It's never too early to register your child for daycare in the Netherlands. If you are not superstitious, when you are pregnant is not too early. Governmental policy (in English) can be found on the ministry site www.szw.nl.

Options for childcare in the Netherlands include:

Kinderdagverblijf: Public daycare for children aged 6 weeks to 4 years. Centres are generally open from 8.00-18.00. Find a local one at www.kinderopvang.net or search at www.blueumbrella.nl. Urban areas have a shortage so expect long waiting lists.Parents are entitled to an allowance of 140 percent of the working hours of the partner who works least.

Private daycare: In large cities there are private facilities with longer (up to 24 hour) opening hours, which are considerably more expensive, as well as international nurseries and pre-school establishments.

Pre-school/playgroups (peuterspeelzalen): Activities and play for 2- 4 year olds. This is more often a social thing rather than proper daycare but—if you can get a place—it might be sufficient if you intend to work part-time. Some employers have their own daycare arrangements or local daycare places.

After-school care: Some daycare centres provide this (for children up to 12) but it is also provided by buitenschoolseopvang (BSO) and naschoolse opvang establishments (also on www.kinderopvang.net).

Child benefit in the Netherlands
At the moment, anyone living or working in the Netherlands is entitled to the kinderbijslag, a quarterly contribution to the cost of raising children from the Sociale Verzerkerings Bank (SVB). The amount depends on the number of children in your household, special needs etc. but is not income-related. It can be paid into an international bank account (but this will take longer). Find information in six languages and a list of local offices at www.svb.nl.

Childcare allowance in the Netherlands
At the moment, anyone living or working in the Netherlands is entitled to the childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag). This is a contribution to the cost of childcare, whether for a childcare centre, afterschool care or a private childminder (gastouder). The allowance can reduce childcare costs by up to 90 percent, depending on income and number of children. Childcare allowance depends on the joint qualifying income.  The higher the income, the lower the allowance. 

In 2010, changes to the  Dutch Childcare Act included the childcare allowance being reduced for private childminders and cancelled for live-in childminders. Private childminders now need to show proof of formal training and/or experience, and first aid training is mandatory.

From 1 January  2012, stricter rules apply for the granting of childcare allowances and allowance will be linked to the number of hours worked by parents rather than income. To claim allowances parents must be in regular employment. Furthermore, retrospective applications for allowances will be reduced from a maximum of one year to one month, parents will not be able to claim allowances if they look after each others' children and parents will not be able to claim more than 230 hours per child, per month for all types of care.

In the event of sickness, holiday, parental leave, extra training or part-time unemployment benefit, the number or hours worked remains unchanged as does the number of hours of childcare allowance granted. The same rules apply for both independent entrepreneurs and those employed by an organisation.