Toeslagen in the Netherlands: what you can claim and how

The Dutch government subsidises health insurance, rent, and childcare costs through a system called toeslagen. Each toeslag has its own eligibility rules, income thresholds, and application process. They are not automatic. You have to apply for most of them yourself, and many expats never do.

All toeslagen are managed by the Belastingdienst/Toeslagen and applied for through Toeslagen.nl using your DigiD. Changes in your income or living situation during the year affect your entitlement, and the Belastingdienst reconciles the actual amounts after the year ends.

Zorgtoeslag

Zorgtoeslag is a monthly contribution towards your health insurance premium. In 2026, the maximum is approximately €175 per month. You qualify if your annual income is below approximately €41,000 per year. If you have a toeslagpartner (a partner registered at the same address), their income counts too.

Most expats pay €130 to €170 per month for a basic zorgverzekering. Zorgtoeslag can cover the majority of that cost. The benefit is paid directly to your bank account each month, not to your insurer.

You can also apply retroactively for up to three years. If you arrived in the Netherlands in 2024 and only discover zorgtoeslag in 2026, you can still claim for those missed years.

Huurtoeslag

Huurtoeslag is a monthly contribution towards your rent. From 2026, there is no longer a maximum rent to qualify, but the benefit is calculated up to a maximum rent of €932,93 per month. If you pay more than that, you receive the same amount as someone paying €932,93.

This matters for expats in the vrije sector. If you pay €1,400 per month for a flat in Amsterdam, you can still apply for huurtoeslag, but the calculation treats your rent as €932,93. The subsidy is based on income and household size, and for many expats on a single salary the amount can be meaningful.

Your kale huur (base rent excluding service costs) is the figure used in the calculation, not your total monthly payment. Check your rental contract for the split between kale huur and servicekosten.

Kinderopvangtoeslag

Kinderopvangtoeslag reimburses up to 96% of your childcare costs for the lowest incomes. Both parents (or the single parent) must be working, studying, or following an integration course.

The benefit covers registered childcare: kinderdagverblijf (daycare), buitenschoolse opvang (after-school care), and registered gastouders (childminders). Informal arrangements with family members do not qualify unless the caregiver is registered with the Landelijk Register Kinderopvang.

The reimbursement percentage decreases as your household income rises. At higher incomes, the government covers a smaller share, but the benefit does not disappear entirely until well above an average household income.

Kinderbijslag

Kinderbijslag is the exception in this list. It is paid automatically by the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB), not the Belastingdienst. You do not need to apply if your child is born in the Netherlands. The SVB sends you a form automatically. If you move to the Netherlands with existing children, contact the SVB directly to start your claim.

It is a quarterly payment per child, not income-dependent. Every parent with children under 18 receives it, regardless of salary.

How to apply

All toeslagen except kinderbijslag are applied for at Toeslagen.nl. You need a DigiD, a BSN, and a Dutch bank account in your own name. The application asks for your expected annual income. If your income changes during the year, update your estimate on Toeslagen.nl to avoid a large correction after the year-end reconciliation.

The Belastingdienst calculates your final entitlement after the tax year ends. If you received too much, you pay it back. If you received too little, you get the difference. Large corrections usually happen when people do not update their income estimate after a salary change or when a partner starts working.

The belastingaangifte connection

Filing your belastingaangifte (tax return) each year is separate from toeslagen, but connected. Your tax return determines your definitive income for the year, which the Belastingdienst uses to recalculate your toeslagen entitlement. The deadline for filing is 1 May each year, through Mijn Belastingdienst using your DigiD.

If you arrived partway through the calendar year, you file an M-biljet instead of the standard form. If you lived in the Netherlands the full year but are not required to file, you can still submit a T-biljet to claim any refund you are owed.

Practice the vocabulary

TikTaal's belasting en toeslagen scenario covers these terms in context: discussing zorgtoeslag with a colleague, applying for huurtoeslag, and understanding the difference between toeslagen and kinderbijslag. Every Dutch word is clickable for audio and a translation.