January 1, 2026 brings a batch of changes in the Netherlands, and a lot of them hit daily life. So if you pay rent, work shifts, claim childcare support, or share your home with a pet, this date matters. Then, once the first payslip and the first invoices arrive, the numbers stop feeling abstract.
Minimum wage rises again
The minimum hourly wage for workers aged 21 and up goes up on January 1. It moves from €14.40 to €14.71 gross per hour. Next, the youth minimum wages rise too. For example, age 20 goes to €11.77, age 18 goes to €7.36, and age 15 goes to €4.41.
So why do people talk about this one change so much. The minimum wage often pulls other amounts with it, like parts of benefit levels and some employer cost calculations.
Benefits, pensions, and work-related thresholds
Many benefit amounts rise through indexation from January 1. That includes several common schemes people rely on, so the update can affect a lot of households. Then there is the AOW age, and it stays at 67.
Next, a big pension shift keeps rolling forward. A large group of pensions moves into the new pension system in 2026, with January 1 as the start date for key steps. So if you get pension letters in early 2026, do not ignore them. They can include practical changes in how your pension is described and managed.
There is another number worth knowing if you follow heavy-work exit schemes. The tax-free threshold tied to the RVU early-exit arrangement rises to €2,357 gross per month. So for some workers and employers, that can change planning for 2026.
Childcare support changes that affect real invoices
Childcare support updates matter, and not only on paper. Next to support percentages, the government uses maximum hourly prices in the calculations, and these ceilings rise on January 1.
Here are the new maximum hourly prices used in the support calculation:
- Daycare: €11.23
- Out-of-school care: €9.98
- Childminder care: €8.49
So if your childcare price sits above these ceilings, the extra part may stay on your side of the bill. Then, if your provider raises prices in January, it helps to compare the new invoice with the ceiling used for support.
A few workplace rules that show up in HR emails
Several work-related rules change at the turn of the year. One change that many employers track is the wage-cost benefit for older workers, which gets phased out from 2026, with limited carry-over in certain situations. So some companies will revisit hiring cost plans and wage budgets.
Next, the statutory transition payment ceiling rises. The maximum transition payment goes up to €102,000, or one gross annual salary if that salary is higher than €102,000. Then, for people negotiating exits or settlements, that ceiling can set the tone of the first conversation.
Pet restrictions. A new ban on owning certain cats
This year’s rule list has a pet topic that gets a lot of attention. On January 1, 2026, the Netherlands introduces a ban on keeping fold-eared cats and hairless cats. Breeding these cats was already banned. Now, new ownership becomes illegal too.
Still, there is a transition setup for current owners. You can keep the cat you already have, but you need proof you had the cat before January 1, 2026, tied to things like microchip date and registration. Then, from the same date, shows and similar events become off-limits for these cats. Fines listed for violations can reach €1,500 for breaking the ownership ban, with separate penalties noted for event participation rules.
So what should cat owners do right now. Check the microchip and registration details, then keep a clean copy of the proof where you can grab it fast.
If you follow pet policy news beyond Europe, it helps to compare how different places handle animal welfare rules. For a clear example from the US side, read this guide on California’s 2026 cat declawing ban and puppy mill rules. Then you can see how rule changes can look similar in spirit, even when the details differ a lot.
A simple checklist for the first week of 2026
You do not need a complicated plan. Start with a few quick checks, and you will feel more in control.
- Confirm the new hourly wage numbers in payroll and contracts.
- Compare childcare invoices with the new maximum hourly price ceilings used for support.
- Review any RVU early-exit arrangements that use monthly thresholds.
- For restricted cat breeds, verify microchip status and keep proof of the chip date and ownership.
January 1 changes can feel distant, then they show up all at once. So keep it practical. Check the numbers, save the proof, and you will be ready for the new year.
