How long is paternity leave in the Netherlands?

One week of fully paid birth leave plus up to five extra weeks of additional birth leave — up to six weeks in total.

Can my employer refuse the basic week?

No. Apply in advance or as soon as possible after the birth and say which days you want.

Can I take the extra weeks first?

No. You must take the fully paid basic week first.

How much is additional birth leave paid?

70% of your daily wage, up to 70% of the statutory maximum daily wage, paid by UWV.

Paternity Leave in the Netherlands

Partners in the Netherlands get one working week of fully paid birth leave (geboorteverlof) and up to five extra weeks paid by UWV. Plan your dates below.

Last updated: 13 November 2026

Country / Region

1 week of fully paid birth leave plus up to 5 extra weeks at 70% via UWV – up to 6 weeks.

Source: Government.nl – Paternity / partner leave

Employment Type

Leave Calculation Method

Expected Baby Due Date

Planned Leave Start Date (optional)

Defaults to the due date.

Employer-Provided Leave

Work Schedule

Pay Estimate (optional)

Add your salary to see how much you'll be paid during your leave. Leave it empty to calculate dates only.

Gross Salary (€)

Pay Frequency

Government / statutory pay per week (if any)

Pay rules for Netherlands aren't built in yet — enter the weekly amount from your country guide or benefits office.

Employer Pays (% of salary)

For How Many Weeks

Your results will appear here

Fill in your details and press calculate to see your leave dates, notice deadlines and pay estimate.

Netherlands paternity leave at a glance

An employed partner gets one working week of fully paid birth leave plus up to five additional working weeks paid through UWV at a capped 70% rate.

Leave length: 1 working week of birth leave plus up to 5 additional working weeks, based on your contracted weekly hours.
When to take it: The basic week within 4 weeks of the birth. Additional leave within 6 months of the birth, and only after the basic week.
Pay: Your employer pays 100% of salary for the basic week. UWV funds the additional leave at 70% of daily earnings, capped at 70% of the maximum daily wage, normally paid through your employer.
Who qualifies: An employee whose partner has given birth. You must take the basic week before the additional leave.
Self-employed fathers: Self-employed partners do not get statutory birth leave and must arrange their own time off and income.

Parental leave on top of paternity leave

Each parent can take 26 working weeks of parental leave before the child turns 8; 9 of those weeks are paid at a capped 70% if taken in the first year.

Good to know

Hours are based on your contract: a part-time employee gets their weekly hours once for the basic week and up to five times for additional leave.
The calculator counts the maximum 6 weeks.

Legal entitlement vs employer benefits

The rules above are the legal minimum in the Netherlands. Many employers offer extra paid days or top up statutory pay. Add any employer leave in the calculator above to see your real return-to-work date, and confirm the details with your HR team. To compare pay over the weeks you take off, try the paternity pay calculator.

Other European guides

GermanyNo separate paternity leave; up to 3 years Elternzeit France28 days (3 birth + 25 paternity)Spain19 weeks (6 compulsory)Belgium20 working days Austria1 month (Papamonat)Switzerland2 weeks (10 working days)Italy10 working days (20 for twins)Portugal28 compulsory + 7 optional days

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

Editorial note: we summarise official government guidance and link to it. Laws change — always confirm your entitlement with your employer or the relevant authority. This page is not legal advice.