As a parent you are entitled to 1 week of standard leave after your partner gives birth. In addition, you can also take a further 5 weeks’ paid leave after your child is born.

You decide how you would like to take the additional partner’s leave. For example, you can take 5 weeks’ leave in a row, or spread the weeks over 6 months. It is important to note that additional partner’s leave must be used within 6 months of your baby being born.

Please note: You will not be entitled to extra leave if you have a multiple birth.

In order to qualify for additional partner’s leave the following must apply to you:

  • You have an employment contract.
  • You have taken 1 week of standard leave within 4 weeks of your partner giving birth.
  • You are planning to take at least 1 week of additional partner’s leave.

As well as this, you must have a declaration of parentage (‘erkenning kind’) for the child or qualify as the mother’s partner. To qualify as the mother’s partner, you will need to meet 1 of the following criteria:

  • You are married to the baby’s mother.
  • You are the mother’s civil partner.
  • You are living with the baby’s mother and you are both sharing the household expenses.

Please note: If your partner were to have a stillbirth during or after the 24th week of pregnancy, you would still be entitled to additional partner’s leave.

It is your employer’s responsibility to apply for additional partner’s leave for you. Come to an agreement with them on when you plan to take this leave and for how long.

In order for your employer to arrange your leave with us, they will need the following information from you:

  • the baby’s date of birth
  • the amount of leave you plan to take (the minimum is 1 week, the maximum is 5 weeks)
  • the date on which you would like your leave to start (the earliest date being 1 week after the standard leave began)
  • confirmation that you have already taken 1 week of standard leave within 4 weeks of the baby’s birth

If your employer is unable or unwilling to apply for this benefit please contact us.

You might also be entitled additional partner’s leave in the following situations:

  • You provide housekeeping services for the elderly or people with disabilities (‘alfahulp’).
  • You provide home help (‘dienstverlener aan huis’) and work less than 4 days a week.
  • You are a director and majority shareholder (‘DGA’).

Please note: In all these situations you will have to arrange your additional partner’s leave yourself. Find out more about how you can apply for additional partner’s leave.

We will pay the benefit to your employer and they will pay you. If you prefer, we can pay you directly. Just make sure you let your employer know in advance that this is what you would like to do so that they can inform us on time.

Any additional partner’s leave you have already taken will be covered in a single payment. If you decide to take more of your entitled additional partner’s leave, we will pay the benefit to your employer once every 4 weeks, after the period has ended. If you have requested that we pay you directly, you will receive the benefit once a week, after the week has ended.

Please keep in mind that during your leave your employer is not obliged to continue paying your salary. It is important that you plan ahead and discuss this with them.

You will receive 70% of your average daily income (including 8% holiday pay). This will be no more than 70% of the highest average daily income. However, sometimes your employer might supplement your benefit. You will not be entitled to a higher benefit if you have a multiple birth.

Keep in mind that the level of your benefit might have consequences for the taxes you pay, as well as any benefits you may receive from the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (‘de Belastingdienst’). For more information, visit toeslagen.nl.

Please note: You will not be entitled to an UWV top-up benefit (‘toeslag’) if you are receiving additional partner’s leave.

If your employment ends, you will receive paid parental leave from your current employer for the leave you have taken up to and including your last day of employment. Once you finish working for your previous employer, you may still be entitled to part of your leave with your new employer.

You must arrange this with both employers yourself. Ask your former employer for a written statement showing how many weeks of additional partner’s leave you are still entitled to. You do not need to contact us about your payment as both your employers will arrange this with each other.

After your employment ends, we will transfer your benefit directly to you. If you prefer, you can ask us to pay it to your new employer instead, who will then transfer it to you.

If you do not have a new job, you will no longer be entitled to additional partner’s leave.