What does maternity care cost and what's covered?

Maternity care (kraamzorg) is covered by basic health insurance in the Netherlands — everyone with Dutch health insurance is entitled to it, regardless of insurer. Yet many expectant parents only find out late what that actually means for the bill. Here's the general picture.

How many hours of maternity care do you get?

The number of hours of care you receive isn't fixed in advance but determined during the intake interview with your maternity nurse, usually around the 34th week of pregnancy. There is a nationally set minimum, and the actual number of hours depends on the health of mother and child, whether it's your first child, and whether there are special circumstances such as multiples or a difficult delivery. In short: the more support is needed, the more hours are indicated.

The personal contribution

Maternity care is almost fully reimbursed from basic health insurance, but a legally set personal contribution per hour applies — that amount is set anew each year by the national government and therefore differs per year. Ask your maternity care provider or insurer for the current amount for this year; that prevents surprises afterwards.

Does it differ per insurer?

The basic reimbursement is the same for everyone, but some insurers reimburse part of the personal contribution through supplementary insurance, or offer a discount on a maternity package. It's worth checking your policy terms before choosing a provider.

Does every provider work with every insurer?

Most independent maternity nurses and agencies work with virtually all major insurers — check a provider's profile on Kraamplein or ask during the introduction. Not sure? Just ask — that's a normal part of an introductory conversation.