Between 7,000 and 10,000 new nursery places need to be created in Brussels to provide childcare for every household in the capital that needs it. The figures come from a study published on Thursday in the journal Brussels Studies.
According to Brussels Studies, the number of births in Brussels has fallen sharply over the past 15 years. 2023 saw a decline of a quarter compared to 2010.
However, this does not guarantee a place in childcare for every baby. On 1 January 2023, there were approximately 20,500 recognised childcare places, while there were almost 45,000 children under the age of three.
While not all parents choose to put their babies in formal nursery facilities, the lengthy process of obtaining a place in a crèche reflects the severe shortage of care for the youngest children.
The study, carried out by ULB and Ghent University, also shows that not all parents are equal when it comes to accessibility. Practical access is often hampered by opening times that are poorly adapted to non-standard working hours.
The study emphasises the need to create many more places. These are particularly needed in the west of Brussels and should be priced according to parents’ income, so they are also accessible to single-parent families and job seekers.