After the Ministry of Social Affairs initially said that it was too late to make any changes to the benefits rates for 2023, on Tuesday the Dutch government announced a further increase to the national childcare benefit in order to help cover the rising cost of childcare in the Netherlands.
In November, RTL Nieuws reported that the cost of childcare in the Netherlands was rising by an average of 8,5 percent in the new year, but that parents with jobs would only see their childcare benefits rise by 5,6 percent. At the time, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Affairs told RTL Nieuws that nothing could be done to increase the financial support for working parents.
The discrepancy meant countless families were left worrying about how they would cover their childcare costs in the new year, with some even considering quitting their jobs in order to take over childcare responsibilities. Ultimately, pressure from parents and parent associations resulted in the government announcing that it would in fact be raising the childcare benefit rate by 6,54 percent instead of the previously announced 5,6 percent.
Now, just one week after the government broke the news, a statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs has announced a further increase for child benefits. Overall, the maximum hourly rates will increase by an additional of 1,74 percent, meaning a total increase of 7,32 percent for 2023.
In real terms, this means the maximum hourly rate for daycare and after-school care (BSO) will rise to 9,12 euros and 7,85 euros respectively. The Ministry still aims for the increases to be applied retroactively to 2023 benefits payments that have already been paid out.