Below you can work out your situation straight away, without an account. If you want the full calculation — with your actual housing costs, the child-related budget and a report — you create a free account: name, email address and password, no Dutch citizen service number (BSN) and no payment details. What exactly is free and what the full PDF report costs is explained on the page Free maintenance calculation.
Work through your own situation, without an account
How is child maintenance calculated?
Child maintenance is calculated according to the Trema guidelines in three steps:
- The child's needs — determined via the needs table based on the net family income when you still lived together (married or not) and the number of children.
- Capacity of both parents — calculated from each parent's net disposable income (NBI).
- Split and care discount — costs are divided in proportion to capacity; the paying parent receives a care discount for contact days.
The child-related budget (including the single-parent supplement after divorce) and the income-dependent combination tax credit (IACK) are also included. Alimentatie Inzicht calculates all of this automatically.
Example calculation
Simplified example for one child aged 10:
| NBI parent A / parent B | € 3,179 / € 2,313 per month |
| Child's needs (needs table, family NBI € 5,492) | € 744 / month |
| Capacity parent A / parent B | € 602 / € 178 per month |
| Parent A share (pro rata to capacity) | € 574 / month |
| Care discount parent A (25%, 2 days) | – € 186 / month |
| Indicative child maintenance | ± € 388 / month |
Illustrative. The actual outcome depends on exact incomes, housing costs, number of children and the care split — all calculated in full by the tool. Six fully worked examples, calculated with the same calculation core, are on the page worked examples 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How is child maintenance calculated?
Via the needs table (child's need), then both parents' capacity from net disposable income, and finally a proportional split with a care discount for contact days.
What is the care discount?
A discount on child maintenance for the costs the paying parent bears when the children are with him or her. The Dutch Expertgroep Alimentatienormen applies: 5% for less than 1 day a week, 15% for on average 1 day, 25% for 2 days and 35% for 3 days or more (including co-parenting).
Does the child-related budget count?
Yes, but not as a deduction from the need. Since the Dutch Supreme Court ruling of 9 October 2015 (ECLI:NL:HR:2015:3011) the child-related budget, including the single-parent supplement, counts towards the income — and so the capacity — of the parent who receives it. The child’s needs remain what the child needs.
Up to what age does child maintenance apply?
Up to age 18. For young people aged 18 to 21 an extended maintenance obligation applies for living costs and study; the contribution then goes to the child, who is also a party to any agreement or proceedings.
Is child maintenance indexed every year?
Yes. On 1 January the amount rises automatically (by operation of law) with the statutory percentage; for 2026 that is 4.6%. That applies to child and spousal maintenance alike. Check it with the indexation tool.
Has your situation changed? Recalculate your maintenance.