Childcare demand soars, union calls for year-long parental leave
The demand for childcare in the Netherlands continues to increase, putting pressure on an already strained sector, according to recent statistics and comments from experts. The labor union CNV proposes granting all new parents a full year of leave after their child’s birth to reduce childcare demand and allow parents to bond with their babies, AD reports.
New data from the CBS reveal that last year, for the first time, over one million children attended daycare, crèche, or after-school care at least once. Additionally, more than 100,000 children also used registered childminders. This rise occurred despite the fact that the target group for childcare—children up to 12 years old—has remained roughly the same size for years.
Waiting lists for childcare already exist, and experts expect the problem to worsen. The Dutch government aims to make childcare almost free in the coming years, but this could dramatically increase demand. A recent forecast by research bureau ABF indicates that in regions such as Het Gooi, the shortage of qualified childcare staff could grow ninefold within ten years under such a scenario.
In absolute terms, the largest shortages are projected for the southwest of Friesland and South Limburg, where an estimated 1,500 childcare professionals will be lacking.
Ed Buitenhek, a childcare advisor with nearly 30 years of experience, warns that even if childcare does not become free, staffing shortages will persist. “The number of MBO graduates in the coming years is decreasing, and employers will compete more aggressively for this group,” he told AD. An MBO diploma is required to work in childcare.
Buitenhek considers the ABF forecast overly optimistic, saying, “It assumes more people will enter the sector if childcare becomes free. I don’t see that happening quickly.” When asked about increased funding, he adds, “Politicians are more likely to invest in elder care than in childcare. The thought is that parents can more easily adjust by asking grandparents for help than the elderly can be expected to increase caregiving.”
The pressure is reportedly especially high in the Randstad area, where children spend the most hours on average in childcare annually. CNV board member Daniëlle Woestenberg confirms that childcare pressure is rising. “The workforce in this sector has already doubled in recent years and would need to double again over the next five years,” she told AD. However, due to fierce competition for qualified workers, she doubts this is feasible.
Woestenberg advocates for extended parental leave for both mothers and fathers to allow stronger parent-child bonding and reduce childcare demand. She points to Sweden’s model, where each parent receives 90 days of leave, plus 300 days to divide between them. The Swedish government pays 80 percent of wages for most of this leave.
She calls for “a year of leave for all parents, but at least equal leave for fathers and mothers.” According to Woestenberg, this is affordable in the bigger picture. “The entire labor market benefits. When you consider the costs of childcare subsidies, allowances, and sickness absence, it balances out if redistributed wisely.”
Buitenhek agrees that expanding parental leave could partially solve childcare staff shortages but warns about consequences in other sectors. “The question is whether the higher quality standards for childcare justify the increased shortages elsewhere in the Netherlands.”
