You’re pregnant — now what?! We’re happy to help you get started with everything that needs to be arranged. To help you along, we’ve created the overview below.
The Dutch government’s website also offers a handy checklist that you can create by answering a few questions.
What do you need to arrange?
View the government checklist
Make sure to arrange maternity care in time!
Maternity care
Ideally, arrange maternity care as soon as you find out that you are pregnant, and in any case before 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Help from family and friends is, of course, always welcome, but the support of a maternity nurse is invaluable. A maternity nurse assists us during labour, helps and teaches you about caring for your baby and yourself after the birth. They also carry out medical checks and keep us, your midwives, informed of their findings.
A maternity nurse is therefore essential during the postnatal period, so make sure you arrange this in good time!
Below is a list of maternity care agencies that provide services in our region:
Kraamzorg de Kempen
Kraamzorg VDA
Kraamzorg de Ervaring (alleen Aalst/Waalre)
Below is a list of independent maternity nurses that we work with regularly:
Rianne Hendriks: rianne_1961@hotmail.com / 06-46104848
Nell Hoeks: kraamzorg@nellhoeks.nl / 06-51052514
Elle Hendriks: hendrikselle@hotmail.nl / 06-46918272
Ellen Schilders: schildersellen@gmail.com / 06-38361746
Carin Vosters: info@kraamzorgcarinvosters.nl / 06-12211274 www.kraamzorgcarinvosters.nl
Arianne Zwegers: 06-57343544
Helma Coolen: kraamzorg.coolen@hotmail.com / 06-22264604
Jessica Castelijns: 06-11091918
Jolanda Meulenbroeks: jolandameulenbroeks@hotmail.com / 06-11144366
Belinda Theuws-Hoogers: info@kraamzorgpureliefde.nl / 06-22043412
Heidi Sprengers: info@kraamzorgpapillon.nl/ 06-30950234
Kraamzorg 1op1
It may seem a little strange to register your child with a childcare provider before your baby is born. However, it is highly advisable to do so, as there are often long waiting lists.
The National Childcare Register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang) has a list of childcare providers in your area.
Daycare
View them here
This is essentially how you establish who the child’s legal father is, and you can also choose which surname the child will have. It is advisable to arrange this before the 24th week of pregnancy. To do this, you need to make an appointment with your local municipality.
Since 2023, unmarried parents and parents who are not in a registered partnership also automatically receive joint parental responsibility when the child is legally acknowledged.
Legal acknowledgement establishes a legal father for a child born outside of marriage. The man who acknowledges the child establishes a legal family relationship with the child. Among other things, this means that he has a legal obligation to provide financial support and that a legal inheritance relationship is established. The person who acknowledges the child does not necessarily have to be the biological father.
For more information on this subject, please visit the websites of the Dutch Government (Rijksoverheid), Valkenswaard Municipality, or Waalre Municipality.
It is advisable to arrange the legal acknowledgement of your child during pregnancy.
Acknowledgement of your child
A maternity kit contains essential items you will need during and after childbirth. Everyone who is going to give birth should have a maternity kit at home. It does not matter whether you plan to give birth at home or in hospital.
You can buy all the items for your maternity kit yourself, or purchase a ready-made kit or order one online. Alternatively, you can request a maternity kit from your health insurance provider. Make sure to do this no later than the 30th week of pregnancy, so you will have all the necessary items at home well before the birth
Maternity kit
If you are pregnant and employed, you are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave. Your maternity leave can start 4 to 6 weeks before your due date. If you give birth later than your due date, these weeks will not be deducted from your maternity leave after the birth. You are always entitled to at least 10 weeks of leave after giving birth.
To apply for maternity leave, your employer or the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) may ask you for a pregnancy certificate. We can provide you with this certificate once your due date is known. For more information about maternity leave, please visit the Dutch Government (Rijksoverheid) website here.
Your partner is also entitled to leave after the birth. This is known as birth leave or partner leave (paternity leave). More information about this can be found on the Dutch Government (Rijksoverheid) website.
Maternity leave and paternity/parental leave
It can be helpful to check which costs are and are not covered by your health insurance provider. This way, you can avoid unexpected expenses.
The basic health insurance package covers most of the costs related to pregnancy and childbirth, such as appointments and check-ups with a midwife, prescribed ultrasounds and blood tests. Some healthcare costs related to pregnancy and childbirth are subject to your excess (eigen risico). These may include certain blood tests, gynaecological care and part of the cost of maternity care. Many women also make use of physiotherapy during pregnancy or after giving birth. You can consider taking out additional insurance to cover these costs.
For more information about possible costs, please visit our page on fees and rates.
Health insurance
