Key Points
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A childminder may care for a maximum of 6 children aged 0 to 13 years simultaneously according to childcare law
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For babies up to 1 year, a strict maximum of only 2 children at a time applies
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Own children up to 10 years always count toward the total number of children being cared for
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When caring for more than 4 children simultaneously, it is mandatory to have backup support available
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Violations are monitored by the GGD and can lead to fines or revocation of registration
As a childminder, you have the responsibility to provide children with safe and quality care in a secure environment. One of the most essential questions every childminder asks is: how many children can you actually care for simultaneously as a childminder? This question is not only practically important for your daily planning, but also crucial from a legal perspective.
Dutch childcare law sets clear limits on how many children a childminder may care for. These rules are not arbitrarily established, but based on years of research into what is safe and pedagogically responsible. In this comprehensive guide, we cover all aspects of this regulation, so you know exactly where you stand as a childminder.
Maximum Number of Children per Age Group
The main rule in Dutch childminder care is clear: a childminder may care for a maximum of 6 children aged 0 to 13 years simultaneously. This rule applies regardless of the size of your home or how much experience you have. But within this main rule, important nuances exist per age group.
The strictest rules apply to the youngest children. Babies up to 1 year require intensive care and constant supervision, therefore a childminder may care for a maximum of 2 children up to 1 year simultaneously. This limitation recognizes the reality that babies need a lot of individual attention for feeding, sleeping, and development.
Children up to 2 years may be cared for with a maximum of 4 children simultaneously. Toddlers are becoming more independent, but still need intensive guidance with eating, sleeping, and playing. The maximum of 4 children ensures that each toddler receives sufficient personal attention.
For children up to 4 years, a maximum of 5 children simultaneously applies. This age group becomes increasingly active and curious, requiring more supervision to guarantee safety. A maximum of five children of this age can be safely guided by one childminder.
Children aged 4 to 13 years may be cared for with the full maximum of 6 children simultaneously. School-age children are much more independent and usually need after-school care before and after school hours. These children can better express their own needs and require less intensive supervision.
The age limits exist because of the different needs and risks per developmental phase. Young children need more physical care, while older children need more stimulation and guidance with homework and social activities.
Own Children Count toward how many Children a Childminder may Care For
A crucial point that many childminders overlook: own children up to 10 years are fully counted in the maximum number of children. This means that if you have own children up to 10 years at home, you can care for fewer guest children.
Suppose you have two own children aged 3 and 7 years. Then you may care for a maximum of 4 guest children to stay within the total of 6 children. Friends who come to play also count toward the maximum, regardless of whether they are formally being cared for.
This rule applies until the children turn 10 years old. From their 10th birthday, own children no longer count toward the maximum number of children to be cared for. They can even help with the care from that age, always under your direct supervision of course.
Planning is essential when you have own children. During school holidays, your own children may be home all day, limiting the number of available places for guest children. Communicate this in time with parents to prevent disappointments.
A practical example: you normally care for 4 guest children and have 1 own child aged 6 years. During summer vacation, your 8-year-old nephew comes to stay for a week. Then you may only care for 3 guest children (4 + 1 + 1 = 6 total).
Backup Support for more than 4 Children
When you care for more than 4 children including your own children up to 10 years, having backup support available is legally mandatory. This rule ensures extra safety when the group becomes larger and more help may be needed.
The backup support must be at least 18 years old and reachable by phone during care hours. More importantly: the backup support must be able to be on site within 15 minutes when you ask for help. This means the backup support must live or work in the immediate vicinity.
Suitable persons for backup support are, for example, your partner, adult children, family, friends, or neighbors. Some childminders make mutual agreements to be each other’s backup support. It is wise to have multiple people available for different times and situations.
During a GGD inspection, you must be able to demonstrate who your backup support is. Therefore, keep contact details and document availability. Some childminding agencies provide forms to formally record this.
Practical tips for arranging backup support: make clear agreements about availability, ensure the backup support is familiar with your house and routine, and inform parents about who your backup support is. In emergencies, the backup support must be able to act quickly.
Legal Requirements and Rules
The rules regarding how many children may be cared for by a childminder are laid down in the childcare law and the Ministerial Regulation on quality of childminding. Article 13 of this regulation specifically addresses the maximum number of children and the conditions attached to this.
This regulation exists to ensure the quality and safety of childcare. The legislator recognizes that childminding is a small-scale form of childcare that offers personal attention and a trusted environment, but that limits apply to this.
Violations of these rules have serious consequences. With a first violation, you usually receive a warning from your registered childminding agency. Repeated violations can lead to fines, additional inspection, or in serious cases revocation of your registration as a childminder.
Without valid registration, you may no longer provide formal childminding and parents lose their right to childcare allowance. This has financial consequences for all involved and can seriously damage your reputation as a childminder.
Important legislative changes are planned for July 1, 2026. The government is working on tightened quality requirements for preschools and additional requirements for childminders. Keep track of developments through your childminding agency and the national childcare register.
Influence of the Care Location
The care location plays an important role in how many children you can practically care for as a childminder. Although the law sets the maximum at 6, your specific housing situation can limit this number. The space must be sufficient for playing, eating, and sleeping, both indoors and outdoors.
Certain requirements apply to the setup of the care location. You must have sufficient play space, a separate sleeping area for children who sleep, and access to a safe outdoor area. Small homes may practically not accommodate 6 children, despite this being legally allowed.
Safety provisions are mandatory and are checked. Smoke detectors on every floor, child-safe setup of outlets and stairs, safe storage of dangerous objects, and medicines out of reach of children. The entire home must be smoke-free during care hours.
The GGD checks during inspection whether your care location is suitable for the number of children you care for. They assess not only the physical space, but also whether you can practically maintain sufficient supervision of all children present.
Think practically about your situation. Can you see what’s happening in the living room from your kitchen? Is there enough seating for all children during meals? Can all children go outside simultaneously for fresh air? These practical considerations often determine more than the legal maximums.
Control and Inspection
The GGD conducts annual inspections at childminding agencies and performs random checks at individual childminders. These checks are essential to verify that all childminders comply with the rules regarding the number of children they can care for.
During an inspection, the GGD checks various aspects: how many children are present at a childminder at the time of check, registration of care hours and children present, quality of the care location, safety measures, and whether backup support is available when required.
What exactly is checked? Inspectors review your administration of children cared for, check whether the number of children present matches your registration, verify whether you are registered in the childcare personnel register, and assess the suitability of your care location.
Inspection reports are publicly accessible through the national childcare register. Parents can consult these reports when choosing a childminder. A good inspection result is therefore not only legally required, but also important for your reputation.
Consequences for not complying with the rules range from warnings to fines and in serious cases revocation of your registration. If a childminder becomes ill, it is no excuse to still exceed the maximum number of children – you must always seek alternative solutions through your childminding agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
May I Care for more than 6 Children as a Childminder if My House is Large Enough?
No, the maximum of 6 children aged 0-13 years simultaneously is legally established and may not be exceeded, regardless of the size of your home. This maximum is determined based on the amount of attention and care that one childminder can safely provide. Even with a large house, the rule remains that you may care for a maximum of 6 children simultaneously.
Do Children who Only Come to Play also Count toward the Maximum?
Yes, all children present up to 10 years count toward the maximum number, including friends who come to play. This also applies during school holidays when own children are home. There is no distinction between formally cared for children and children who are temporarily present – all count toward the legal limit.
What Happens if I Have more Children During Care than Allowed?
Exceeding the maximum number of children is a violation of childcare law. This can lead to a warning from your childminding agency, a fine from the GGD, additional inspection and supervision, and in serious cases even revocation of your registration as a childminder. Without registration, you may no longer provide childminding.
Can I Temporarily Care for more Children in Emergencies?
No, even in emergencies the legal maximum may not be exceeded. The rules know no exceptions for emergency situations. However, you can contact your childminding agency to find a solution together, such as referral to another childminder or temporary help from a mediation employee.
From What Age Do My Own Children No Longer Count?
Own children count up to and including 9 years (so until their 10th birthday). From 10 years they no longer count toward the maximum number of children to be cared for, but they can help with the care under your supervision. This also applies to other household members up to 10 years who regularly stay in your house.