Begrippenlijst

Kinderopvang van A tot Z

Definities van de Nederlandse kinderopvang-termen die je tegenkomt op Opvango, in inspectierapporten en op de Belastingdienst-pagina: KDV, BSO, KOT, LRK, IKK, VVE en meer.

Daycare centre (KDV): A daycare centre (kinderdagverblijf) looks after children aged 0 to 4, full days or half days, five days a week. A KDV has fixed pedagogical staff per group and a daily rhythm built around sleeping, eating, playing and development. KDVs are listed in the National Childcare Register (LRK) and therefore qualify for the Dutch childcare benefit.
After-school care (BSO): After-school care (buitenschoolse opvang) looks after school children aged 4 to 12 before and after school hours and during school holidays. The emphasis is on relaxation, activities and social contact — sometimes including transport to and from school.
Preschool (peuteropvang, PO): Preschool (peuteropvang, formerly peuterspeelzaal) is care for children of roughly 2 to 4 years old, usually half days, focused on learning through play and preparing for primary school.
Childminder care (gastouderopvang, GOB / GO): Childminder care (gastouderopvang) is small-scale care at a registered childminder's home or at the parents' home, for at most six children at a time. The childminder is affiliated with a registered childminder agency (GOB) that handles matching, guidance and payments.
Childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag, KOT): The childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) is a contribution from the Dutch tax authority for parents who work, study or follow a trajectory towards work. The amount depends on income, the number of childcare hours and the location's hourly rate, with a government-set maximum reimbursable hourly rate per childcare type.
National Childcare Register (LRK): The National Childcare Register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang) is the official government register of all recognised childcare locations in the Netherlands. Every location has a unique LRK number; only registered locations qualify for the childcare benefit.
GGD (municipal health service): The GGD (municipal health service) inspects childcare locations on behalf of the municipality. The inspection reports — covering pedagogy, safety, hygiene and staffing — are public and can be consulted through the LRK.
Childcare Innovation and Quality Act (IKK): The IKK act (since 2018) sets quality requirements for Dutch childcare: training requirements for pedagogical staff, mandatory coaching, the staff-to-child ratio (BKR), mentoring and a fixed familiar face for babies.
Early childhood education (VE / VVE): VVE is a programme for toddlers and preschoolers with (a risk of) an educational disadvantage. At VVE locations, pedagogical staff work with recognised methods to stimulate vocabulary, social skills and motor skills.
Certificate of conduct (VOG): A VOG is a statement from the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security confirming that a person has no criminal record that would prevent them from working with children. Everyone who works with children in childcare on a structural basis must hold a valid VOG.
Staff-to-child ratio (BKR): The statutory staff-to-child ratio determines the minimum number of pedagogical staff that must be present per age group. For babies aged 0–1 it is 1 to 3, for ages 1–2 it is 1 to 5, and for ages 2–4 it is 1 to 8 (exceptions aside).
Base group (stamgroep): A base group (stamgroep) is the fixed group in which a child is cared for daily, with fixed staff and a fixed room. Base groups give children a sense of security and help build close relationships with caregivers.
Settling-in period (wenperiode): The settling-in period (wenperiode) is a series of visits before the actual starting date in which a child (and the parent) gets to know the location, the staff and the daily rhythm. Settling-in days are usually free of charge or at a reduced rate.
Pedagogical policy (pedagogisch beleid): A location's pedagogical policy plan describes its vision on raising and guiding children — for example Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Pikler or its own pedagogical approach. Every registered childcare location is required to keep an up-to-date pedagogical policy plan.
Mentor (fixed familiar face): Since the IKK act, every child is assigned a fixed mentor: a pedagogical staff member who follows the child's development, holds parent meetings and acts as the family's point of contact.
Non-standard care (NUO): NUO refers to childcare types outside KDV/BSO/preschool/childminder care — think of flexible care, weekend or evening care and overnight care for specific professions.