Childcare allowance calculator 2026
Do you work and does your child go to a day nursery, out-of-school care or a childminder? Then you get a large part of the costs back. See what childcare costs you after the allowance.
- Free
- Anonymous, no DigiD needed
- Your data stays on your phone
- Based on the official 2026 rules
Maximum hourly rate 2026
| Type of childcare | Maximum hourly rate | At 96% contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Day care (kinderdagverblijf) | €11.23 | €10.78 |
| Out-of-school care (BSO) | €9.98 | €9.58 |
| Childminder (gastouder) | €8.49 | €8.15 |
Is your hourly rate higher than the maximum? Then you pay the difference entirely yourself. You get the allowance for up to 230 hours per child per month.
Which percentage do you get back?
Up to a joint assessment income of €56,412 you get 96% of the maximum hourly rate. Above that, the percentage goes down. For the second and every next child it goes down more slowly.
| Joint income | First child | Second and next child |
|---|---|---|
| up to €56,412 | 96% | 96% |
| €70,000 | 90.2% | 94.8% |
| €80,000 | 85.9% | 93.9% |
| €90,000 | 79% | 92.2% |
| €100,000 | 72.1% | 90.5% |
| €120,000 | 60.6% | 87.9% |
| €140,000 | 50% | 84.5% |
| €160,000 | 39.5% | 81.1% |
| €200,000 | 36.5% | 74.3% |
| Highest incomes | 36.5% | 68.2% |
The official table has 69 income brackets. Our calculator works between known points of that table, so the result can differ by about 1 percentage point. The ‘first child’ is the child with the highest childcare costs.
Who can get childcare allowance?
- You and your allowance partner both work (or follow a course or a route to work).
- The childcare is listed in the national childcare register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang, LRK).
- You have a written agreement with the childcare provider and pay your own part by bank transfer.
- There is no asset limit for childcare allowance.
Apply on time: apply within 3 months after the month in which childcare starts. Otherwise you miss out on allowance.
Tip: the complete check calculates all allowances in one go, and also shows schemes from your municipality.
Frequently asked questions
How much childcare allowance do I get in 2026?
Up to a joint income of €56,412 you get 96% of the maximum hourly rate. For day care that is €10.78 per hour.
Is there an income limit for childcare allowance?
No. Even with a high income you get part of it back: at least 36.5% for the first child and 68.2% for the next children.
Do both parents have to work?
As a rule, yes. The number of hours worked no longer matters, but you do have to work. If you stop working, you keep the right for 3 more months.