If you are pregnant, you are entitled to 16 weeks of leave. This period of leave consists of pregnancy and maternity leave.
Prior to the birth: pregnancy leave
Your pregnancy leave should be taken four to six weeks before your due date. Your pregnancy leave will last up until the day that you give birth.
In the event of illness
If you become ill as a result of your pregnancy within the six weeks before your expected date of delivery, your leave will start immediately.
Requests
You will need to notify your supervisor at least ten weeks in advance of your expected date of delivery about when you wish to take maternity leave. You will also need to notify your personnel HR officer about this request.
This means that you will need to be able to show a written statement from your doctor or midwife about the expected date of delivery. You will also need to save this statement for one year until after the end of your maternity leave.
After the birth: maternity leave
Your maternity leave will begin on the day after you have given birth. Your maternity leave will last for a minimum of ten and a maximum of twelve weeks. Your period of maternity leave will depend on the duration of your pregnancy leave.
After the sixth week of maternity leave, you will be permitted to take the rest of your maternity leave part-time, and you will be able to spread your leave over a maximum period of 30 weeks.
In the event of illness
If you become ill during your maternity leave, you will need to contact your supervisor and your personnel HR officer.
Requests
You do not need to submit a separate request for maternity leave. You will need to notify your personnel HR officer about the birth and also show them the birth certificate.
Leave for multiple births
If you are expecting a multiple birth, you are entitled to 20 weeks of leave. This is a combination of pregnancy and maternity leave.
Your pregnancy leave should be taken eight to ten weeks before your due date. Your maternity leave will last for a minimum of ten and a maximum of twelve weeks. Find out more about pregnancy leave for twins or multiple-birth children (in Dutch).
Extended maternity leave due to child’s hospitalisation
If a child needs to stay in hospital for more than seven days after the birth, you will be entitled to an extended period of maternity leave, which is also known as extended maternity leave due to child’s hospitalisation. In this case, a maximum of ten weeks will apply. You will need to notify your supervisor, your personnel HR officer and the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch) about your situation.