Mothers earn a third less after their first child, CBS says

Women in the Netherlands who were working when they had their first child earned 33% less from work six years later than in the year before they became mothers. For fathers, this “baby penalty” was 3%. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) published the figures on 13 November in its Emancipation Monitor 2026. They apply to parents whose first child was born between 2016 and 2018.

Smaller than 20 years ago

The penalty for mothers has become smaller over time. Women who had their first child between 1996 and 2001 earned 57% less from work six years later. Since then, mothers have on average started working more hours, CBS says.

Most parents want to share the care equally

Two thirds of women and men in a couple with a child under 18 would like to share the care of their children equally. Between 25% and 30% think the mother should do somewhat more, or most of it. Only 2% would prefer the father to do more.

In practice, the care is shared equally in 40% of couples with children. More than half say the mother does more.

Most people think men and women are equally suited to looking after children: 67% of women say so, against 55% of men. Of the men, 41% think women are better suited, compared with 29% of women.

Working hours of parents with young children

For mothers with a child under 4, a working week of 20 to 35 hours is the most popular choice among both women and men, and it is also what most of these mothers work: 57% did so in 2025. A small job of up to 20 hours is seen as best by 26% of women and 30% of men, but only 9% of mothers with a young child worked that little. More mothers work full time or not at all than people think is best.

Most people think fathers with a young child are also best off working 20 to 35 hours: 67% of women and 57% of men say so. In practice, 20% of fathers work those hours, and 75% work full time.