In short
- Have the bag packed and by the door from around week 36 or 37.
- Pack one even if you plan to give birth at home, in case you need to go to hospital after all.
- Start with the documents: ID, health insurance card, your pregnancy notes and your birth plan.
- Hospitals often have nappies and maternity pads. Ask your maternity ward what to bring.
When should it be ready?
Babies arrive when they’re ready, not on the due date. Aim to have the bag packed and by the door from around week 36 or 37. CJG Rijnmond, for example, suggests having it ready from 37 weeks. Earlier is fine, and calmer.
Do you need one for a home birth?
Yes. In the Netherlands it’s often called a vluchtkoffer, an “escape suitcase”, for exactly this reason: even with a home birth planned, you might go to hospital during labour. With the bag ready, nobody has to pack in a hurry.
For the birth parent
- ID, health insurance card and your pregnancy notes
- Your birth plan (geboorteplan), if you made one
- Phone and a long charging cable
- Comfortable nightwear that opens at the front
- A dressing gown, slippers and warm socks
- Flip-flops for the shower
- Nursing bras and nursing pads (zoogkompressen)
- Comfortable underwear
- Toiletries, lip balm and hair ties
- Glasses or contact lenses, and their case
- A water bottle with a straw
- Snacks and drinks
- Loose, comfortable clothes for going home
- Something to pass the time: music, headphones, a book
For the baby
- A going-home outfit, in size 50 or 56
- Two bodysuits
- A hat and socks
- A cardigan or little jacket
- A blanket or wrap (omslagdoek)
- A few muslin cloths
For the partner
- A change of clothes and a toothbrush, in case you stay the night
- Snacks and drinks
- A power bank
- Coins or a bank card for parking
- The list of people to call
What does the hospital provide?
It differs per hospital. Many have nappies, maternity pads and other basics, so you may not need to bring them. Ask your maternity ward (kraamafdeling) or your verloskundige what to bring, and pack the rest.
The last-minute list
Some things you use every day until the last moment. Write them on a note on top of the bag:
- Phone charger
- Toothbrush
- Glasses
- Snacks from the fridge
Before you go
- The car seat is fitted
- You know the route to the hospital and where to park
- The phone numbers of your verloskundige, the hospital and your kraamzorg are saved in both your phones
- If you have older children, you’ve agreed who looks after them
Sources and checking
- CJG Rijnmond: checklist for the hospital bag (PDF)
- Rijksoverheid: children in the car need an approved car seat
This guide helps you prepare. Check the current information from the organisations listed for your circumstances. Discuss medical questions with your midwife or GP. How we prepare our guides.
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