The discussion about paid foster care is very topical in the Netherlands.
Social trends, such as greater labour participation by women or a
declining interest in charity mean that fewer foster homes are becoming
available. Foster parents currently receive compensation per day per
foster child. This compensation proves in practice to be just enough
or just not enough to cover the expenses. The discussion mainly concerns
questions like: will foster parents apply just for the money if a
higher amount is offered? And, if more money is paid will that not
mean that parents end up in a kind of employment, which means that
they will have no say in their own home anymore?
BASIC COMPENSATION AS OF 1 JANUARY 2026
Age Amount per day
By good screening, the agencies can separate the good from the bad.
Becoming and being foster parents is done with the heart and emotions,
not with cold calculations and your wallet in mind. Aspiring foster
parents find that out for themselves. Nevertheless, it should be possible
not only to receive compensation for immediate extra costs of a foster
child, but also for the time invested. It should be financially feasible
to realise day care for foster children as well. Many models can be
thought of for solutions.
On 15 June 2026 there was a general discussion about foster care
in the Lower House (Tweede Kamer) of government where the financing
of foster care was also a topic of discussion. As a result of this
discussion an inquiry was started into the costs of (foster) children
and the current financial structure. This has resulted in the finding
that the compensation is ca. NLG 168,- short when compared to the
actual cost. The compensation will be adjusted accordingly. The discussion
will probably continue for some time in the Netherlands...
