simplifying your life in Holland!

Transcription

1 Full-service provider for international parents: simplifying your life in Holland!

2 My wife and I had no idea we could receive an allowance for our childcare costs. Blue Umbrella saved us hundreds of euros this year! Pierre Beaumont French expat living in The Hague Blue Umbrella Blue Umbrella is a subsidiary of the Dutch company, Mr Nosey BV, a professional gastouderbureau for Dutch parents in the Netherlands. Mr Nosey has been in operation since 2005, and is now the second largest gastouderbureau in the Netherlands. Each year Mr Nosey assists hundreds of Dutch parents. In 2007, the founders of Mr Nosey realized the need for a similar service catering specifi cally to internationals and expatriates living in the Netherlands. In August 2007, Blue Umbrella was formed with the goal of assisting international parents with the entire scope of their childcare needs. The aim of Blue Umbrella is to provide quality and affordable childcare solutions to international parents, while minimizing the bureaucracy and red tape normally accompanying the Dutch childcare allowance refunds. Blue Umbrella for all your childcare needs In this brochure you will learn about: The Dutch childcare system page 3 Services offered by Blue Umbrella page 4 Subscription types and fees page 5 How to register Page 6 If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us by phone at or at [email protected]. You can also visit for more information. 2

3 Explaining the Dutch childcare system The Dutch childcare act The Dutch childcare act ensures the quality, as well as provides for the fi nancing of formal childcare in the Netherlands. It applies to daycare centres (crèches), home daycare (gastouderopvang) and out-of-school care (bso). According to this act, parents, employers and the government must jointly bear the costs of formal childcare. Forms of childcare The Dutch system recognizes two primary forms of childcare; informal and formal care. In the Netherlands, all parents using formal childcare are entitled to the childcare allowance. Formal childcare must adhere to the rules and regulations of the offi cial Childcare Act. Daycare centres and home daycares are both considered formal childcare. However, home daycares require the involvement of a daycare bureau, such as Blue Umbrella, in order to offi cially qualify for the childcare allowance. Childcare allowance The exact amount of your childcare allowance depends on the level of your household income and family status. The childcare allowance is provided on a per child basis, whereby an allowance is determined and provided for each child. The allowance is determined by a maximum hourly rate, which is adjusted annually. For 2007 the maximum hourly rate is 5,86/hour, for 2008 this will be 6,10/hour for children between four and twelve years old. The allowance covers all childcare costs and expenses provided by an approved childcare provider; expenses directly related to the care such as meals, diapers, retainer fee, can be included. You can use the Blue Umbrella Childcare Allowance Calculator on to obtain an estimate of the allowance amount your family is entitled to. Conditions In order to be eligible for the childcare allowance, the childcare services that you choose must adhere to the rules and regulations of the Dutch Childcare Act. Daycare centres must be run by a professional organization and home daycares will require the involvement of an accredited daycare bureau, such as Blue Umbrella, to offi cially certify their services with the authorities. Parents must also meet offi cial requirements: be in a household where both partners are employed* and have children between the age 0 12 years (children over 12 are not eligible for the allowance). If you do not have an employer, are self-employed, a student, or following a compulsory integration course, you may still be eligible to receive an allowance. Such circumstances are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. * There is no upper income limitation, although higher income families will receive relatively less than their lower income counterparts. 3

4 Services offered by Blue Umbrella Blue Umbrella is a full-service concept that provides various childcare services ranging from the fi ling and collection of the Childcare allowance, to matching families with childcare providers. All of our services and documentation are in English. Monitoring childcare allowance The amount of your childcare allowance will depend on both your childcare costs and family income. Both may change during the year. All changes (including change of address, childcare provider, etc.) must be passed on to the tax offi ce. All allowance claims must be made by April 1 of the following calendar year. Throughout the year, Blue Umbrella will manage your claims, monitor and update your childcare allowance. We will also fi le for your fi nal allowance collection at the end of each calendar year. My Umbrella Each household registered with Blue Umbrella will have its own personal page on the Blue Umbrella website. Your personal Blue Umbrella page will allow you to manage your account; from editing personal details to tracking contracts and invoices. Quality of care Blue Umbrella works with a network of qualifi ed childcare consultants throughout the Netherlands. When you register with Blue Umbrella, our consultants will visit your childminder and give advice and guidance on hygiene, health and safety conditions. The quality of the care your children receive is extremely important to Blue Umbrella. Apart from an annual visit, the childcare consultant is always available to discuss all practical issues regarding childcare, Blue Umbrella s services and the exact details of the childcare allowance system. 4

5 Subscription Types Blue Umbrella currently offers two forms of subscriptions for international parents in Holland; Blue Daycare and Blue Home. You can choose the one that best applies to your situation and needs. We guarantee that both subscriptions will save you a lot of money! In fact, Blue Umbrella can save you up to 90% of your total childcare costs! Blue Daycare For parents whose children attend a formal day care centre. With the Blue Daycare subscription, Blue Umbrella will take care of the fi lling and collection of your childcare allowance, as well as the monthly payment to your daycare centre. Blue Umbrella will manage your claims, monitor and update your childcare allowance throughout the year, and will fi le for your fi nal allowance collection at the end of each calendar year. Blue Umbrella will handle all paperwork and communication with the tax offi ce. Blue Home For parents whose children receive in-home daycare services. The Blue Home subscription is Blue Umbrella s core service. This service is for parents whose children receive in-home/domestic daycare (either at the parent s home or at child minder s home). Blue Umbrella will take the necessary steps to offi cially register your child minder, enabling you to formally claim your childcare allowance. The administrative work involved with home day care is complex and time-consuming; however Blue Umbrella will take care of all necessary administration such as registration, contracts, childminder invoices, insurance, etc. The fee for this extensive service can be reimbursed through the childcare allowance. Throughout the year Blue Umbrella will manage your claims, monitor and update your childcare allowance, handing all paperwork and communication with the tax offi ce. Other services Blue Umbrella will also assist you when you want to offi cially offer your child minder or nanny a labor contract (in order to qualify for the childcare allowance with an in-house nanny). Blue Umbrella will provide all payroll services (contracts, registration with the tax offi ce, monthly tax declarations, salary slips, insurance). Contact us to fi nd out more about this subscription type. Contact Blue Umbrella today and start saving immediately! 5

6 How to register? 1. Fill out the Blue Umbrella registration form at 2. Blue Umbrella will then send you and your child minder (daycare provider) a contract. 3. Blue Umbrella will arrange a visit to your home by one of our qualifi ed childcare consultants. You will have the opportunity to discuss all practical issues regarding Blue Umbrella s services and the childcare allowance system. 4. Blue Umbrella will create a personal childcare page for you (My Blue Umbrella). Your personal Blue Umbrella page will allow you to manage your account; from editing personal details to tracking contracts and invoices. 5. You will immediately benefi t from the childcare allowance! Blue Umbrella Company fi le for your allowance, arrange payment to your child minder (if desired) and reimburse you with the remainder. Contact Us If you have any questions or require more information, please feel free to contact us. We d be happy to answer any questions you may have! BlueUmbrella Telephone: [email protected] Url: 6

7 text: design: Colleen Geske, Amsterdam J.G communicatie, Diemen Mezzaluna, Zaandam disclaimer: Blue Umbrella, September This brochure has been produced with great care. However, changes in laws, regulations and/or the policies of Blue Umbrella may subsequently outdate the content of this brochure. Please feel free to report any changes in information to This brochure does not entitle you to any rights. More: 7

8 BlueUmbrella T F E [email protected] I Blue Umbrella simplifying your life in Holland!