Maternity care in your own language: why it can matter

The days after a birth are intense, tiring and full of new impressions. It's exactly during that period that you want to be able to easily express yourself to the person guiding you at home — about how you feel, what you need, and what you're unsure about. A language barrier makes that unnecessarily harder.

Why language matters extra right after birth

Maternity care isn't just about practical tasks; a large part of its value lies in guidance, reassurance, and being able to ask questions. If that has to happen in a language you don't speak fluently — precisely at a moment when you're tired and perhaps dealing with hormonal changes — nuance inevitably gets lost. For some parents that's not an issue, for others it genuinely makes a difference to have someone who speaks their native language.

What's available

Various independent maternity nurses and agencies in the Netherlands speak languages besides Dutch. On Kraamplein you can filter by language while searching, so you can see at a glance which providers near you can communicate in your language.

Does this change anything about reimbursement?

No — the language a maternity nurse speaks has no effect on reimbursement from basic health insurance. It's purely an extra filter to find a provider you feel comfortable with, alongside the usual considerations like service area, specialty and availability.

Looking for a provider?

Enter your postcode on the Kraamplein homepage and filter by language to see which providers near you are available in the language of your preference.