Daycare prices

The Complete Financial Guide

In Belgium, childcare regulations, structures, and pricing models depend directly on the region and the community. The ONE oversees the French-speaking network, Opgroeien manages the Flemish network, and Ostbelgien regulates the German-speaking cantons.

To help you navigate the financial side of childcare, here is everything you need to know about pricing systems, structures, and regional social benefits.

1️⃣ Subsidized Childcare (Income-Based / Co-funded)

In subsidized facilities, your daily fee is strictly regulated by the authorities and is calculated based on your household's cumulative net income and family composition.

◆ The French-Speaking & Walloon Network (ONE Scale)

The daily contribution is legally defined as the Participation Financière Parentale (PFP). A major simplification reform applies to these rates:

Children enrolled before January 1st, 2025: They remain under the old indexed scale.
New enrollments from January 1st, 2025 onwards: A simplified grid applies, featuring only 4 income brackets with progressive rates for greater equity.

Social Allowances & Reductions (ONE):

BIM Status (Increased Intervention): Childcare is 100% FREE for parents holding the BIM status with their Belgian mutual insurance (mutuelle). No financial contribution can be claimed by the facility.
Single-Parent Families: To support solo parents, a 70% reduction is automatically applied to the standard scale rate.
Large Families: A significant reduction is granted if you have at least three children as part of your household.
Simultaneous Children: A 70% reduction applies to each child if you have two or more children attending a subsidized childcare facility at the same time.

◆ The Flemish & Dutch-Speaking Network (IKT Scale)

Known as the Inkomenstarief (IKT), this system links your daily fee to your household income via the federal tax system.

How to apply: You must register and obtain an official income tariff certificate (attest inkomenstarief) through the "Mijn Opgroeien" digital portal before your child starts. Subsidized daily rates typically range between €6.47 and €35.89 per day.

◆ The German-Speaking Network (Ostbelgien / ZKB Scale)

In the German-speaking community, subsidized childcare (crèches and the Tagesmütterdienst childminder network) is fully centralized under the public institution ZKB (Zentrum für Kinderbetreuung). Following a major social reform inspired by the Scandinavian model:

Low to Medium Income Households: Childcare is 100% FREE for all families with a cumulative annual household income below €40,000.
Higher Income Households: For families earning above this threshold, daily contributions remain scaled based on net household income using streamlined, index-linked tariff brackets.
Out-of-School Care (AUBE): To support working parents, the first hour of after-school childcare (Außerschulische Betreuung) is entirely free of charge for everyone (subsequent hours are billed at a flat rate of €1/hour).

2️⃣ Non-Subsidized Childcare (Private Sector)

In private crèches or independent non-subsidized childminders, the organizer sets the prices freely. The tariff is fixed and is not linked to your household income. However, to guarantee strict safety, hygiene, and pedagogical standards, these private environments must still be officially authorized by their respective regional authority.

◆ The Free Price Model (Vrije prijs)

Thanks to their operational autonomy, private providers can easily adapt to individual family needs, though they must ensure full financial transparency through their internal rules and a signed written contract.

◆ The Flemish Childcare Allowance (Groeipakket)

If your child attends a Dutch-speaking private facility under Opgroeien (in Flanders or Brussels) and you pay a free price, you are usually entitled to a childcare allowance (Kinderopvangtoeslag). You automatically receive €3.66 per full day (at least 5 hours) and €1.83 per half day (between 3 and 5 hours), paid automatically around the 20th of each month.

◆ The Hybrid Model (IKT-Mix)

Some locations offer a flexible combination within the same private facility: a specific number of places under the subsidized Income-Based Tariff (IKT) and others under the Free Price system. This offers diverse options for parents within the same local community.

3️⃣ Understanding the Types of Structures

Depending on the chosen pricing framework, facilities generally fall into two operational categories:

Family-Based Care (Accueillant(e)s / Onthaalouders): A smaller, "cocoon-like" environment, usually organized at the caregiver's home. In the French system (ONE), an independent caregiver hosts up to 4 or 5 children simultaneously (up to 10 in a shared Co-accueil). In the Flemish system (Opvang in Gezin), they host a maximum of 8 children (moving towards a maximum ratio of 7 children per guide by January 2027).
Group & Collective Care (Crèches / Kinderdagverblijven): Larger facilities managed by teams of qualified childcare professionals. Under the ONE, a Crèche accommodates a minimum of 14 children with a target ratio of 1 caregiver per 7 children. Under Opgroeien (Opvang in Groep), centers host more than 8 children, with strictly monitored staff-to-child ratios (aiming for 1 caregiver for 5 babies or 8 toddlers).

4️⃣ Focus on the Brussels-Capital Region

Because Brussels is a bilingual region, it is the only area where both main networks coexist independently. Your financial rules will depend entirely on the specific community affiliation of the facility you choose:

If you choose a French-speaking facility: You will strictly depend on the ONE scale and its related social discounts (BIM, solo parents, siblings), regardless of your commune.
If you choose a Dutch-speaking facility (Opgroeien): You benefit from a priority enrollment policy if you speak or are learning Dutch (up to 55% of available places). Additionally, you retain the full right to the Flemish childcare allowance (Kinderopvangtoeslag of €3.66/day), even as a Brussels resident.

Whichever environment or pricing model you choose, we highly recommend visiting facilities to find the space that best fits your family's daily needs. Your little ones will grow up there for several years—so you are the best person to make that choice!

Tax Deduction for Childcare Expenses

Parents in Belgium can legally deduct their private childcare and extracurricular costs from their taxes.

► Eligibility Conditions: To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

The child must be your fiscal dependent.
Payments must be made to officially recognized institutions, networks, or individuals (e.g., ONE, Opgroeien, schools, authorized independent childminders, etc.).
The parent (or household) claiming the reduction must earn professional income (such as a salary, pension, or unemployment benefits).
You must have the required official certificate proving the care provided and the exact amount paid.

► Tax Benefits (For ALL Parents): Regardless of the childcare environment you choose (subsidized or private), you are entitled to a tax reduction for your childcare expenses.

Deduction Rate: You can deduct 45% of your childcare expenses from your taxes.
Maximum Limit: The deductible amount is strictly capped per day and per child. For the year 2025 (Tax Year 2026), this limit is set at €16.90 per day of care. It will increase to €17.30 in 2026 (Tax Year 2027).
Official Certificate: Your childcare provider or network must issue an official tax certificate (attestation fiscale) every year, which you must use to back up your tax return.

(Information extracted from the Federal Public Service Finance website & calculation example — please verify the data for the latest updates).