Maternity leave in the Netherlands: how zwangerschapsverlof works
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Employees in the Netherlands get at least 16 weeks of pregnancy and birth leave, paid by UWV at 100% of the daily wage up to a maximum. Leave starts 6 to 4 weeks before the day after your due date, and at least 10 weeks follow the birth. Partners get 1 paid week plus up to 5 weeks at 70%. Self-employed mothers can claim the ZEZ benefit.
The short version
| Leave | Who | How long | Pay, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zwangerschapsverlof + bevallingsverlof (pregnancy and birth leave) | Pregnant employee, or a person on WW, sickness or WGA benefit | At least 16 weeks; at least 20 for twins or more | UWV: 100% of average daily income, up to the maximum daily wage |
| ZEZ benefit | Self-employed mother | At least 16 weeks; at least 20 for a multiple birth | UWV: up to the national minimum wage |
| Geboorteverlof (birth leave) | Partner, employee | Once the weekly working hours (1 working week), within 4 weeks of the birth | Employer: 100% of salary |
| Aanvullend geboorteverlof (additional birth leave) | Partner, employee | Up to 5 times the weekly working hours, within 6 months | UWV: 70% of daily wage, up to 70% of the maximum |
| Ouderschapsverlof (parental leave) | Each employed parent | 26 times the weekly working hours, until the child turns 8 | 9 weeks paid by UWV at 70% of daily wage if taken in the first year; the rest unpaid |
Sources: UWV, Government.nl and Rijksoverheid.
Pregnancy and birth leave, step by step
How long
UWV states that as an employee you are entitled to paid maternity leave of at least 16 weeks. It has two parts:
- Pregnancy leave (zwangerschapsverlof), taken in one go before the birth, 4 to 6 weeks.
- Birth leave (bevallingsverlof): from the day after the birth, at least 10 weeks. At least 6 of those 10 weeks must be taken straight after the birth; the remaining weeks can be spread over a period of up to 30 weeks.
For a multiple birth, the minimum is 20 weeks, with 8 to 10 weeks taken before the expected date.
When it starts
To find your start date, count back from the day after your due date, and choose any date between 6 and 4 weeks before it. Public holidays count as ordinary leave days.
| If your baby comes... | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early | Unused pregnancy leave is added to your birth leave. Tell your employer if the baby arrives before your leave starts |
| Late | You still get at least 10 weeks after the birth, so the total can exceed 16 weeks |
| And needs a hospital stay of more than 7 days | You might be entitled to up to 9 weeks of extended leave |
Source: UWV.
How much you receive
UWV pays 100% of your full average daily income (holiday pay included), capped at the maximum daily wage (maximumdagloon); your employer may top it up above the cap. In most cases, UWV pays the benefit to your employer, who continues to pay your salary as usual.
What you need to do
- Get a pregnancy statement (zwangerschapsverklaring) from your doctor or midwife. It shows your due date. UWV asks you to keep it for at least 1 year after your leave ends.
- Tell your employer you are pregnant, at least 3 weeks before your leave starts (UWV recommends earlier), and the date you want your leave to start.
- Your employer applies to UWV for your maternity pay, 4 to 2 weeks before your leave starts.
- Fall ill? Tell your employer straight away. Rijksoverheid explains that sick days between 6 and 4 weeks before the due date, when you are not yet on leave, are counted as pregnancy leave and cannot be added to your birth leave.
If you receive unemployment (WW), sickness or WGA benefit, you apply to UWV yourself and receive maternity pay instead of your benefit, Government.nl explains.
Self-employed: the ZEZ benefit
If you are self-employed (zzp), you can apply to UWV for the ZEZ benefit. UWV lists the groups who qualify, including self-employed professionals and freelancers, self-employed people with a profitable business, majority shareholder-directors and partners working in their spouse's business.
- Duration: at least 16 weeks (20 for a multiple birth), calculated like the employee leave.
- Start date: between 6 and 4 weeks before the day after your due date (10 to 8 for a multiple birth).
- When to apply: between 2 and 4 weeks before your start date. You can apply later, but within 1 year, or you may lose part of the benefit.
- Amount: never more than the national minimum wage. If you worked at least 1,225 hours in the calendar year before the benefit starts, you receive the full minimum wage; with fewer hours, it is based on your income or profit.
- You need: your BSN, your income from your tax return, your working hours, whether you will hire a replacement, and your due date.
You may keep working while you receive ZEZ without affecting it, UWV says.
Leave for your partner
Birth leave (geboorteverlof). A partner in paid employment gets one working week (once the number of weekly working hours), paid at 100% by the employer. It must be taken within 4 weeks of the birth. Apply in writing (letter or email) in advance or as soon as possible after the birth; the employer cannot refuse it.
Additional birth leave (aanvullend geboorteverlof). After the first week, the partner can take up to 5 weeks, within 6 months of the birth, with a UWV benefit of 70% of the daily wage, up to 70% of the maximum. Ask the employer at least 4 weeks before it starts; if the baby comes early, as soon as possible. The employer applies to UWV.
Self-employed partners have no right to birth leave, Rijksoverheid states.
Paid parental leave
Each employed parent has 26 times their weekly working hours of parental leave, to use until the child turns 8. Of this, 9 weeks are paid by UWV at 70% of the daily wage (up to 70% of the maximum) if taken in the first year. Request it in writing at least 2 months before it starts. Your employer cannot refuse the leave itself, but can ask to change how the hours are spread for a serious business reason, up to 4 weeks before the start.
A worked example: a partner who works 5 days of 8 hours (40 hours a week) has 40 hours of paid birth leave, up to 200 hours of additional birth leave, and 26 x 40 = 1,040 hours of parental leave, of which 9 x 40 = 360 hours are paid if taken in the first year.
Your rights at work while pregnant
Rijksoverheid lists these protections:
- No dismissal because you are pregnant, or during pregnancy leave, birth leave, the first 6 weeks after birth leave, or illness caused by pregnancy or birth (and 6 weeks after). Exceptions exist, such as the company closing. If you disagree with a dismissal during pregnancy or leave, you can ask the court within 2 months to reverse it.
- A temporary contract does not have to be renewed, but your pregnancy may not be the reason it is not renewed.
- Adapted working hours during pregnancy and up to 6 months after the birth: extra breaks (up to one eighth of your daily working time), regular hours, a lockable room to rest, and no overtime or night shifts unless your employer can show it is necessary.
- Prenatal appointments during working hours, with pay for the appointment and travel time.
- Breastfeeding or pumping during working time during your baby's first 9 months.
Good to know
Expat contracts sometimes add more: company maternity top-ups, longer paid leave or relocation support. Ask HR for the maternity section of your contract and your collective agreement (cao), and keep their written answers.
Questions to ask HR
For the partner
Put the 4-week deadline for birth leave and the 6-month window for additional leave in your calendar now. If you plan additional leave, warn your employer at least 4 weeks ahead; with an uncertain due date, link your request to the birth date.
Next steps
Once the leave is planned, read registering your baby, the BSN and the IND permit and how to book kraamzorg, or go back to the complete Netherlands guide.
Questions parents ask
How long is maternity leave in the Netherlands?
At least 16 weeks for an employee, made up of pregnancy leave before the birth and at least 10 weeks of birth leave after it. For a multiple birth, at least 20 weeks. If your baby is hospitalised for more than 7 days after the birth, UWV says you might be entitled to up to 9 extra weeks.
Is Dutch maternity leave paid?
Yes. UWV pays 100% of your average daily income, up to the maximum daily wage (maximumdagloon); your employer may top it up. In most cases UWV pays your employer, who keeps paying your salary.
When does maternity leave start in the Netherlands?
You choose a start date between 6 and 4 weeks before the day after your due date. Tell your employer at least 3 weeks before the leave starts; your employer applies to UWV 4 to 2 weeks before the start.
Do expats get Dutch maternity leave?
The rules apply to employees working for an employer and to people receiving certain UWV benefits, and the ZEZ benefit covers the self-employed. If you are posted from abroad and insured in another country, ask your employer and UWV which system applies to you.
Sources
- UWV — Maternity pay if you have an employment contract checked October 13, 2026
- UWV — Maternity pay if you are self-employed (the ZEZ benefit) checked October 13, 2026
- Government.nl — Applying for maternity leave checked October 13, 2026
- Government.nl — Applying for birth leave checked October 13, 2026
- Rijksoverheid — Geboorteverlof voor partners checked October 13, 2026
- Rijksoverheid — Hoe vraag ik aanvullend geboorteverlof aan? checked October 13, 2026
- Rijksoverheid — Wanneer heb ik recht op betaald ouderschapsverlof? checked October 13, 2026
- Government.nl — Applying for parental leave checked October 13, 2026
- Rijksoverheid — Mag mijn werkgever mij ontslaan als ik zwanger ben? checked October 13, 2026
- Rijksoverheid — Rechten op aangepast werk, werktijden en verlof tijdens en na de zwangerschap checked October 13, 2026
- De Verloskundige (KNOV) — Spontaan gebroken vliezen checked October 13, 2026
- De Verloskundige (KNOV) — Bewegingen van je baby in je buik checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.