Pregnant and Have Your Own Business in the Netherlands?

Photo: Roberta Hayes-Holmes

Then you may well be entitled to maternity pay. Yes, hard to believe but if your earnings are sufficient you may well be entitled to paid maternity leave in the weeks leading up to and following the birth of your baby. Even without an employer.

This has been in force since 2008, and is designed to allow women with their own business time to rest before the birth, and time to concentrate on their recovery and baby after the birth. You are entitled in principle if you:

• have your own business (with or without personnel)


• freelance for a living or practice a profession independently (e.g. as a nanny, doctor or household help)


• you are the partner of a zzp'er

Don't get too excited - you're not about to retire on tax payers money and revel in a life of luxury with your new born. Think more along the lines of minimum wage but it is better than a kick in the teeth at a time when your mind probably won't be on your business. Here are some useful terms:

zzp'er - zelfstandig zonder personnel (sole trader in other words)

ZEZ - de Zelfstandig en Zwanger-regeling

UVW - Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemers Verzekeringen (in other words the Dutch Labour Office)

You are entitled to the maximum benefit if you worked at least 1,225 hours in the previous tax year. The benefit lasts for 16 weeks and is made up of two parts - a zwangerschapsuitkering which kicks in either 4 or 6 weeks before your due date (depending on your choice) and the bevallingsuitkering which begins the day after the birth and lasts a minimum of ten weeks (depending on whether your maternity leave started 4 or 6 weeks before the due date). the amount you receive is based on your earnings in the year before your leave, but will never exceed 110% of the minimum wage.

You apply to the UVW at least two weeks before you want your maternity leave to start. You can find the paperwork here to fill out.