Secretary of State Jurgen Nobel: “Childminder care is a solution for working parents looking for flexible care or a home-like environment for their child. I am pleased that we are now going to improve its quality. Childminders themselves can also qualify for allowances if their own children are cared for by another childminder. This makes it more attractive to work as a childminder."

The bill has been drafted in consultation with national sector parties and oversight organizations. The measures will take effect from July 1, 2026. Childminders and childminder agencies therefore have just over a year to prepare.

The law will be amended in the following ways:

• Childminder care must meet the same pedagogical basic goals that also apply to daycare and out-of-school care in a childcare center.
• A childminder may be affiliated with a maximum of two childminder agencies. There are two exceptions: ongoing contracts with parents do not need to be terminated. And childminders may temporarily be affiliated with three childminder agencies during the period they are transitioning to a new agency.
• When counting the number of children that may be cared for, the own children of the childminder will now be counted up to the age of eight. Previously, this was ten years.
• Childminders are entitled to childcare allowance if their own children are cared for by another childminder. Until now, there has only been a right to allowance if the children of the childminder are cared for by a daycare center or out-of-school care.

Coaching and Training

Underlying regulations will stipulate that childminder agencies will provide pedagogical coaching to childminders. Every childminder is entitled to at least three hours of coaching per year. Childminders will also undergo training and work with a pedagogical work plan.

Apart from the bill, the cabinet has recently announced targeted measures to maintain the supply of childminder care in the Netherlands. New childminders can expect reimbursement of a large part of their training costs. A campaign is intended to increase the visibility and attractiveness of childminder care.