Childcare Bonaire

Download Concept Island Ordinance Childcare Bonaire (Dutch)

Since the implementation of the Island Ordinance, all childcare organizations must hold an operating license. The quality requirements that childcare organizations must meet to obtain this license include aspects such as the pedagogical policy plan, training level, group sizes within childcare centers, and the number of professionals required per group. The housing must also meet basic safety and health standards.

Download brochure Childcare Quality Requirements Bonaire (Dutch)

New and existing organizations providing daycare and out-of-school care require an operating license. A grace period has been established for existing organizations, allowing them to apply for a temporary exemption. New organizations must immediately meet all quality requirements.

The application for the license on Bonaire is processed through the OLB (Public Entity Bonaire) and must be submitted in writing to the Executive Council. The application must include at least:

• Copy of the business license
• If a sole proprietorship: name, address, phone number, proof of registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) no older than 3 months
• If a legal entity: names, addresses, birth dates of board/director members, copy of the articles of association, proof of registration with the KvK no older than three months, and if applicable: a copy of the shareholder register
• Proof of registration in the population register of the applicant and employees, as well as a copy of the residence permit and/or visa
• A Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring omtrent gedrag, VOG) not older than two months for the applicant and professional staff
• Maximum number of children and age per day part
• Maximum number of professionals per day part
• Opening and closing times
• The (intended) address
• Pedagogical policy plan for the childcare center
• Action plan for domestic violence and child abuse for the childcare center
• Safety and health policy for the childcare center
• A floor plan
• Proof of payment for permit fees

On average, the application process takes about two months, starting from the moment all relevant documents are submitted.

If the application does not meet all requirements, the applicant is given 4 weeks to submit the missing items. Only once the application is complete can the application process begin.

The applicant will receive a written confirmation with information about the next steps. The Executive Council requests advice from the childcare quality committee within two weeks for a complete application. The quality committee will provide advice to the Executive Council within four weeks. The Executive Council will then make a decision within two weeks. This period can be extended once by a maximum of two weeks.

Childcare and out-of-school care organizations on Bonaire may be eligible for a cost-price reducing subsidy. A childcare organization can use the subsidy to lower the parental contribution for parents and take measures to improve the quality of childcare. Childcare centers can submit a subsidy application to Implementation and Policy (in Dutch: Uitvoering van Beleid (UVB)). They are supported by the front office set up at the Public Entity Bonaire (OLB) for this purpose.

Amount of cost-price reducing subsidy (per January 1st 2025)
The cost-price reducing subsidy for childcare organizations on Bonaire is a maximum of $ 912,- per child per month for daycare and a maximum of $ 515,- per child per month for out-of-school care.

The cost-price reducing subsidy for host parents on Bonaire is a maximum of $ 912,- per child per month for daycare and $ 515,- per child per month for out-of-school care.

Amount of parental contribution
If your organization receives the cost-price reducing subsidy, a minimum and maximum parental contribution applies:

• The parental contribution for daycare and out-of-school care should not exceed $ 100,- per month.
• The parental contribution should not be lower than $ 75,- per month for daycare and not lower than $ 40,- per month for out-of-school care.
• For host parents offering daycare, the parental contribution is $ 75,- per month. For host parents offering out-of-school care, the parental contribution is $ 100,- per month.

Some childcare organizations which already have a subsidy relationship with the Public Entity Bonaire can charge a lower parental contribution with the consent of the Public Entity Bonaire.

Parents who cannot afford the parental contribution, can apply for a supplementary child place subsidy at the Public Entity Bonaire.

More information?

• Click here for the temporary subsidy scheme: temporary subsidy scheme (Dutch)
• Click here for the changes in the temporary subsidy scheme per January 1st 2025: changes temporary subsidy scheme (Dutch)

Supervising quality of daycare and out-of-school care has been entrusted by the Public Entity Bonaire (OLB) to the Inspectorate of Education. The inspectorate may delegate parts of the supervision to a local inspector. Inspectors can visit childcare centers both announced and unannounced. Where necessary, they provide advice to the childcare organization.