CHILDCARE

1. Intro
2. Full childcare
   Creches
   Child minders
   Nanies
3. Preschools

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Full childcare

Creches

These are for children from the age of (usually) 10 weeks to 4 years. Some crèches have 'vertical groups' where children of all ages are in the same group, others separate babies and toddlers into two groups. Quality and atmosphere varies, so do take a thorough look at the crèche before you register. Many have waiting lists, and you can register from the 3 rd month of pregnancy, so it's good to be prepared well in advance so you get what you want. Some days are more popular than others, so if you are in a hurry you might be lucky if you can be flexible with your days. They vary in terms of opening and closing times, and do be aware that you cannot be late in picking your child up.

Many crèches also have a 'Buitenschoolseopvang' group (after school care) - see Schools section for information on these.

There is one English-speaking crèche in Leiden: Teddy Kids Palace (see details in list below).

Some crèches belong to the same business (B4 Kids, for instance, owns a good proportion of the crèches in the Leiden area). I have added a short review to some of them: please be aware these are only personal opinions! The crèches that I have found (and that have websites) are:

• Kattekop Kinderdagverblijf (Leiden University)
  Wassenaarseweg 8
  2333 AK Leiden
  Tel: 071 5176363
  Website: www.services-facilities.leiden.edu/childcare or Kattekop Kinderdagverblijf
  for location

• De Kinderdagverblijven:
  Branches:
  De Batavieren Kinderdagverblijf
  IJsselkade 48
  2314 VM Leiden
  Tel: 071 5893988
  Website: Batavieren-Kinderdagverblijf.
  
  Review: Good daycare. The flexible daycare is very helpful. If you register the hours you need in time, there is almost always a place. They take good care of the children, and have lots of theme days and outings, such as visits to the playground, children's farm etc. Also educational projects such as taking the bus to the train station and then doing a project on trains and buses.
  There are 4 regular groups and 1 flexible group. Also BSO.
  
  De Watergeuzen
  Willem Barentszstraat 47
  2315 TZ Leiden
  Tel: 071 5760439
  Mobiel: 06 28520604
  Website: De Watergeuzen
  
  
• Annette's Kinderopvang
  Branches:
  Utrechtse Jaagpad 27
  2313 KZ Leiden
  Tel: 071 5144551
  
  Aaltje Noordewierlaan 1
  2324 KP Leiden
  Tel: 071 5793677
  Website: www.annetteskinderopvang.nl
  
  Review: We were very pleased with the care our son received there. There was no turnover among the full-time, permanent staff over three years: he was able to form a very long and lasting bond with the two main teachers in the toddler room, Joyce and Marissa. They have a large and very nice garden at the location on the Utrechtse Jaagpad. The only downside was that the baby room was upstairs, which meant carrying a baby up and down Dutch stairs daily. It is a Dutch-speaking creche with Dutch 'norms' (i.e. sandwiches for lunch with milk to drink unless you specify otherwise). The teachers can sometimes be a bit brusque, especially to foreign sensibilities, but they are ultimately lovely people.
  
  
• B4KIDS Kinderopvang
  Information point:
  Noordeinde 54
  2311 CE Leiden
  Tel: 071 5163400
  Website: www.b4kids.nl
  
  Head office (location):
  Schipholweg 77/79
  Postbus 2201
  2301 CE  Leiden
  Tel: 071 5163400; 071 5163434
  
  Branches:

  Peuterhaven Albertine Agnesstraat 30 2316 EV Leiden Tel: 071 5212254 Krullevaar Antonie Duycklaan 13 2334 CE Leiden Tel: 071 5157466 Sindbad Atjehstraat 32 2315 CV Leiden Tel: 071 5212051 Kindervilla Boerhavenlaan 1 2334 EB Leiden Tel: 071 5163400 Compagnon Broekplein 10 2318 TJ Leiden Tel: 071 5243040 Konijn Drie Octoberstraat 27 2313 ZM Leiden Tel: 071 5124994 Bengel Gabriel Metzustraat 4B 2316 AJ Leiden Tel: 071 5236500 De Kleine Beer Johan Wagenaarlaan 14 2324 XD Leiden Tel: 071 5790110 Vlindertuin Louise Hardenbergsingel 2 2331 BR Leiden Tel: 071 5760955 Nooitgenoeg Maansteenpad 2 2332 RN Leiden Tel: 071 5321877

  De Grote Beer Meerhof 33 2321 TH Leiden Tel: 071 5322942 Draaimolen Milanenhorst 193 2317 CL Leiden Tel: 071 5216628 Kersentuin Morellenweg 16 2321 KC Leiden Tel: 071 5765684 Kleine Beer Johan Wagenaarlaan 14 2324 XD Leiden Tel: 071 5790110 Arcade Octavialaan 61 2314 BN Leiden Tel: 06 50831642 Peuterpalet Oppenheimstraat 4B 2313 JE Leiden Tel: 071 5160444; 071 5124369 Langhors Rijnsburgerweg 10 2333 AA Leiden Tel: 071 5236990 Prikkebeen Robijnhof 1 2332 KJ Leiden Tel: 071 5320144 Pettevlet Tamboerpad 2 2316 ZW Leiden Tel: 071 5244060 Lotte Trix Terwindtstraat 2 2331 GW Leiden Tel: 071 5318089

  
  

• Joepie Kinderdagverblijf (location)
  Turkooislaan 131
  2332 RK Leiden
  Tel: 071 5728339
  Website: www.kdvjoepie.nl
  
  
• Catalpa Kinderopvang (location)
  Branches:
  Boerhaavelaan 53
  2334 EE Leiden
  Tel: 071 5156700
  
  Kagerstraat 1
  2334 CP Leiden
  Tel: 071 5651122
  
  Tweelingstraat 8
  2312 LX Leiden
  Tel: 071 5280087
  Website: www.catalpa.nl
  
  
• Kinderdagverblijf Pimmetje
  Rijnsburgerweg 140
  2333 AH LEIDEN
  Tel: 071 5157047
  Website: www.kinderdagverblijfpimmetje.nl
  
  
• Okidokids
  Rijnsburgerweg 31/E
  2334 BE Leiden
  Tel: 071 3014531
  Website: www.okidokids.nl
  
  
• Flowerkids
  Branches:
  Sterre
  Rijnsburgerweg 9
  2334 BA Leiden
  Tel: 071 5154547

  Madelief
  Hoge Rijndijk 13
  2313 KE Leiden
  Website: www.flowerkids.nl
  Review: very long waiting list: enroll your child as soon as you know you are pregnant!

• Tomtiedom Kinderdagverblijf
  Kagerstraat 1/A
  2334 CP Leiden
  Tel: 071 5170023
  Website: www.tomtiedom.nl