Employees · Leave and career breaks
Birth leave 2026: 20 days, how much does the health insurance fund pay you?
Updated on
Since 1 November 2026, withholding tax on pay has been calculated differently (Royal Decree of 27 September 2026). The calculations on this page still follow the previous rules: for pay received from 1 November, withholding tax and net pay may differ. Update in progress.
The father or co-parent is entitled to 20 days of birth leave, to be taken within 4 months. The first 3 days are paid by the employer; the other 17 by the health insurance fund (mutualité / ziekenfonds), at 82% of gross salary capped at €188.67 a day since 1 September 2026, minus 11.11% withholding tax (bedrijfsvoorheffing / précompte professionnel).
For an employee on €3,000 gross, the health insurance fund pays about €1,715.80 net for the 17 days: the leave costs about €58 net in total compared with their salary.
Calculate your birth leave
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What you receive during birth leave
| Gross per month | Gross benefit per day | Net benefit for 17 days | Net cost of the leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| €2,500 | €78.85 | €1,429.83 | €277.19 |
| €3,000 | €94.62 | €1,715.80 | €58.47 |
| €3,500 | €110.38 | €2,001.58 | −€118.19 |
| €4,000 | €126.15 | €2,287.55 | −€236.36 |
| €5,000 | €154.71 | €2,805.44 | −€411.01 |
| €6,000 | €154.71 | €2,805.44 | −€85.12 |
Above about €4,905 gross a month, the ceiling applies: the benefit no longer rises, and the leave costs more. Your health insurance fund calculates the exact amount.
Birth leave rules
- 20 days for a birth since 1 January 2023, the same number for twins.
- Within 4 months of the birth, all at once or in full days, not half-days.
- Who for: the father or co-parent, employed full-time or part-time.
- Steps: inform your employer, then send the benefit claim to your health insurance fund.
The mother is entitled to maternity leave of 15 weeks. After that, each parent can take parental leave until the child turns 12.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of birth leave in 2026?
20 days, to be taken within 4 months of the birth. This number does not double for twins.
Who pays for birth leave?
The employer pays the first 3 days, as working days. The health insurance fund pays the other 17, at 82% of capped gross salary, minus 11.11% withholding tax.
How much does birth leave cost me?
At €3,000 gross, about €58 net in total for the 20 days. The further your salary is above the ceiling, the more the leave costs: the health insurance fund does not count salary above €188.67 a day.
Can I take birth leave in half-days?
No, only in full days, all at once or in several parts, within 4 months of the birth.
What next?
- What if a child arrives?Net pay, tax, nursery and family allowances.
- Maternity leave15 weeks: the net benefit from the health insurance fund.
- Parental leaveThe National Employment Office (NEO) allowance and your net pay.
- Leave and career breaksAll types of leave, compared with your usual net pay.
Sources
Parameters in force on 1 October 2026. Each parameter links to its source, the official one where it exists; a secondary source is flagged as such.
- Votre plafond salarial en cas d’incapacité de travail, de maternité ou de congé de naissance (amounts as of 1 September 2026), NIHDI.
- Demande d’indemnités pour le congé de naissance (20 days, 82%, withholding tax of 11.11%), Solidaris (secondary source).
- Ai-je droit à un congé de paternité ou de co-parentalité ?, Parentia (secondary source).
- Calcul du précompte professionnel : annexe III de l’AR/CIR 92 et formule-clé 2026, FPS Finance.