A quarter of all families with children will find themselves paying at least €200 more for childcare and after-school clubs in 2009 according to estimates by the FNV trade union federation, reports news agency Novum.

Most of the increase is the result of a rise in hourly rates which for a quarter of parents are €0.25 higher than the agreed €6.10 an hour.
Another factor is that parents’ contributions to childcare were raised on January 1. Although this is partly compensated for by tax breaks, many parents are not aware of this says FNV spokeswoman Wilna Wind told Novum.