Parental leave
Maternity, partner, parental, and adoption or foster leave in the Netherlands: what employees are entitled to, how it's paid, and how to request it.
Pregnant people are entitled to attend prenatal check-ups during working hours without using holiday hours. The pregnant person's salary continues in full during these absences. This is a statutory right under the Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet), separate from the pregnancy leave entitlement.
Overview of terms
Maternity leave
Zwangerschapsverlof en bevallingsverlof
Mother
16 weeks
16 weeks total, before and after birth (UWV benefit, 100%)
Partner leave
Geboorteverlof
Father/Partner
1 week
1 week (100% salary, employer paid)
Additional partner leave
Aanvullend geboorteverlof
Father/Partner
5 weeks
5 weeks (UWV benefit, 70%)
Paid parental leave
Betaald ouderschapsverlof
Mother or Father/Partner
9 weeks
Up to 9 weeks (UWV benefit, 70%)
Maternity leave
Initial maternity leave (zwangerschapsverlof & bevallingsverlof)
Before and after birth
The pregnant person is entitled to 16 weeks* of pregnancy leave, which can start between 4 to 6 weeks before the expected date of birth.
*In case of multiple births, this leave is extended to 20 weeks.
The pregnant person chooses how to distribute the weeks around the expected birth date:
- 4 weeks → expected birth → 12 weeks
- 5 weeks → expected birth → 11 weeks
- 6 weeks → expected birth → 10 weeks
In case of a delayed birth, extra days beyond the expected date are added to the 16 weeks, extending the leave. In case of an early birth, the leave dates stay as initially planned.
Pre-birth
4-6 weeks
no, must be taken in one go
no, must be taken in one goPost-birth (weeks 1-6)
6 weeks
no, must be taken in one go
no, must be taken in one goPost-birth (week 7 onwards)
4 remaining weeks
yes, can be divided into days off per week over 30 weeks
yes, can be divided into days off per week over 30 weeksIf the pregnant person becomes sick:
- During the "flexibiliseringsperiode" (the 2-week flexibility period, 6 to 4 weeks before the due date), the leave starts automatically, whether or not the sickness is pregnancy-related.
- Before the "flexibiliseringsperiode" (until 6 weeks before the due date), only pregnancy-related illness triggers special provisions. Non-pregnancy-related illness follows the normal sick leave policy.
⚠️ The pregnant person must submit a Pregnancy form (a statement from the pregnant person's GP or midwife confirming the pregnancy and due date) to the employer no later than 3 weeks before the intended start of pregnancy leave.
The employer requests this WAZO benefit from UWV between 4 and 2 weeks before the leave starts (see UWV: Zwangerschapsverlof aanvragen ).
Paid parental leave
Until the child is 1 year old
After the 16 weeks of maternity leave, the employee can take up to 9 weeks of paid parental leave until the child turns 1**.
** Up to 16 weeks, in case of multiple births.
These weeks can be adjusted to the employee's working schedule, for example to extend maternity leave or reduce weekly working hours.
***See the useful links below for how UWV calculates the paid parental leave benefit. Spoiler alert: it's complicated.
This benefit is always requested from UWV retroactively, after the employee has taken at least part of the leave (see UWV: Betaald ouderschapsverlof aanvragen ).
Unpaid parental leave
Until the child is 8 years old
The employee can also take an additional 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave, spread out until the child turns 8 years old.
Since there's no UWV benefit attached to this leave, it's arranged directly between the employee, employer and payroll. The UWV doesn't need to be notified or involved.
Partner leave
In case of multiple births, partner leave doesn't change.
Initial partner leave
Following birth
Partners get 1 week of paid partner leave. It's fully paid by the employer, and the UWV doesn't need to be involved for this one.
It's mandatory, and must be taken within 4 weeks of the birth. It can be taken flexibly: as one full week or as individual days off, as long as it's all used within that 4-week window.
Paid partner leave
Until the child is 6 months old (aanvullend geboorteverlof)
Partners can take up to 5 weeks of additional birth leave within the first 6 months after the birth. This leave is paid at 70% of the employee's daily wage, capped at 70% of the UWV's daily maximum cap .
This leave is flexible too: the employee can take it as consecutive weeks or spread it out over the 6-month window.
Until the child is 1 year old (betaald ouderschapsverlof)
Partners can also take paid parental leave, up to a maximum of 9 weeks, until the child turns 1. This leave is paid at 70% of the employee's daily wage, capped at 70% of the UWV's daily maximum cap .
If the employee doesn't use all of the paid parental leave within the first year, the remainder can be converted into unpaid parental leave (see 'Unpaid partner leave' below).
The employee can submit a maximum of 3 requests per type of leave in the UWV portal. All requests go in as weeks, not days.
E.g. If the employee takes 1 day off per week as part of parental leave, the employer waits 5 weeks before submitting a request for 1 full week.
Unpaid partner leave
Until the child is 8 years old
Partners have the same unpaid parental leave options as mothers: up to 26 weeks, spread out until the child turns 8.
Since there's no UWV benefit attached to this leave, it's arranged directly between the employee, employer and payroll. The UWV doesn't need to be notified or involved.
Adoption and foster care leave (Adoptie- en pleegzorgverlof)
Upon placement of the child
An employee adopting or taking in a foster child is entitled to 6 weeks of leave around the placement. This applies to both parents and can be taken separately by each.
The leave can be spread flexibly within a window of 4 weeks before and 22 weeks after the child's arrival. It's paid at 100% of the UWV's daily maximum cap , through a UWV benefit that the employer applies for on the employee's behalf.
The employee chooses how to distribute the leave within that window, for example:
- 0 weeks → placement → 6 weeks
- 2 weeks → placement → 4 weeks
- 4 weeks → placement → 2 weeks
- 6 weeks → placement → 0 weeks
The employee decides whether to take the 6 weeks as one continuous block or spread out, the employer can't impose either option. Taking it as one block is and automatic right, no discussion needed. If the employee wants to spread it instead, they discuss the timing with the employer, who can only push back on that timing for serious business reasons, not refuse the leave itself.
Useful links
- Paid Parental Leave (UWV) , includes how UWV calculates your paid parental leave benefit
- I am pregnant and have an employer (UWV)
- Netherlands, Parenthood (European Commission)
- What types of leave are there? (Government of the Netherlands)
- Arranging paid parental leave for an employee (UWV)
- About additional partner's leave (UWV)
- Maximum daily wage (UWV)
Full overview of all leave types
Maternity leave
Zwangerschapsverlof en bevallingsverlof
Mother
16 weeks (20 for multiples)
UWV, 100% (capped at max daily wage)
Partly: choose 4, 5, or 6 weeks before birth, remainder after
Yes, employer requests the WAZO benefit from UWV
In advance, between 4 and 2 weeks before the leave starts
Around the (expected) birth date
Initial partner leave
Geboorteverlof
Partner
1 week (weekly working hours)
Employer, 100%
Yes
No, arranged directly with the employer
Inform the employer before or as soon as possible after the birth
Within 4 weeks after birth
Paid partner leave (additional)
Aanvullend geboorteverlof
Partner
Up to 5 weeks
UWV, 70% (capped at max daily wage)
Yes
Yes, employer requests the benefit from UWV
Retroactively, after at least part of the leave has been taken
Within 6 months after birth
Paid parental leave
Betaald ouderschapsverlof
Mother or partner
Up to 9 weeks
UWV, 70% (capped at max daily wage)
Yes
Yes, employer requests the benefit from UWV, in full-week increments only, max 3 requests
Retroactively, after at least part of the leave has been taken
Within the child's first year
Unpaid parental leave
Onbetaald ouderschapsverlof
Mother
Remaining weeks up to 26 total
None, unpaid
Yes
No, arranged between the employee, employer and payroll
N/A, no UWV submission involved
Until the child turns 8
Unpaid partner leave
Onbetaald ouderschapsverlof
Partner
Remaining weeks up to 26 total
None, unpaid
Yes
No, arranged between the employee, employer and payroll
N/A, no UWV submission involved
Until the child turns 8
Adoption and foster care leave
Adoptie- en pleegzorgverlof
Both parents (separately)
Up to 6 weeks
UWV, 100% (capped at max daily wage)
Yes
Yes, employer requests the benefit from UWV
In advance, between 4 and 2 weeks before the leave starts
4 weeks before to 22 weeks after placement