Starting (or expanding) a family far from home, where health care practices and customs may differ, can be overwhelming. This is why the ACCESS Childbirth Preparation Courses have been so popular over the years. In addition to answering your questions, you will also learn how to prepare for labour and delivery in the Netherlands.
What to expect
Our courses are designed for couples/parent(s) and are offered either as a weekly class or as a one-day intensive course. Check Dates & Locations for exact details in your area. Our trainers suggest that you be in your third trimester when starting the course.
The cost of our intensive ACCESS Childbirth Preparation Course is €325. The four or five-weekly extensive course plus a baby reunion is €379. A receipt is issued upon payment, and fees include 21% VAT.
Some of the topics covered include:
- The Dutch health system as pertaining to prenatal and postpartum care
- The stages of labour and delivery
- Relaxation, breathing and massage techniques to deal with labour pain
- The role of the birthing partner during labour and delivery
- Attitude towards pain and contractions
- Breathing and positioning during the different stages of labour
- The pros and cons of medical pain relief
- Instrumental assisted delivery (vacuum extraction, caesarean section)
- Breastfeeding information (limited)
- First week of motherhood
- Dutch habits and customs
* The costs of the course may be reimbursed by your health insurance. ACCESS, however, bears no responsibility for this process. Please check with your insurance company for details.
You can read about our Birth Course Trainers – Chitra Natarajan in Utrecht and Amsterdam; Meida van Baal and Maggie Walker in The Hague; Madi van Tonder and Maggie Walker in Rotterdam here.
For an overview of the most frequently asked questions about our Childbirth Courses, please see this.
Participants’ Feedback
“The course was very informative and practical and the instructor brought a really comfortable and friendly atmosphere in which it was easy to ask questions and share comments. It was intensive (6 hours) but it went by really fast.” About Maggie by Helene, 1 Day Intensive Childbirth Course, April 2025, Den Haag
“Meida did a great job explaining the whole course. We got thorough explanations on the anatomy of the body during pregnancy up to labor. Highly recommended course to follow for a first time parents to be!” Savitri & Bas, January 2026, Den Haag
“This course is great for new parents and really helps calm a lot of fears. Maggie’s awesome, she explains everything in a really human way, without pushing one birth method over another. You can tell she’s super dedicated, and her 15+ years of experience mean she has tons of helpful examples and makes you feel way better. If you’re trying to pick a childbirth course, you should totally check this one out.” Georgiana, 1 Day Intensive Childbirth Course, December 2025, Den Haag
“Chitra is an amazing teacher, you can tell she loves what she does. I went into the course somewhat afraid of the labor process, and already after the first class I felt empowered and confident that I could do it. She gives a lot of theoretical and practical advice, balancing the different choices for birthing. She won’t tell you one birthing choice is better than another, but instead provide you with all the tools so you and your partner can choose what works for you. I highly recommend her labor prep course!” Sara, Nov/Dec 2024, Utrecht
“I really recommend the course with Meida because, especially for expat mothers-to-be, they can get a detailed overview of how childbirth works in the Netherlands. Meida has been doing this for years, explaining everything in detail and giving you lots of useful tips on how to cope with labour and postpartum.” Camilla Vaselli, Childbirth Preparation Course, June/July 2024, Den Haag
“Incredibly positive experience, we learned and experienced everything we needed, to actually feel ready and comfortable to our little boy. Chitra is a wonderful teacher, mother and friend. The knowledge you gain, will forever change in a very positive way how you perceive childbirth and the journey ahead.” Eduard, May/June 2024, Utrecht
