More childcare locations in Harderwijk fail to meet legal requirements
More than a quarter of inspected childcare locations in Harderwijk were found to be in violation of regulations by the Municipal Health Service (GGD) in 2025. That share rose in a single year from 21 percent to 28 percent, according to research by childcare platform Kiddie.
A growing supply — but also growing violations
Harderwijk had a total of 51 registered childcare locations in 2025, significantly more than the 38 recorded the previous year. The share of locations with violations grew to 28 percent. This puts Harderwijk below the Gelderland average of 22 percent.
For a mid-sized municipality that has seen rapid growth in childcare provision over a short period, this is a warning sign that quality assurance has not always kept pace with the swift expansion.
Food safety emerges as the biggest concern
The most striking finding in 2025 is the dominance of food safety violations. At seven locations, the GGD found that food or temperature standards were not being met. This can include refrigerators running too warm, products without labels or expiry dates, or a lack of temperature monitoring.
For babies and toddlers, this is far from a minor issue: young children are considerably more vulnerable to foodborne illness than adults. The fact that this is the most common violation makes it all the more concerning.
A shift compared to 2024
For context: food safety did not feature in Harderwijk's top three violations in 2024. That year, the most common issues involved shortcomings related to mandatory reporting obligations. The shift from administrative to safety-related violations is notable.
Enforcement recommendations and rejected locations
Eight locations in Harderwijk received an enforcement recommendation in 2025 — up from six the year before. This means the GGD considered the violations serious enough to notify the local municipality. When serious violations or repeat offences are identified, the GGD issues an enforcement recommendation to the municipality. The childcare location is then required to address the shortcomings within a set timeframe, after which a follow-up inspection takes place.
Two locations were also rejected outright. A rejection is the most severe verdict the GGD can issue: inspectors identified shortcomings so serious that the care provided could no longer be considered safe and responsible.
How does a GGD inspection work?
The GGD carries out unannounced annual inspections at all registered childcare locations. These cover areas including safety, hygiene, the educational environment, and staff qualifications. Following the inspection, locations receive a report detailing the findings. All inspection reports are publicly available and accessible to parents.
