Childcare

Belgium has an extensive network of quality childcare for young children aged 3 months to 3 years. Childcare in Belgium is the responsibility of the language communities, which means that childcare is organised differently in Dutch and French-speaking Belgium. Some childcare facilities in Brussels follow the rules of the Dutch-speaking Kind en Gezin, others those of the French-speaking Office de la Naissance et de l'Enfance (O.N.E.).

Moreover, it is important to distinguish between:

  • Childminding families (home childminding) and day nurseries
  • Officially-recognised (subsidised) childcare and private (non-subsidised) childcare
Childminding families

These are families that take care of a small number of children in their home.

  • Childminding families registered with an official organisation. The organisation will put you in touch with a private childminder who meets your requirements and supervise the quality of the childcare. Rates are fixed by law and depend on your income.
  • Independent childminding families. They decide their own rates and enjoy greater freedom. If they have a certificate from Kind en Gezin or ONE, the childcare must satisfy strict legal requirements. You have to contact this category of childminder yourself.
Day-car centres

They welcome children in groups, in specially equipped facilities. Kind en Gezin distinguishes between recognised and independent day-care centres. O.N.E distinguishes between a whole series of different collective care structures.

Kind en Gezin

  • Recognised day-care centres. Supervisors are trained as child care workers, nursery school teachers or monitors. The centres comply with legal requirements. The price is fixed by law, takes into account your income and is tax deductible.
  • Independent day-care centres or mini-crèches determine their own price for day care. If they hold a Kind en Gezin certificate, they satisfy legal requirements.

Some day- care centres also welcome pre-schoolers and primary school children. There are provisions for special hours and specific target groups (sick children, disabled children, etc.)

O.N.E

  • Depending on the children’s age, a distinction is made between crèche (between 0 and 3 years, up to 48 children), prégardiennat (between 1½ and 3 years, up to 48 children), Maison communale d’Accueil d’Enfant (between 0 and 6 years, up to 24 children). In crèches and prégardiennat the price always depends on the parents’ income and is tax deductible. They always employ qualified staff.

  • Maisons d’enfants do not receive subsidies, but do have to meet O.N.E quality requirements. The price varies and is tax deductible. Maisons d’enfants welcome up to 24 children between 0 and 6 years.

  • Other forms of non-subsidised care exist, such as haltes-garderies and farandolines, which are care facilities you can turn to if you are in search of unexpected care for your child for a few hours.

USEFUL TIP: are you seeking childcare in your area? Request a list with municipal crèches in your municipality (recognised by Kind en Gezin or O.N.E)

Care for sick children?

A number of day-care centres also cater for sick children. Many municipalities organise home care for sick children. Most national healthcare services also provide this service. 

More information?

• www.kindengezin.be
• www.one.be
• The Gezinsbond (Dutch-speaking, www.gezinsbonds.be) or La Ligue des Familles (French-speaking, www.citoyenparent.be) are both non-profit-making organisations that offer a range of services to parents such as babysitting, educational guidance, legal aid and consumer advice

Article "Focus - she's having a baby", document 1, 2, 3, The Bulletin, March 2012.