Plan ahead realistically so you know exactly which hours you actually need.

Types of Childcare

In the Netherlands, there are four main types of childcare:

• Daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) (ages 0–4): care on set days, full or half days.
• Preschool/toddler care (peuteropvang) (ages 2–4): shorter sessions focused on play and school readiness. Often also offered as a daycare center with a VVE programme (early childhood education).
• After-school care (BSO) (ages 4–12): before and after school, and during school holidays.
• Childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang) (ages 0–13): small-scale, home-like setting. Either at the childminder's home or your own.

On Kiddie.nl, you can filter by type and immediately see what suits your situation.

Early Childhood Education (VVE)

VVE (voor- en vroegschoolse educatie) programmes support children aged 2.5 to 6 in developing language, numeracy, and social skills through play. Children with language delays or those who could benefit from extra support gain the most from these programmes.

VVE is delivered by specially trained early childhood professionals using structured methods such as Piramide or Kaleidoscoop. Many municipalities offer (partially) subsidised places — ask at your local child health clinic (consultatiebureau) about the options available to you.

On Kiddie, you can see at a glance which childcare locations offer VVE, and filter for it directly in the search results.

Not-for-Profit Childcare — Does It Exist?

Yes — there are organisations that reinvest all their revenue into quality and staff, rather than distributing profits to shareholders. It's worth noting that all childcare locations in the Netherlands are businesses, unlike primary schools, for example. They all operate commercially and need to be financially sustainable. The difference lies in their goals and what they do with any surplus.

These providers are often members of the Branchevereniging Maatschappelijke Kinderopvang (BMK) — their member organisations are listed on the BMK website.

Registering and Enrolling

When Should You Start Looking for Childcare?

Start early — ideally around weeks 10–12 of your pregnancy, or 3–6 months before your desired start date. Popular locations can have waiting lists, particularly in urban areas or newer residential developments.

Many locations don't accept registrations in the very early stages of pregnancy and will usually mention this on their website.

Define your search area and check availability via Kiddie. Read reviews and ask other parents for their experiences.

Don't panic if you're starting a little later: new spots open up throughout the year, so it's never too late to begin your search. Locations with available places display a "spot available" banner on our website.

Planning to move? Start searching as soon as your move is confirmed — ideally 2 to 3 months before your desired start date.

How Do You Register for Childcare?

Registration usually takes place via an online form on the childcare provider's website. You'll then receive a confirmation with either a placement offer or information about the waiting list.

Once a place is confirmed, you can apply for the childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) through the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst). More on that later.

How Many Locations Should I Register With?

Many parents wonder how many childcare locations they should sign up with to secure a spot. There's no set maximum, but more isn't always better. Focus on registering with locations that genuinely feel right and are a practical fit for your family.

It's common for parents to register with many locations just to be safe, but this often creates confusion — for both parents and providers. Organisations struggle to know which children will actually be joining them. On top of that, every organisation has a different process, making it easy to lose track of waiting lists and responses.

Tip: start by shortlisting two or three locations you're genuinely excited about. Check their availability, waiting lists, and terms, and then register. This keeps the process manageable and increases your chances of finding a great match.

How Do I Find Childcare Without a Waiting List?

Stay flexible:

• Consider different days (Wednesdays and Fridays tend to be quieter)
• Widen your search area slightly
• Browse Kiddie.nl for all nearby locations — you might discover options you hadn't considered!

Keep in mind that in some regions, demand consistently outstrips supply.

What Should You Do If There Are No Spots Available?

How far away is your intended start date? If it's still several months off, there's no need to panic just yet. Spots tend to become available closer to the start date, and not all organisations plan that far ahead.

Stay in touch with your preferred location — spots can open up unexpectedly. Consider a temporary arrangement with a childminder or an alternative location, with the option to switch later. Flexibility around days can also help, so it's worth discussing the possibilities directly with your preferred provider.

What Can You Expect From a Tour?

During a tour, you'll get a feel for the spaces, meet the team, and hear about the daily programme and educational approach. Make sure to ask about:

• Sleep and meal routines
• Outdoor play
• Illness policy
• Communication with parents

Pay particular attention to the atmosphere: how do the staff talk to the children? How do the children respond to them? Try to have a conversation with the childcare professionals who work directly with the group — these are the people your child will spend the most time with.

Choosing childcare takes time, but Kiddie makes it a whole lot easier. By being able to compare everything in one place — from quality and opening hours to overall atmosphere — your search becomes a journey of discovery towards the place that truly fits your family.

In the next part of this blog, we'll take a closer look at the facilities and environment of childcare locations: what you can expect, what to look out for, and how to recognise quality in practice. That way, you'll be even better equipped to make the right choice with confidence.