A general overview of how pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care work in the Netherlands.
If you are pregnant in the Netherlands, you may quickly notice that maternity care here works a little differently than in many other countries. Words like verloskundige (midwife), kraamzorg, home birth, or early discharge from hospital may raise questions — especially if this is your first baby, or if you come from abroad.
The Dutch maternity care system is built on a clear philosophy:
pregnancy and birth are seen as natural life processes, supported primarily by midwives, with medical care stepping in when needed. One of the most unique parts of this system is kraamzorg — professional postnatal care at home in the first days after birth.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the Dutch system from pregnancy to the first week after birth, so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
Pregnancy care: midwife-led as the starting point
In the Netherlands, most pregnancies begin with a community midwife (verloskundige). If your pregnancy is considered low-risk, your midwife is your main caregiver throughout pregnancy and birth.
Your midwife:
Provides regular prenatal check-ups
Monitors the health of you and your baby
Offers guidance around birth preparation
Discusses your preferences and options for birth
Attends your birth if you remain low-risk
This model reflects a deep trust in the female body and in physiological birth. Pregnancy is not treated as an illness, but as a natural phase of life that deserves skilled, respectful support.
If medical risks arise at any point — during pregnancy, labour, or birth — your midwife will refer you to hospital-based obstetric care. This is a normal part of the system and does not mean something has gone “wrong”; it simply means you now receive care from an obstetrician and hospital team, often still in collaboration with your midwife.
Birth options: home, birth centre, or hospital
One of the most well-known aspects of Dutch maternity care is the option of home birth.
If your pregnancy remains low-risk, you can choose to give birth:
At home
In a birth centre
In a hospital under midwife-led care
If you are referred to obstetric care, your birth will take place in hospital under an obstetrician’s responsibility.
In hospital settings, pain relief options such as epidural or remifentanil are available. Monitoring and interventions depend on how labour unfolds and whether mother and baby are well.
For uncomplicated vaginal births, many families go home within hours or the same day. This early return home is intentional — because care continues there.
What is kraamzorg?
Kraamzorg is professional postnatal care provided at home during the first days after birth. It is a central pillar of the Dutch maternity care system and is covered by basic health insurance.
A trained maternity nurse (kraamverzorgster) comes to your home for several hours a day, usually for the first 8 days after birth.
This level of postnatal home support is quite unique internationally and is designed to support:
Physical recovery after birth
Emotional adjustment to motherhood
Newborn care and feeding
Bonding within the family
Confidence in your new role as parents
What does a kraamverzorgster do?
Kraamzorg is practical, educational, and deeply supportive.
Your kraamverzorgster may:
Check your physical recovery (bleeding, uterus, stitches if present)
Monitor your baby’s weight, temperature, feeding, and wellbeing
Support breastfeeding or bottle-feeding
Teach parents how to care for their newborn
Help with bathing the baby
Support rest and recovery for the mother
Assist lightly with household tasks related to mother and baby
Create a calm structure in the early days
She also acts as an important link in the care system, noticing early signs if additional support from a midwife or GP is needed.
Kraamzorg is not about taking over — it is about guiding, teaching, and empowering parents to grow into their role with confidence.
How many hours of kraamzorg do you receive?
The number of kraamzorg hours depends on your situation.
Standard care is around 49 hours spread over 8 days
More hours may be given if there are medical, feeding, or recovery challenges
Fewer hours may be given if everything is very straightforward
Your midwife and kraamzorg organisation assess this together after birth.
Because kraamzorg services are currently under pressure due to staff shortages, it is strongly recommended to register early in pregnancy — ideally before 16 weeks.
The role of the partner
The Dutch system assumes that partners are actively involved in the early postpartum period.
Partners are encouraged to:
Be present during labour and birth
Support the mother physically and emotionally
Learn newborn care alongside the kraamverzorgster
Take time off work in the first days
Kraamzorg supports both parents, helping the family find its rhythm together.
After the kraamweek: what happens next?
After the first week:
Care transitions back to the midwife and GP
Baby health checks continue through the consultatiebureau
Parents gradually take full responsibility for daily care
Many mothers experience the end of the kraamweek as a tender moment — the intensity of support suddenly drops. Knowing this in advance helps families prepare additional emotional or practical support if needed.
A system designed to support the transition into parenthood
The Dutch maternity care system is not perfect, and it continues to evolve. But at its core, it is built on:
Trust in physiological birth
Strong midwife-led care
Home-based postnatal support
Early empowerment of parents
Kraamzorg reflects a cultural understanding that the first days after birth matter deeply — for recovery, bonding, and long-term wellbeing.
I hope you found this helpful.
© Irida Hysenbelli – Women’s Den, 2025. All content created with care.