You're ready to drop your child off at the daycare center in the morning, but then you get a notification: closed due to heat. How is that possible when you still have to work? Closing during hot weather isn't an arbitrary decision by the childcare provider. There are rules, protocols, and sometimes practical limitations behind it that you as a parent can understand and prepare for.
When Is a Daycare Center Allowed to Close During Hot Weather?
A daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) may close if children's safety or health is at risk. There is no legal maximum temperature that mandates closure, but the RIVM guidelines for childcare indicate that extra measures are needed during extreme heat. This is often the case on a tropical day, when the maximum temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, and especially during extreme weather with temperatures of 35 degrees or more. Guidelines include providing sufficient drinks, reducing physical activity, and maintaining cool spaces. If these measures are insufficient—for example, because the building cannot be cooled or the outdoor play area becomes dangerously hot—closure may be the only option.
The Municipal Health Service (GGD) checks whether childcare locations meet quality requirements, but does not have a specific heat threshold. However, inspectors do review the general safety policy. A childcare provider that structurally lacks a heat plan can be called to account for this. Closure due to heat usually falls under force majeure, which means the provider is not liable and you typically still have to pay.
What Is in Your Childcare Provider's Heat Protocol?
Every daycare center should have a heat protocol. This describes what signals trigger action and what steps are taken before a decision to close is made. Typical components include: giving extra water, playing more indoors, keeping shutters or sun blinds closed, and adjusting the daily schedule. Some locations work with a temperature threshold, while others base their decision on the perceived temperature or air quality.
Ask about this protocol during a tour or when registering. What does the location monitor? Who makes the decision? And how quickly are you informed? A good protocol makes clear whether there is first an attempt to stay open with adjusted working methods, or whether closure is immediately on the table. It is also relevant to know whether there is a backup location where children can go during hot weather.
How Does a Tropical Schedule Work at a Daycare Center?
A tropical schedule is a common measure during warm weather, particularly when temperatures persistently exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Children then come inside earlier or stay indoors longer, outdoor activities are moved to the morning, and extra attention is paid to hydration and rest periods. The goal is to reduce heat exposure without fully closing the childcare.
Difference Between Early Closure and Full-Day Closure
Early closure means your child is still cared for part of the day, but needs to be picked up earlier. If the daycare is closed all day, you have no childcare at all. This trade-off is made very carefully. A provider often closes early if the heat is worst in the afternoon, or if staff cannot work under these conditions all day. Full closure occurs if the temperature is already irresponsible in the morning, or if the infrastructure simply does not allow children to be kept safe.
What Does This Mean for Your Working Hours?
If the daycare center suddenly closes due to heat, you're left pulling your hair out. So discuss in advance, or when it gets warmer, with your employer how you will handle this. Do you have flexible working hours, work-from-home options, or the possibility to take leave? Some employers accept childcare issues as an emergency; others do not. Do not claim parental leave; this is intended for structural caregiving responsibilities, not for incidental closures.
A practical tip: arrange an emergency network. This could be a babysitter, family member, or another parent who can step in. The less you have to improvise at the last minute, the less stressful it will be.
What Can You Arrange Yourself If the Daycare Center Is Closed?
If the childcare closes, your options are limited, but they do exist. First check whether there is another childcare location within the same organization, for example a branch in a cooler building or a cooperating childminder. Some childcare organizations offer this as standard; others do not.
A second option is to engage a childminder/host parent (gastouderopvang). Childminder/host parent care is more flexible and often takes place in a residential home that can be cooled more easily than a large daycare center. You can also look into emergency childcare through your municipality, although this is usually reserved for parents with critical professions. Finally: discuss with your partner who can provide care on which day, and coordinate this with your employers. This prevents confusion when the heat strikes.
Get Started: How to Check the Heat Policy in Advance
Don't wait until the first heatwave. Ask your current or future daycare center about their heat protocol, communication channels, and any alternatives in case of closure. A location that is transparent about this gives you the chance to prepare. Also compare different childcare locations on this point—some invest in air conditioning or sun blinds, others do not.
On Kiddie.nl you can compare daycare centers based on their facilities and GGD report, among other things. This way you find childcare that fits your work situation and where you won't be caught off guard when the thermometer rises.