HomepageStep-by-step guide for starting a childcare centre
If you intend to start a childcare organisation (childcare facility or out of school care facility) in the Netherlands, you must contend with various government rules and regulations. You can use this step-by-step guide to quickly determine which obligations you must fulfil.
The plan serves merely as a guideline. Several steps can be carried out at the same time. Consult your local municipality regarding the order of the steps. It is possible that you will need to fulfil other obligations as well, regarding, for instance, the size of the basic childcare groups and the professional childminder-child ratio.
For a detailed overview of legislation and regulations covering your premises, contact the Childcare Guarantee Fund (Waarborgfonds Kinderopvang).
Step-by-step guide
1. Be entered in the Trade Register
New businesses must be entered in the Trade Register kept by the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce will pass on your details to the Tax and Customs Administration. You do not need to register separately with the Tax and Customs Administration.
2. Inspect the zoning plan
The establishment of your childcare centre must be in line with your municipality’s zoning plan. If this is not the case, however, you can apply for a permit to carry out your plans. You can also ask the municipality to change the zoning plan.
3. Apply for a building permit
If you want to build, make alterations to or renovate a building, you will normally need a building permit (part of the All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects, omgevingsvergunning). You may also need listed building consent.
4. Submit a notification of occupancy or apply for an occupancy permit
If you operate a childcare centre for more than ten children under the age of 12, you need an occupancy permit (part of the All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects, omgevingsvergunning). In other cases, a notification of occupancy will suffice.
5. Submit a notification of environmental management
When you establish a childcare centre, you must contend with various environmental requirements. In most cases, you need to submit a notification of environmental management to your municipal authority.
6. Applying for a certificate of good conduct
The holder and any directors or foundation officers must have a certificate of good conduct (verklaring omtrent het gedrag, VOG). You require a VOG for the registration of your childcare centre in the National Childcare and Playgroup Register (LRKP).
7. Drawing up a pedagogical policy plan
You draw up a pedagogical policy plan for your facility. You enclose the policy plan with your application for registration in the National Childcare and Playgroup Register (LRKP).
8. Conducting a safety and health risk inventory and drawing up an action plan
Before submitting an application for your facility to be registered in the LRKP, you must conduct a safety and health risk inventory. In doing so, you may use the Childcare and Playgroup Risk Monitor. You then conduct this risk inventory every year.
9. Registering in the National Childcare and Playgroup Register via the municipality
If you intend to set up a childcare centre, you must submit an application for registration in the National Childcare and Playgroup Register (LRKP) with the municipal authorities at least 10 weeks before the start. Among other things, you enclose the pedagogical policy plan and the risk inventory.
10. Hire qualified personnel
Your staff must satisfy a number of professional requirements. The professional qualifications differ depending on the job. Your staff must also have a Certificate of Good Conduct (verklaring omtrent het gedrag, VOG).
11. Draw up regulations for the complaints committee
You must have your own independent complaints committee or be affiliated to a regional or national complaints committee. The complaints committee will lay down its procedures in regulations.
12. Draw up an HACCP plan or comply with a hygiene code
If you prepare food and drink, you must have an HACCP plan in place or comply with a certified hygiene code, e.g. the code of the employers’ organisation of the welfare, youth care and childcare sectors (MOgroep).
13. Create a playground equipment logbook
If you intend to install playground equipment, you are obliged to keep a logbook containing the testing or inspection details and information on maintenance and accidents.
14. Draw up a protocol for responding to child abuse
You must draw up a protocol in which you specify how you and your staff will respond to suspected instances of child abuse.
15. Draw up regulations for the parents' committee
For each location you must have a parents'committee. You must adopt the parent committee regulations within 6 months of submitting an application to be included in the National Childcare Register to your municipal authority.
