Cabinet unveils plan to support the 5.5 million informal carers
The cabinet's informal care agenda 2027–2030 explores possible carer's leave for people who look after a relative, and municipalities get €25 million a year from 2027 under the older-care agreement to support carers.
The cabinet sent a broad plan to support informal carers (mantelzorgers) to the Tweede Kamer on 9 October. Minister Mirjam Sterk (Long-term Care, Youth and Sport) presented the informal care agenda 2027–2030 for the cabinet, together with ministers Vijlbrief and Letschert and junior minister Tielen.
About 5.5 million people in the Netherlands provide informal care, and many also have a paid job or are in education. From 2027, municipalities will receive €25 million a year to improve support for carers, such as respite care and temporary care. The rules for building a home for a carer or a person receiving care (mantelzorgwoning) will also be made easier.
Main measures
- The cabinet is developing scenarios for a possible informal care leave (mantelzorgverlof); the social affairs minister will inform parliament in the first half of 2027.
- The cabinet wants employers and educational institutions to be more aware of informal care, leaving more room for tailored solutions such as more flexible working hours or longer deadlines.
- The mantelzorgwoning scheme will be extended to family homes, so older people who do not yet need direct care can live with their children, or the other way round.
Help from municipalities
The municipal money comes from the outline agreement on care for older people (Hoofdlijnenakkoord Ouderenzorg). Respite care includes short stays away from home and having someone else temporarily take over care tasks. The cabinet and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) are also setting up a team to help municipalities strengthen their support. The cabinet is investing in community building through the community fund (Gemeenschapsfonds) as well.
Informal carers are indispensable and give a face to a caring society. But informal care can also be heavy.Minister Mirjam Sterk
Sterk said carers need proper support: a place to go with questions, easier ways to combine care and work, and the chance to take a break now and then. Parliament will be told periodically how the agenda is progressing.
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Tweede Kamer
The House of Representatives, the lower and more powerful house of the Dutch parliament. Its 150 members are elected directly; it can amend bills and holds the cabinet to account.
mantelzorgers
Informal carers are individuals who provide unpaid, often long-term care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aging family member, friend, or neighbor. This care is a vital component of the Dutch healthcare system, as it allows individuals to maintain their independence and remain in their own homes for longer.
Hoofdlijnenakkoord Ouderenzorg
The main-lines agreement on care for older people is a national administrative framework establishing the goals and funding arrangements for elderly care in the Netherlands. It coordinates efforts between the national government, municipalities, and healthcare partners to ensure that care and support services remain sustainable for an aging population.
VNG (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten)
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities is the umbrella organization that represents the collective interests of all Dutch municipalities at the national level. It negotiates with the national government on policies, legislation, and funding, ensuring local governments have a unified voice when implementing decentralized responsibilities like local healthcare and social services.