Belgium: Extended Leave for Fathers of Hospitalized Newborns

The Belgian socialist party Vooruit has submitted a legislative proposal to extend birth leave for fathers and co-parents when a newborn requires prolonged hospitalization, aiming to close a significant gap in the country’s parental leave system. Federal parliament member Anja Vanrobaeys introduced the bill on Monday, arguing that current law unfairly limits support for families facing medical emergencies after birth.

The Current Disparity

Under existing Belgian law, mothers are entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave. If a newborn is hospitalized for more than seven days, that leave is extended by the duration of the hospital stay, up to a maximum of 24 additional weeks — potentially allowing a mother to be absent from work for up to 38 weeks, according to VRT NWS.

Fathers and co-parents, however, face a starkly different reality. Since January 2023, they have been entitled to 20 days of birth leave, which must be taken within four months of birth. There is no provision for extension if the baby requires hospitalization.

“For fathers and co-parents, the law does not provide that possibility,” Vanrobaeys told HLN. “After four weeks, their birth leave runs out inexorably. And this while this is a challenging and emotionally difficult period for both parents with daily hospital visits.”

What the Proposal Entails

Vanrobaeys’s bill would allow fathers and co-parents to take up to 16 additional weeks of birth leave beyond the standard 20 days, as long as the baby remains hospitalized. The proposal mirrors the existing extension mechanism available to mothers, bringing parity to a system that currently treats parents differently based on their role.

“You cannot expect fathers and co-parents to combine such anxious days and nights with work,” Vanrobaeys said. “Both parents should have the opportunity to be with their child when it is most needed.”

A Personal Dimension

The proposal draws on real-life experiences. Vanrobaeys cited the case of Bram from Bavikhove, whose twins were born at 29 weeks and spent months in hospital. One child suffered a severe brain infarction at birth. Bram, a teacher, had to return to work part-time while his family remained in a difficult medical and emotional situation.

The issue gained significant visibility through Flemish Minister Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit), who recently returned to work after her daughter Cécile was born nine weeks premature and spent seven weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In an interview with VRT NWS, Depraetere described the experience as “an extremely intense period, an emotional rollercoaster.”

“Fathers often cannot stay with the baby during the day because they have to continue working,” Depraetere said. “Unlike mothers, they have no system to fall back on.”

The Scale of the Issue

According to the Federal Knowledge Center for Healthcare, approximately 12% of newborns in Belgium are admitted to a neonatal ward, and about 4% require intensive neonatal care. These are often premature babies, whose parents face weeks or months of daily hospital visits while managing work obligations.

Political Context and Next Steps

The proposal comes from Vooruit, a party that is part of both the federal government coalition and the Flemish regional government. The issue has become a prominent topic in Belgian family policy, particularly following Depraetere’s personal experience and the precedent set in November 2025 when the Belgian government agreed for the first time to replace a minister during maternity leave.

The bill will now need to be debated in the federal parliament, where it will require support from other parties to pass. No public opposition has been reported in initial coverage, though the financial cost to the social security system has not yet been detailed.

Broader Trends

This proposal continues a longer trend in Belgium toward expanding parental leave rights for fathers and co-parents. In 2023, the government doubled birth leave from 10 to 20 days. The current proposal aligns with EU directives and broader European trends toward more equal parental leave policies.

If passed, the legislation would provide significant financial and emotional relief to thousands of families each year who face the dual challenge of caring for a hospitalized newborn while navigating limited leave options.

What to Watch For

The parliamentary debate will determine whether the proposal gains cross-party support and how quickly it can move through the legislative process. Key questions include the estimated cost to the social security system, whether the measure would also cover adoptive or foster parents, and how Belgium’s policy compares to those in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, France, and Germany.