In childcare, there is a legal requirement: everyone who works with children must hold a valid VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct). That may sound straightforward, but most parents don't know what's actually behind that requirement. From application to registration — in this blog, we explain how the VOG works and what it means for your child's safety.
What exactly is a VOG?
VOG stands for Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, which translates to Certificate of Good Conduct. It is an official document issued by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, confirming that a person's criminal history does not pose any objection to the role for which the certificate is being requested. The VOG is not a general character reference — it is a targeted screening based on the nature of the work.
For childcare, a specific screening profile is used: working with children. This profile is more stringent than the standard VOG. It looks not only at convictions, but also at ongoing cases and dismissed charges that may be relevant to child safety. A staff member applying for a VOG for childcare is therefore assessed differently than someone who needs a VOG for, say, an administrative role.
The VOG is applied for by the employee themselves, but the employer (the childcare organisation) is responsible for requesting and retaining it.
What does a VOG mean for your child's safety?
Without a valid VOG, no one is permitted to work in childcare. It is one of the legal safeguards built in by the government to guarantee safety in childcare settings. It is not a foolproof system, but it does create a serious barrier: people with a relevant criminal history cannot obtain a valid VOG for working with children, and are therefore not permitted to work at a daycare center (kinderdagverblijf/KDV), after-school care (BSO), or as a childminder (gastouderopvang).
Why is a VOG mandatory in childcare?
The requirement is enshrined in the Childcare Act (Wet kinderopvang). The reasoning is simple: children in childcare are young and vulnerable, and parents cannot be present all day. The government has therefore made a baseline level of screening mandatory for everyone who works with children on a structural basis. This applies not only to childcare workers, but also to interns working independently, volunteers, and even people who are regularly present at the location — such as a handyman who comes in on a regular basis. Substitute staff must also hold a valid VOG.
The same requirement applies to childminders (gastouders). They must have a VOG before they can start working through a childminder agency (gastouderbureau). The agency is responsible for verifying this.
What happens if a staff member doesn't have a valid VOG?
Every childcare setting is subject to an unannounced annual inspection by the Municipal Health Service (GGD). If an inspection reveals that a staff member is working without a valid VOG, this is a serious violation. The GGD can advise the municipality to take enforcement action, which may result in a formal warning or, in extreme cases, closure of the location.
It's important to know that an expired VOG is also a problem. The law stipulates that the VOG must be current at the time a person starts working. There is no statutory expiry date for an existing VOG, but the GGD does check whether the VOG was issued before the employee's start date.
What is checked during a VOG application for childcare?
For a childcare VOG application, the screening profile used is Working with children and/or people with an intellectual disability. This is one of the most rigorous profiles available. It means that the applicant's criminal records are reviewed to assess whether any past offences pose a risk in the context of working with children.
This goes beyond convictions alone. Settlements (where someone pays a fine without going to court), conditional dismissals, and ongoing criminal cases can all be grounds for refusing a VOG. The assessment is always context-dependent: the authorities weigh the seriousness of the offence, how long ago it occurred, and whether it is relevant to the role.
If the VOG is refused, the applicant receives a letter explaining the reason. The applicant can lodge an objection, but as long as there is no valid VOG, that person may not work in childcare.
How can you check this as a parent?
As a parent, you can verify whether all childcare professionals at a location hold a valid VOG. First, you can consult the Childcare Personnel Register (Personenregister Kinderopvang). This register lists all individuals working in childcare, including whether they hold the required qualifications and a valid VOG.
Second, you can check whether these current VOG and personnel registrations are accurate. You can find this information in the annual GGD inspection report: a GGD inspector verifies all of this during the inspection. On Kiddie.nl, you have access to a clear summary of these reports for each childcare location, so you can see at a glance whether any violations have been recorded. You also have access to the full report.