THE HAGUE – Since 1 January 2026, the new Childcare BES Act has been in force in the Caribbean Netherlands. With this law, the government aims to significantly improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of childcare on the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. This is stated by Minister J.A. Vijlbrief in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The introduction of the law marks an important change. Until recently, there was no national regulation for childcare in the Caribbean Netherlands, and responsibility largely rested with the islands themselves. This often led to high costs for parents and inconsistent quality of care.
The new law introduces stricter quality requirements, such as better training standards for staff and mandatory pre-school education. There will also be greater oversight of childcare organisations. According to the minister, this is essential because many parents on the islands work full-time, meaning children spend a lot of time in childcare.
Phased implementation and exceptions
Not all parts of the law have been introduced immediately. Rules around plus-care (for children with additional needs), flexible childcare and a cap on reimbursements will temporarily remain outside the scope of the law. The foundation of childcare must first be further established.
Some provisions will follow later. The arrangement whereby the public body can pay the parental contribution is expected to take effect in the course of 2026. Other provisions may not be fully implemented until after an evaluation in 2031.
More oversight and stricter enforcement
The Education Inspectorate will begin supervising childcare under the new law this year. The initial focus will be on improvement, but intervention is also possible. Childcare organisations risk fines or temporary closure in the event of serious violations.
Initial enforcement will focus primarily on safety, such as group sizes and the possession of valid certificates of conduct (VOGs).
Extra funding for infant care
A key bottleneck is funding, particularly for the care of infants. Childcare organisations are no longer permitted to ask parents to bring their own supplies such as nappies.
To cover the additional costs, the government will increase the so-called baby supplement by approximately 15 percent from 2027. On Bonaire, this reimbursement will rise to 306 dollars per infant per month for full-time care.
New method of financing
Since April 2026, childcare funding is channelled through the RCN Unit SZW. This also changes the way organisations apply for funding: no longer based on retrospective estimates, but on agreements made with parents.
The government hopes this approach will make the sector more stable and better aligned with day-to-day practice.
Looking ahead
The coming years will be focused on the further implementation and improvement of the law. Work is also being done on an evaluation to assess how the new rules play out in practice.
Minister Vijlbrief calls the introduction an important step: “These efforts contribute to good and accessible childcare and give children in the Caribbean Netherlands better prospects for the future.”
