Maternity, Partner and Parental Leave in the Netherlands: 16 Weeks, 1+5 Weeks and 9 Paid Weeks Explained

Last updated: October 2, 2026

THE HAGUE – October 1, 2026 | The Dutch Daily

Parental leave Netherlands: Dutch law gives new parents several types of leave. Mothers get at least 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave with a UWV benefit of 100% of their daily wage. Partners get 1 week of birth leave paid by the employer, plus up to 5 weeks of additional birth leave at up to 70%. On top of that, each parent has 26 weeks of parental leave, of which 9 weeks are paid at 70% when taken in the child’s first year. Here is how each type works.

1. Pregnancy and maternity leave: 16 weeks

Pregnant employees are entitled to at least 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave (zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof). During this leave you receive a benefit from UWV of 100% of your daily wage (dagloon), up to a statutory maximum. In most cases your employer applies for the benefit and continues to pay your salary, receiving the benefit from UWV.

• Pregnancy leave starts between 6 and 4 weeks before the expected due date. You choose the start date within that window.
• Maternity leave (bevallingsverlof) follows the birth. Days of pregnancy leave you did not take before the birth are added to your maternity leave.
• If the baby arrives late, you do not lose maternity leave: the extra days of pregnancy leave are added.
• If the baby is hospitalised for a longer period, your maternity leave can in some cases be extended.

Self-employed mothers can apply to UWV for a separate benefit (ZEZ).

Illness caused by pregnancy or childbirth is treated separately from normal sick leave; your employer then pays 100% of your wage. See our guide to sick leave in the Netherlands.

2. Birth leave for partners: 1 week paid by the employer

After the birth, the partner (the father, co-mother or the person who recognises the child) gets 1 working week of birth leave: the number of hours you work per week. Your employer pays your full wage during this week. You can take it at once or spread it over several days, within the first 4 weeks after the birth.

Tell your employer in advance when you plan to take it. Birth leave is a legal right: your employer cannot refuse it.

3. Additional birth leave: up to 5 weeks at 70%

After the first week, partners can take up to 5 weeks of additional birth leave (aanvullend geboorteverlof). During this leave you receive no salary from your employer but a UWV benefit of up to 70% of your daily wage (up to a statutory maximum).

• You must first take the week of regular birth leave.
• You must take the additional leave within 6 months after the birth.
• Ask your employer at least 4 weeks before you want to start. Your employer then applies to UWV for the benefit.
• You can take fewer than 5 weeks, and in some cases spread the weeks.

Some employers top up the 70% to 100%. Check your cao or ask HR.

4. Parental leave: 26 weeks, 9 of them paid

Each parent who works as an employee has the right to parental leave (ouderschapsverlof) of 26 times the number of hours they work per week, for each child, until the child turns 8.

Paid parental leave (betaald ouderschapsverlof)

Of the 26 weeks, 9 weeks are paid if you take them in the first year after the birth (or adoption or foster placement). You then receive a UWV benefit of 70% of your daily wage (up to a statutory maximum). Your employer applies to UWV for you.

• The paid leave lasts at least 1 and at most 9 working weeks: 1 to 9 times your weekly hours.
• You can take it at once or flexibly, for example a few hours a day or a few days a week over several months.
• Weeks of the 9 that you do not take in the first year can be taken later as unpaid parental leave, until the child turns 8.

The remaining 17 weeks

The other 17 weeks are unpaid by law. Some caos and employers pay part of them; check your cao.

Requesting parental leave

Ask your employer in writing at least 2 months before you want to start, and state the period and how you want to divide the hours. Your employer can only change how you spread the leave in limited situations of serious business interest.

5. Example: how a couple can combine leave

A couple who both work 40 hours a week and have a baby could arrange leave like this:

• Mother: 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave at 100%, followed by part of her 9 weeks of paid parental leave, for example one day a week for several months.
• Partner: 1 week of birth leave right after the birth, followed by 5 weeks of additional birth leave at 70%, and later part of the 9 weeks of paid parental leave.

Plan early and put agreements in writing. Because the paid weeks must be taken in the first year, it pays to plan them before your child is born.

6. Other leave you may need

• Calamity leave (calamiteitenverlof): short leave for an emergency, for example when your child suddenly falls ill. Your employer continues to pay you.
• Short-term care leave (kortdurend zorgverlof): to care for a sick child, partner or parent. You receive 70% of your wage.
• Adoption and foster care leave: up to 6 weeks, with a UWV benefit.

7. Money and allowances for new parents

• Child benefit (kinderbijslag) from the SVB; read our guide to the 2026 child benefit amounts.
• Childcare allowance when you go back to work; see our kinderopvangtoeslag guide.
• Kindgebonden budget, an income-dependent allowance for parents, via Mijn toeslagen.

8. Telling your employer and protection against dismissal

Inform your employer of your pregnancy at least 3 weeks before your leave starts, and give a pregnancy statement (zwangerschapsverklaring) from your midwife or doctor showing the due date. Your employer needs it to apply for the UWV benefit.

During your pregnancy, your maternity leave and the first 6 weeks after you return to work, your employer may not dismiss you because of your pregnancy, and there is a general ban on dismissal during pregnancy and maternity leave. If you are on a temporary contract, the contract can still end on its end date, but not renewing it because of your pregnancy is discrimination.

9. Key takeaways

• Mothers get at least 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave at 100% via UWV.
• Partners get 1 week of birth leave paid by the employer and up to 5 more weeks at up to 70%.
• Each parent can take 26 weeks of parental leave; 9 weeks are paid at 70% in the first year.

10. FAQ

How long is maternity leave in the Netherlands?

At least 16 weeks of pregnancy and maternity leave, paid at 100% of the daily wage via UWV.

How much paternity leave do fathers get?

1 week of birth leave paid by the employer, plus up to 5 weeks of additional birth leave at up to 70% via UWV, within 6 months of the birth.

Is parental leave paid in the Netherlands?

9 of the 26 weeks are paid at 70% via UWV if you take them in the child’s first year.

Can my employer refuse parental leave?

No, it is a legal right. In limited cases your employer may ask to change how you spread the hours.

🇳🇱 Dutch Corner

Sources

• Rijksoverheid: geboorteverlof voor partners (1 working week paid by the employer; up to 5 weeks of additional birth leave with a UWV benefit of up to 70%, within 6 months).
• Rijksoverheid: zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof (16 weeks, benefit of 100% of daily wage).
• Rijksoverheid and UWV: betaald ouderschapsverlof (26 weeks parental leave; 9 weeks paid at 70% in the first year; 1 to 9 times weekly hours; rest until age 8 unpaid; employer applies to UWV).
• Rijksoverheid: rechten tijdens zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof (dismissal ban during leave and the first 6 weeks after).
• Rijksoverheid and UWV: zwangerschap melden (at least 3 weeks before leave, pregnancy statement); aanvullend geboorteverlof aanvragen (4 weeks in advance); ouderschapsverlof aanvragen (2 months in advance, in writing).
• Rijksoverheid: zorgverlof and calamiteitenverlof (short-term care leave 2 × weekly hours per year at 70% of wage; employer pays wages during calamity leave; adoption and foster care leave up to 6 weeks).

More in our guide: Moving to the Netherlands – the newcomer guide for internationals

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