Pregnancy leave

If you are pregnant or your partner is having a baby and you are in the Netherlands, you can go on leave. Information about pregnancy leave can be found on this page. Are you employed? If you are pregnant and you have paid employment, you have the right to pregnancy leave. This leave lasts for 16 weeks. If you are pregnant with twins, your leave last 20 weeks. Your leave starts four to six weeks before your baby is due. After giving birth , you have the right to at least ten more weeks of leave. While you are on leave you have the right to a benefit from UWV that is equal to your wages. This benefit is paid to you through your employer. You must request the leave from your employer. The law says you must do this no later than three weeks before your leave will start. Are you self-employed? If you are pregnant and you are self-employed , you can claim a benefit from the government. This is called ZEZ benefit . If you receive ZEZ benefit, you get money while you are on pregnancy leave. This leave lasts at least 16 weeks. If you are having a multiple birth, such as twins, your period of leave is four weeks longer. You have to claim this benefit from UWV on time. Make sure you do this between two and four weeks before your leave starts. The amount of benefit you get depends on how many hours you work as self-employed person or on your income, and is never less than the minimum wage.

Maternity leave is leave following the birth of your baby. It is part of your pregnancy leave. In the Netherlands, you go on maternity leave if you have just given birth. Are you employed? If you are employed, you do not have to work after you have given birth. You receive a benefit from UWV that is equal to 100% of your daily wage. This is usually paid through your employer. Your maternity leave plus your pregnancy leave must be at least 16 weeks. Maternity leave helps you to recover after giving birth. Are you self-employed? As a self-employed person, you can claim a benefit through UWV. This is called ZEZ benefit . - It is a pregnancy and maternity benefit for self-employed people. - You claim this benefit from UWV . - The benefit you receive is no more than the minimum wage. - Important! The amount of benefit depends on the number of hours you worked and your income. - You need to apply for this benefit two to four weeks before your due date.

1. De vrouwelijke werknemer heeft in verband met haar bevalling recht op zwangerschaps- en bevallingsverlof. 2. Het recht op zwangerschapsverlof bestaat vanaf zes weken voor de dag na de vermoedelijke datum van bevalling, of vanaf tien weken voor die dag indien het een zwangerschap van meer dan één kind betreft, zoals aangegeven in een aan de werkgever overgelegde schriftelijke verklaring van een arts of verloskundige, tot en met de dag van de bevalling.