Childcare and the financing of childcare are regulated based on a childcare agreement between the childcare organisation and the parent(s).

• The childcare agreement contains the arrangements regarding the care of the child. For example, the type of childcare, how many day parts per week the child attends and how much the parent is going to pay.  On www.rijksdienstcn.com/childcare you can find all the information that must be included in a childcare agreement.
• In addition to the mandatory information, you can also include other conditions in the agreement. These could include opening hours, study days, extra childcare or closure during holidays, use of photos or videos, or requirements regarding food and allergies.
• You do not need to send the childcare agreement(s) with the parent(s) when applying for childcare compensation from the RCN Unit SZW. However, you must keep the signed agreement in your records. The RCN Unit SZW may request it later when checking your details.

A childcare location is entitled to childcare compensation from the RCN Unit SZW if the following conditions are met:

• The childcare location has a valid operating permit.
• There is a signed childcare agreement. This agreement sets out the arrangements between the parent(s) and the childcare organisation. The child must actually attend childcare.
• The parent(s) and child are registered as residents on the island.
  • A childcare organisation does not need to prove this itself when applying for childcare compensation. The RCN Unit SZW checks this. However, it is wise to ask whether the parent has a sedula when signing the agreement, so that you do not encounter any surprises.
  • The Public Entity can make an exception in special instances. For example, if the child or parent is a refugee. In that case, the Executive Council can advise that childcare compensation is granted because it is in the best interests of the child. A parent can apply for this kind of exception from the Public Entity:
    • On Bonaire: Society and Care Directorate, Kaya Neerlandia 41. Consultation hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 08:00 until 11:00 o’clock.
    • On Saba: Community Development & Culture Department
    • On St. Eustatius: Social Domain Directorate.
  • Are the parent(s) and child not registered and is there no exception (e.g. temporary work on the island)? Then the child can attend childcare, but the childcare organisation must charge the parent(s) at least the amount of the childcare compensation.
• The childcare organisation charges a monthly parental contribution.
• The childcare organisation does not ask parents for any additional money or products on top of the parental contribution. This also means no (contribution for) nappies, fruit and other items or a voluntary contribution. Fundraising and donations are permitted, but a donation should never determine which child can or cannot participate in an activity.
• The child’s attendance is structural. This means that the child is usually present on the agreed days:
  • If a child has been absent for more than three consecutive months (excluding school holidays) then this is no longer considered structural childcare and the right to compensation ends.
  • Is a child absent because they are exempt from compulsory education? Then this is considered an occasional absence. The right to compensation remains.

The amount of the childcare compensation that a childcare location receives from the RCN Unit SZW depends on the number of children and the number of day parts per week agreed in the written agreements with parents.

• The compensation per day part varies depending on the type of childcare and the island. This is because the costs differ per island and type of childcare. There is an additional compensation for babies up to the age of 1 (baby supplement).
• The childcare location only receives payment for the day parts specified in the childcare agreement with the parent(s). This means:
  • Only the day parts agreed in the childcare agreement can be claimed.
  • For daycare, this can be a maximum of two day parts per day and a maximum of 40 day parts per month.
  • For out-of-school care, this can be a maximum of one day part per day on a normal school day, and a maximum of 20 day parts per month.During school holidays and study days of the school, this can be a maximum of two day parts per day, with a maximum of 40 day parts per month.
• The level of the compensation per day part is determined based on an independent study of childcare costs. This study is conducted once every five years. The provisional amounts up to and including 2030 can be found on the website www.rijksdienstcn.com/childcare.
• The amounts are adjusted each year. This is done on the basis of changes in wages and prices in the Caribbean Netherlands. The government uses data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) for this purpose. The new amounts are announced at the end of the year.

A childcare organisation can apply for childcare compensation with the RCN Unit SZW for each location.

• You can submit your application before the start of a new quarter. On www.rijksdienstcn.com/childcare, you can see when you need to submit the application to receive the childcare compensation in the beginning of a new quarter.
• For your application, use the application form from the RCN Unit SZW. This is an Excel file. In this form, you fill in, among other things, details of each child and the parent(s), as stated in the childcare agreement with the parent(s). It is important that the application form is filled out completely and truthfully.
• Once you have completed the form, you immediately see how much compensation you are likely to receive.
• Please check carefully that all details are correct before submitting the form.If you change anything later on, the payment may be delayed and may not be made at the beginning of a new quarter.
• If you care for more children during the quarter than you applied for, you can submit an additional application. You must also have the additional childcare agreements in your administration.
• The RCN Unit SZW can request additional information. For instance, during the first application or if something has changed. This may include a copy of a bank statement with a signature. The RCN Unit SZW uses this document to verify your information. This ensures that the money ends up in the right place.
• You do not need to enclose any additional documentary evidence with your application, e.g. childcare agreements or attendance lists. However, you must keep these documents in your own administration. The RCN Unit SZW can request them at a later date during an audit.
• Is your application complete? Then you receive a confirmation from the RCN Unit SZW as soon as possible. If your application is incomplete, you receive a message requesting you to provide the missing information.
• After verification, you will receive a decision. This is a letter stating:
  • Whether you are entitled to childcare compensation and how much
  • When the amount is paid an to which account number the money will be transferred
  • Other important comments

  Has your application (or part of it) been rejected? The letter will explain why. You can then file an objection.

• Are you not receiving compensation for a child? Then the parent will also be informed of this by the RCN Unit SZW.
• Your right to childcare compensation can end as of the first day of the following month if:
  • You no longer meet the conditions.
  • The childcare agreement with the parent has been terminated.
  • The parent has not paid the parental contribution for three consecutive months (please note: you must charge the parental contribution every month).

  If any of these situations arise, it is important that you report this to the RCN Unit SZW. This will prevent you from having to repay at a later date.

On www.rijksdienstcn.com/childcare, you will find all the information about applying for childcare compensation, the conditions and examples of useful documents. You can also read about the support available for applying and organising your administration.
If you have doubts or questions about the childcare compensation and the application procedure, please contact the RCN Unit SZW at kinderopvang@rijksdienstcn.com.

The RCN Unit SZW checks whether childcare organisations comply with the rules. This allows errors to be corrected and any abuse to be dealt with. The following applies:

• Random checks: The RCN Unit SZW can conduct random checks. They then audit whether the information you have provided is correct. To do so, they may come and inspect your (financial) administration.
• Regular audit: Each childcare location is audited at least once every three years. Sometimes an additional audit is conducted in between, with or without prior notice.
• Good administration mandatory: Your administration must be organised in such a way that you can immediately provide all the necessary information to the RCN Unit SZW (also see administration childcare organisation).
• Errors in the administration? If your administration is not in order, you receive a recovery order from the RCN Unit SZW. Has too much money been paid? Then you need to pay it back.
• Suspicions of errors in agreement? If the RCN Unit SZW suspects that something is wrong with a childcare agreement with a parent they can ask you to contact that parent(s).
• Communicate changes: You are required to immediately report the following changes to the RCN Unit SZW:
  • If a childcare agreement with a parent is terminated.
  • If you discontinue your childcare location.
  • If your permit is revoked.
• Received too much compensation? In that case, you need to repay the excess amount. The RCN Unit SZW can also deduct this from future payments. This is how it works:
  • You receive a decision stating how much you need to repay. If you disagree, you can file an objection.
  • The decision also states when you must pay. Pay by the due date to avoid a reminder, additional costs or a bailiff.
  • Are you unable to pay the full amount, or not all at once? Then please contact the RCN Unit SZW as soon as possible. It may be possible to arrange a payment scheme.
• Fine in case of violations: If you deliberately break the rules, or if there is a serious error, the RCN Unit SZW can impose a fine.

In order to apply for and audit childcare compensation, it is important that a childcare organisation keeps the following documents for at least five years after the document is no longer up to date:

• Operating permit of the location
• Childcare agreement with parent(s)
• Invoices and proof of payment
• Proof of deregistration of children
• Attendance lists per week

From 15 October 2025, you will be able to find examples of these documents on the website www.rijksdienstcn.com/childcare, containing the minimum required information.

In addition to documents required for the verification of the childcare compensation, a childcare organisation must keep the following documents in the administration for at least two years after the document is no longer up to date:

• Certificates of Good Conduct (VOG; these must even be retained for three years!)
• Health and safety policy
• Pedagogical and educational policy plan
• Composition and regulations of the parent committee (in case of childcare centres with more than 50 children)
• Proof of training requirements (diplomas of employees)
• Evidence of experience requirements
• First aid certificates

Parents who use a childcare organisation that receives childcare compensation from the government pay a low parental contribution.

• In 2026, parents on Bonaire will pay $100 per month for the maximum number of day parts, for both daycare and out-of-school care.
• On Saba and St. Eustatius, parents pay the following in 2026 for the maximum number of day parts per month:
  • $75 for daycare
  • $40 for out-of-school care
• From 2027, the parental contribution will be 4 percent of the total childcare costs. That is 4.17 percent of the childcare compensation.
• If a parent uses childcare for less than five days per week, the parental contribution per day is 20 percent of the maximum parental contribution.
• If the childcare is closed, for example during the holidays, parents do not need to pay the parental contribution.
• The childcare centre or host parent sends a monthly invoice to the parent and makes every effort to collect the contribution.
• If a parent fails to pay the parental contribution for three consecutive months, the parent loses the right to the childcare place. The childcare organisation may then terminate the childcare agreement.
• If a childcare organisation does not receive any compensation from the government for a child, but does receive compensation for other children, the parent of the child must pay at least the amount of the childcare compensation.
• Parents who are unable to pay the parental contribution can apply for compensation for the parental contribution. This can be requested by parents from the Public Entity:
  • On Bonaire: Society and Care Directorate, Kaya Neerlandia 41. Opening hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 08:00 until 11:00 o’clock.
  • On St. Eustatius: Social Support Unit.
  • On Saba: Community Development & Culture Department.

The Public Entity determines the conditions, e.g. the income level at which a parent is entitled to this subsidy, which is also referred to as child place subsidy. If the application is approved, the Public Entity pays the parental contribution directly to the childcare organisation.

A childcare organisation that receives childcare compensation from the government cannot refuse children. There are a few exceptions to this rule. It is only possible to refuse a child if:    

• There is no place for the child according to the operating permit or the applicable requirements, for instance the number of children per employee or the available area.
• The childcare organisation is unable to provide the child with the appropriate support, as a result of which the childcare organisation is unable to provide responsible childcare to the child (or other children).
• The childcare organisation does not apply for any childcare compensation with the RCN Unit SZW, hence neither for other children.
• The childcare organisation expects that the parent(s) is (are) not going to pay, because the parent(s) has (have) not paid for three months previously. The previous childcare agreement must have been terminated within the last six months due to the said outstanding payments.
• If a childcare organisation refuses to admit a child or terminates the agreement, the parent can seek advice and mediation from:
  • On Bonaire: Sentro Akseso (717 7300)
  • On St. Eustatius: the Public Entity, Social Domain Directorate
  • On Saba: the Public Entity, Community Development & Culture Department

When sharing or storing data of children, appropriate measures must always be taken to protect their privacy:

• Only collect personal data that are really necessary, for example for the application for childcare compensation or for secure childcare.
• Restrict who has access to the data. The fewer people who can access it, the lower the risk of abuse.
• Use modern security measures to ensure that data are well protected against hackers, for example.

Between daycare and primary school

When a child starts primary school, the childcare organisation provides the school with information about the development of the child. This helps to ensure a smooth transition to school.

• Parents must give written consent for this information to be shared with the school. Without consent, the childcare organisation is not allowed to pass on the information to the school. The school must then request the information from the parents themselves.
• The information that is shared only concerns the development of the child in the following areas:
  • Language skills
  • Mathematics
  • Motor skills
  • Social-emotional development
  • Other information, for instance about the health or home situation, can only be provided to the school by the parents themselves.
• The data of the child can only be shared securely:
  • With people who really need this information (e.g. the teacher).
  • In a secure manner, for example with a password or encryption.
  • The childcare organisation and school must keep the data in a secure place so that only authorised persons can view them.
• The childcare organisation must keep the data for two years after the child has left the childcare location.

Between childcare and PSA

For good and responsible childcare, it may be necessary to share information with the organisation(s) that provides pedagogical support and advice (PSA). The following rules apply in this regard:

• Parents must give written consent before the childcare organisation is allowed to share information with these organisations.
• The childcare organisation and the supporting organisation must sign a processing agreement. This agreement sets out how personal data are shared and used securely.