Paternity leave in the Netherlands
What is Paternity Leave?
If your wife has given birth, you are entitled to leave as a partner. Birth leave for short , is the new term used to indicate paternity leave. It is the period that you get to spend with your wife and your newborn baby after the birth.
In the Netherlands, since 1 July 2020, the paternity leave has been extended. You are now entitled to 6 weeks of birth leave in total.
The paternity leave consists of two parts:
This consists of once the number of hours you work per week. If you work 36 hours, you also get 36 hours off. So you get one working week off. You can arrange these days at your own discretion, but must be taken during the first 4 weeks after the birth. You will continue to be paid in full during this leave.
This consists of 5 extra working weeks of leave. You can arrange these according to your own choice, in consultation with your employer . You can record them consecutively, but you can also spread them over several months. You must take them within the first 6 months after the birth of your child.
During these additional weeks, you will receive 70% of your wages. Your employer receives a benefit from the UWV for this and pays this to you. Your employer may supplement this up to 100% wages. It is often stated in your collective labor agreement whether this is customary.
When are you entitled to birth leave?
You are entitled to birth leave if you are in paid employment.
In addition, it is important that you are seen as a 'partner' by law. This is automatically the case with a marriage or registered partnership. If you are not married and not a registered partner of each other, you must acknowledge your child . Only if you have acknowledged your child, you are legally the partner of the mother.
You are also entitled to birth leave if you adopt a child or take a foster child into your family. Previously, you were given 4 weeks of paid 'bondage leave'. Now this has been extended to 6 weeks.
What happens if you’re self-employed?
There is no provision for leave for self-employed dads in the Netherlands.
I hope the information will be of benefit to you and your partner. Congratulations on the baby on the way or already born.
See you next recommendations :) Remember, always have courage and always be kind,
With love