The cost of child care organised through specialist child-minding bureaus rose by 113%, or €150m, last year.

The size of the increase has prompted junior education minister Sharon Dijksma to launch an investigation into possible abuse of the system, the Volkskrant reported on Friday.
In total, childcare, including crèches, after-school clubs and child-minders, cost the state almost €2bn last year, almost 25% over budget. This year the overspend is set to reach €1.5bn.
Dijksma, who is in charge of childcare, is in talks with finance minister Wouter Bos about the overspend. MPs from all parties have called on the minister to make sure parents do not have to pay higher fees.