Daycare center De Kruiwagen (kinderdagverblijf/KDV) in Haaksbergen has expanded its services with after-school care (BSO). With this move, the organization is transitioning from pure daycare for young children to a broader offering that also includes school-age children, reports Haaksbergen in Beeld.
From Daycare to Broad Offering
The expansion of De Kruiwagen fits a national trend in which childcare organizations are increasingly offering multiple forms of care under one roof. For parents, this means they can place their children from toddler age through primary school age with the same trusted organization.
The Dutch childcare system recognizes three main forms: daycare (for children up to 4 years), after-school care (BSO) (for school-age children up to 12 years), and childminder/host parent care (gastouderopvang). Many parents combine these forms throughout their child's upbringing. By offering both forms, De Kruiwagen can create a continuous line in care and pedagogical approach.
Implications for the Childcare Market in Haaksbergen
The expansion comes at a time when demand for childcare in many municipalities is under pressure due to staff shortages and rising costs. For an organization like De Kruiwagen, diversifying its offering can be a way to make operations more robust and achieve economies of scale.
The municipality of Haaksbergen falls within the Twente region, where various initiatives have been launched in recent years to make childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) more accessible and safeguard the quality of care. All recognized childcare organizations in the Netherlands fall under supervision of the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and must comply with the requirements of the Childcare Act.
What Does This Mean for Parents?
For parents in Haaksbergen and surrounding areas, the expansion of De Kruiwagen offers several practical benefits:
- Continuity: Children can remain within the same organization, easing the transition from daycare to school and after-school care
- Familiarity: Parents do not need to search for a new care location when their child turns 4
- Childcare benefit: BSO falls under the same scheme as daycare, allowing parents to apply for benefit through the Tax and Customs Administration — the amount depends on income and number of care hours
- School coordination: BSO organizations typically collaborate with primary schools for picking up and dropping off children
Parents interested in a place at De Kruiwagen would be wise to respond promptly. In many regions, waiting lists apply for both daycare and BSO, especially for flexible or part-time care. Through the national system kinderopvang.nl, parents can consult the recognition details of the location and register their child.