Information for parents

Parents should be able to bring their children to a childcare centre or host parent without having to worry about the financing. That is why the parental contribution is low and the RCN Unit SZW pays a large part of the costs of childcare in the Caribbean Netherlands, if the conditions are met. The Public Entity can also decide to pay the parental contribution for families living in poverty.

When is your childcare organisation entitled to childcare compensation for your child?

A childcare location can only receive childcare compensation from the RCN unit SZW for the care of a child if:

Parent(s) and child are registered as residents on the island.
The parent(s) have signed a childcare agreement containing all the required information.
The child actually uses childcare and is present on the agreed day parts.

In special cases, the Public Entity may make an exception to the rule that parent(s) and child must be residents. For example, if the child or parent is a refugee. In that case, the Executive Council can advise that childcare compensation is granted because it is in the best interests of the child. A parent can apply for this kind of exception from the Public Entity:

On Bonaire: Society and Care Directorate, Kaya Neerlandia 41. Consultation hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 08:00 until 11:00 o'clock.
On Saba: Community Development & Culture Department
On St. Eustatius: Social Domain Directorate.

Are the parent(s) and child not registered and is there no exception (e.g. temporary work on the island)? Then the child can attend childcare, but the childcare organisation must charge the parent(s) at least the amount of the childcare compensation.

Amount of parental contribution

Parents who use a childcare organisation that receives childcare compensation from the government pay a low parental contribution. In 2026, parents on Bonaire will pay $100 per month for the maximum number of day parts, for both daycare and out-of-school care. On Saba and St. Eustatius, parents pay the following in 2026 for the maximum number of day parts per month:

$75 for daycare
$40 for out-of-school care

From 2027, the parental contribution will be 4 percent of the total childcare costs.

If a parent uses childcare for less than five days per week, the parental contribution per day is 20 percent of the maximum parental contribution.

Are you unable to pay the parental contribution?

Your childcare organisation sends a monthly invoice for your child's childcare. It is important that you pay on time, as your childcare organisation relies on your contribution.

If a parent fails to pay the parental contribution for three consecutive months, the parent loses the right to the childcare place. The childcare organisation may then terminate the childcare agreement.

Parents who are unable to pay the parental contribution can apply for compensation for the parental contribution. This can be requested by parents from the Public Entity:

On Bonaire: Society and Care Directorate, Kaya Neerlandia 41. Opening hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 08:00 until 11:00 o’clock.
On St. Eustatius: Social Support Unit.
On Saba: Community Development & Culture Department.

The Public Entity determines the conditions, e.g. the income level at which a parent is entitled to this subsidy, which is also referred to as child place subsidy. If the application is approved, the Public Entity pays the parental contribution directly to the childcare organisation

Refusing a child

A childcare organisation that receives childcare compensation from the government cannot refuse children if there is sufficient place to accommodate another child. There are a few exceptions to this rule. It is only possible to refuse a child if:

There is no place for the child according to the operating permit or the applicable requirements, for instance the number of children per employee or the available area.

The childcare organisation is unable to provide the child with the appropriate support, as a result of which the childcare organisation is unable to provide responsible childcare to the child (or other children).
The childcare organisation does not apply for any childcare compensation with the RCN Unit SZW, hence neither for other children.
The childcare organisation expects that the parent(s) is (are) not going to pay, because the parent(s) has (have) not paid for three months previously. The previous childcare agreement must have been terminated within the last six months due to the said outstanding payments.

If a childcare organisation refuses to admit a child or terminates the agreement, the parent can seek advice and mediation from:

On Bonaire: Sentro Akseso (717 7300)
On St. Eustatius: the Public Entity, Social Domain Directorate
On Saba: the Public Entity, Community Development & Culture Department