Child benefit in the Netherlands (kinderbijslag) - amounts and how to claim

Before you start

• Registration in the Personal Records Database (BRP) and a citizen service number (BSN) for you and your child
• DigiD to apply online (a paper form is available on request)
• Lawful residence in the Netherlands, or work for a Dutch employer

Documents you need

• Your and your child's citizen service numbers (BSN)

  required

• Child's birth certificate

  Usually already used when registering the child at the municipality

  optional

• Residence permit

  If you are not a Dutch or EU/EEA/Swiss citizen

  optional

• Bank account (IBAN) for payment

  Payments to accounts outside the Netherlands can take longer

  required

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Check that you are insured

   As a rule you are insured if you live legally in the Netherlands, or work outside it for an employer based in the Netherlands. Some people living in the Netherlands are not insured, for example people working only abroad without a Dutch secondment certificate, people working here with a foreign secondment certificate, students staying temporarily without a job, and staff of embassies or international organisations such as the EU or NATO. If in doubt, ask the SVB before you apply.

2. 2

   Step 2: Register your child at the municipality

   Your child needs to be registered in the BRP at your address with a BSN. If you move to the Netherlands with children, register them together with yourself at the municipality; see registering in Amsterdam.

3. 3

   Step 3: Apply to the SVB

   • Moved to the Netherlands with children (or adopted a child): you must report your child's details to the SVB yourself; otherwise you cannot get child benefit. Apply online through My SVB (Mijn SVB) with your DigiD.
   • Baby born in the Netherlands, first child: after you register the birth, the municipality informs the SVB, which sends you a letter within about two to four weeks explaining how to apply. If no letter arrives after four weeks, contact the SVB.
   • Next children born in the Netherlands: nothing to do; the SVB adjusts your benefit automatically and sends you a letter.
   • Child born abroad, or birth not registered within a month: report the birth to the SVB yourself.

   When the SVB asks for your "child benefit number", it means your BSN.

4. 4

   Step 4: Understand when payments start

   The SVB assesses your situation on the first day of each quarter (1 January, 1 April, 1 July, 1 October) and pays after the quarter ends. A child born, or a family that becomes insured, after the first day of a quarter qualifies from the next quarter. For example, a child born on 20 June qualifies from 1 July and the first payment arrives at the beginning of October.

5. 5

   Step 5: Report changes

   Tell the SVB about changes such as a child moving out, a divorce, a move abroad or a new bank account. After a divorce the benefit goes to the parent the child lives with; co-parents can agree in writing who receives it, or otherwise each receives half.

Amounts in 2026

At 16 and 18

The child budget (kindgebonden budget)

Changes under discussion

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Waiting for a letter from the SVB after immigrating, when the letter only comes automatically for babies born in the Netherlands.
• Not registering a newborn with your health insurer within four months, which the SVB also reminds parents to do.
• Forgetting to report that a child aged 16 or 17 has left school without a qualification.

Tips

• Apply in your first weeks; entitlement runs per quarter, so a late claim can delay your first payment.
• Keep your DigiD active; you will use it for the SVB, the Benefits Service and the Tax Administration.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Claim child benefit from the SVBAdd to plan
• Register your address and get your BSNAdd to plan
• Apply for DigiDAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 5 Jan 2027.