Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek/CBS) has released a webinar focused on childcare in the Netherlands. The video is available on the official CBS website for policymakers, researchers, parents, and anyone else interested in the data behind the Dutch childcare sector.
What does the webinar cover?
CBS regularly collects and publishes statistics on childcare in the Netherlands, including data on:
- The number of children using daycare centers (kinderdagverblijf/KDV), after-school care (BSO), and childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang)
- Trends in childcare fees and childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) rates
- Regional differences in childcare usage
- Trends in the number of registered childcare locations and available places
CBS webinars are typically designed to make complex statistical data accessible to a broad audience. Researchers and policy staff explain how the figures are compiled and what they mean in practice.
Childcare by the numbers
The childcare sector has been under considerable scrutiny in recent years. With a major system overhaul on the horizon — under which the childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) may be replaced by a model in which the government pays childcare organisations directly — reliable data on usage and costs is more important than ever. CBS plays a central role as an independent source of statistical information in this process.
Previously published CBS figures showed that the use of formal childcare in the Netherlands has risen in recent years, driven in part by higher benefit rates and growing workforce participation among parents. At the same time, affordability and availability of childcare places remain ongoing concerns, particularly in urban areas where waiting lists are common.
What does this mean for parents?
For parents looking for reliable information about the childcare market, the CBS webinar provides a solid starting point. Understanding national trends can help make sense of fee developments and how the childcare benefit system works. The webinar is available to watch on the CBS website. Parents with questions about their personal situation — such as calculating their benefit entitlement or finding a childcare place — can contact the Dutch Tax Authority (Belastingdienst) or use a comparison platform such as kiddie.nl.