Childcare benefit to be scrapped entirely in 2029, minister says

State Secretary Tielen (Education and Emancipation) and Ministers Hermans (Health), Sterk (Long-term Care, Youth and Sport) and Aartsen (Work and Participation) told the Tweede Kamer in a letter that the cabinet wants organisations and ministries involved in raising young children to work together more and better, with each other and with parents. The cabinet will investigate how child health clinics (consultatiebureaus), childcare and schools can better share information on children's broad development. The aim is to give extra support early and to make sure no child starts primary school with a language delay.

Aartsen: "We are making childcare more affordable for working parents every year, in order to be able to abolish the childcare benefit entirely in 2029."

It will also temporarily become possible for toddlers and preschoolers to spend time together during school hours. This is meant to ease the move from childcare to school.

Sterk called local municipal teams indispensable and said agreements are being made on cooperation between them, childcare and schools. Tielen said language is the basis of all learning.

Aartsen and the state secretary for Finance are working on a new funding system for childcare and, in time, a single scheme merging child benefit (kinderbijslag) and the child-linked budget (kindgebonden budget). The cabinet is also working on a one-stop shop where parents can in future find all financial schemes for young children. The Kansrijke Start approach, in which municipalities, youth healthcare, maternity care and libraries support families at home, is to be rolled out nationwide by 2030.