While Flanders needs another 10,000 places in childcare, only 150 spots have been created since 2023, says Flemish parliamentarian Lise Vandecasteele (PVDA). The situation “just keeps dragging on”
While the Flemish government had promised that it would create an additional 5,000 spots in daycare by now, only 150 have actually been established. The figures were quoted by Flemish parliamentarian Lise Vandecasteele of the workers’ party PVDA. “Promise after promise has been broken,” she said.
At the end of 2024, there were 93,175 places for babies and toddlers in daycare in Flanders. Nine months later, the figure was 93,183 – a growth of a mere eight places. Vandecasteele finds this unacceptable.
“The shortage of capacity in daycare just keeps dragging on,” she said. “Too many parents are searching in vain for a place and are being forced to come up with an alternative solution – taking parental leave, relying on family or simply working part time.”
At the same time as the government is punishing people who can’t work, they are not capable of creating an adequate number of daycare facilities
Lize Vandecasteele
She said that Flanders had only 150 more childcare spots than it did in 2023 and emphasised that the total 10,000 promised increase in capacity by the end of the current legislature in 2029 seemed nigh on impossible.
“At the same time as the government is punishing people who can’t work, they are not capable of creating an adequate number of daycare facilities. And if they fail to offer liveable working conditions and decent wages, this will simply never be the case.”
Flemish welfare minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) responded that it takes time to create more capacity and that the government is in the middle of a very successful programme wherein parents pay according to means.
Last spring, the government put out a call for applications for the programme and have approved more than 3,900 of those applications. Those places “will be developed starting in 2026,” says Gennez. “The first 1,600 will open up in 2026 and 2027.”
The government is also investing in daycare jobs and infrastructure, she said. Some €30 million is being earmarked to attract and train career changers to become child minders. She also pointed to the €60 million being invested in new daycare centres. In total, about €100 million per year is invested in daycare, which will double in 2029.
“And that is only reasonable,” says Gennez. “Daycare is so much more than babysitting. It is a place where our children learn, make friends and get prepared to start school. And they make sure that parents can go to work with peace of mind. That’s why we are making a historical investment in creating more spaces.”