Starting your own childcare center

Inspection by the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and administrative fees

After receiving the fully completed and signed application form for registration in the National Childcare Register, we will instruct the Municipal Health Service (GGD) to carry out an inspection at your childcare center, childminding agency, or childminding facility. Only if the GGD inspection shows that you meet the quality requirements of the Childcare Act will we include you in the LRK. This procedure, from application to registration, takes ten weeks. Only after these ten weeks have elapsed can you start offering childcare. We charge a fee for the initial registration of your company in the LRK. The amount of the fee is included in the rate table of the Fees Regulation 2026, title 3, paragraph 7.

Responsible childcare

Childcare entrepreneurs are legally obliged to provide responsible childcare. This means childcare that contributes to the healthy development of a child in a safe and healthy environment. You can read about the quality requirements you must meet on the Dutch government website. For information about setting up a childcare center, the website of the Childcare Guarantee Fund is also interesting.

Application or change of registration in the National Childcare Register

When the Environment Act comes into force on January 1, 2024, rules will apply to childcare.

The Information Point for the Living Environment (IPLO) is part of a partnership between municipalities, provinces, water boards, and the national government. On the IPLO website, you will find information and examples of rules within the Environment Act that you, as a holder, need to know when starting or operating a childcare facility.

These may be rules concerning zoning plans, environmental permits required for construction, permits for fire safety, or rules within the Alcohol and Catering Act.

• The Rivierenland Environmental Agency grants the permits for this work for the municipality of West Maas en Waal.
• You can check whether you need an environmental permit via the Omgevingsloket (Environment Desk).

In our Policy Rules for Enforcement of the West Maas en Waal Childcare Act 2021, we also point this out to providers with an explanation of the term 'Strict at the Gate'. This term means that we want to have sufficient confidence from the outset that a provider offers responsible and high-quality childcare. This means, among other things, that a childcare provider knows which rules they must comply with before they are allowed to operate.

Only once you have arranged everything (including the requirements of the zoning plan, permits, and fire safety) and if you meet the quality requirements as set out in the Childcare Act and the Innovation and Quality in Childcare Act (IKK), can you apply to the municipality for registration in the National Childcare Register as the owner of a childcare center.

You can find the application forms for registration on the government website. You can email your application form to info@westmaasenwaal.nl or send it to PO Box 1, 6658 ZG in Beneden-Leeuwen.