The exact starting age varies per municipality. At preschool children learn through play to prepare them for primary school. They follow a special toddler programme that helps them to develop further in areas, such as language, arithmetic, movement and interaction with other children. Preschool education is available at both playgroups (peuteropvang / peuterspeelzaal) and daycare centers (kinderdagverblijf / kinderopvang). These are often found at the same location, along with other forms of childcare.
Preschool is usually subsidized and how much you need to pay depends on various factors, including your income. To find out more about the costs of preschool in your area, visit the individual institution’s website, which usually has a tool to help you calculate the cost.
Different municipalities (gemeentes) may have slightly different offerings in terms of starting age, number of hours, and cost. In Eindhoven, for example, all toddlers aged 2 years and 3 months to 4 years are entitled to 8 hours of preschool per week, spread over 2 half days. If the child healthcare clinic (consultatiebureau) has identified that your child is falling behind in terms of language skills (or at risk of this), you will be given a so-called VE indication, and your child will be entitled to an additional 8 hours.
Preschool is not available during school holidays.
Stay and play (speelinloop)
Stay and Play facilities are for children aged between 0 and 2 years and 3 months (in Eindhoven) who do not currently go to a daycare center. As the name suggests, one of the child’s parents stays the whole time, and the children play and discover together. Stay and Play sessions last an hour and a half and are usually free. They are closed in school holidays. These sessions also give parents a chance to meet other parents. The child healthcare clinic can tell you where to find a Stay and Play near you.