Parental leave in Netherlands (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Pregnancy and maternity leave is 16 weeks with a benefit of 100% of the daily wage. Partners get 1 week of fully paid birth leave and up to 5 more weeks of additional birth leave. Parental leave is 26 times the weekly hours per child, of which 9 weeks are paid at 70%.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leaveAn employee is entitled to 16 weeks of paid pregnancy and maternity leave in total. Pregnancy leave starts at the latest 4 weeks before the expected delivery date, and the employer cannot refuse it. If the baby is in hospital for longer than a week, the maternity leave can be up to 10 weeks longer. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveBirth leave for partners is once the weekly working hours (for example 30 hours for 5 days of 6 hours), fully paid by the employer, to be taken within 4 weeks of the birth. Partners can then take up to 5 weeks of additional birth leave (5 times the weekly hours) within 6 months after the birth, after first using the 1 week, with a UWV benefit instead of salary. [2]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveEach parent has the right to parental leave of up to 26 times the weekly working hours for each child, for children up to 8 years old. Of the 26 weeks, 9 are paid (70%) if taken in the child's first year; the rest is unpaid. The employer cannot refuse the leave but can ask for a different schedule because of a serious business interest. [3]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leavePregnancy and maternity benefit is 100% of the daily wage, up to the maximum daily wage, paid by UWV (usually through the employer, who continues the wage). Birth leave of 1 week is paid in full by the employer. Additional birth leave and the 9 paid weeks of parental leave are paid by UWV at up to 70% of the daily wage (and at most 70% of the maximum daily wage). [4]
Job protectionTaking parental leaveAn employer may not dismiss an employee because of pregnancy. The ban also applies during pregnancy leave, maternity leave, the first 6 weeks after maternity leave, and during incapacity caused by pregnancy or birth plus the first 6 weeks after it. Dismissal is possible only in special cases such as closure of the business or department, or serious misconduct. During and after parental leave the employee keeps their own function and contracted hours. [5]

Notes

  • On 29 June 2026 the cabinet announced plans for a new Leave Act (Verlofwet) that would align leave rules, for example a window of about half a year for taking most leave. The pages read do not give a start date.

Sources

  1. Rijksoverheid: Rechten op aangepast werk, aangepaste werktijden en verlof tijdens en na mijn zwangerschap | Rijksoverheid.nl (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Rijksoverheid: Geboorteverlof voor partners | Rijksoverheid.nl (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  3. Rijksoverheid: Wanneer heb ik recht op ouderschapsverlof? | Rijksoverheid.nl (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  4. Rijksoverheid: Hoe kan ik zwangerschapsverlof en een zwangerschapsuitkering aanvragen? | Rijksoverheid.nl (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  5. Rijksoverheid: Mag mijn werkgever mij ontslaan als ik zwanger ben? | Rijksoverheid.nl (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.