If your child attends daycare for 8 hours a day, the City of Hamburg covers a large portion of the costs. Depending on their income, parents pay a monthly fee ranging from €11 to €191. This amount already includes a hot lunch. Despite the long hours of care, daycare remains affordable for all parents, providing significant relief to families.

A daycare spot with 10 hours of daily care also costs parents in Hamburg only a sliding-scale copayment. Depending on income, this currently ranges from €16 to a maximum of €204 per month. This includes all essential services, such as a daily hot lunch. Generous subsidies from the City of Hamburg ensure that even such a long childcare period remains affordable for all families.

All families with children aged 1 and older until they start school are eligible for a daycare voucher in Hamburg. This means that every child receives at least five hours of daily care free of charge regardless of whether the parents work. If you need more hours of care per day, you can apply for a voucher covering additional hours. Depending on your needs (for example, if you work), you may be approved for 6, 8, 10, or even 12 hours per day, with substantial financial support.

Every family in Hamburg with a child over one year old is eligible to receive a daycare voucher. The city covers the full cost of five hours of daily care, making this basic care free for all children. The XL daycare voucher has been available since 2025; it remains valid from the initial application until the child starts school, saving parents the trouble of submitting annual renewal applications. The voucher also allows for longer care hours if there is a corresponding need (e.g., due to employment).

In Hamburg, five hours of daycare per day (including lunch) are free for parents, as the City of Hamburg covers the costs. However, a parent fee which is based on income is charged if families need extended care hours. Despite this co-payment, daycare in Hamburg remains very affordable. No child has to go without a daycare spot for financial reasons.

You can apply for the daycare voucher at the Youth Welfare Office in your district in Hamburg. The easiest way to do this is through the city’s online service portal, where you can submit your application from the comfort of your own home. It’s important that you apply for the voucher in a timely manner : It’s recommended to do so about three months before your desired start date at daycare. Once you have the voucher, you can redeem it at the daycare center of your choice and sign the care agreement there.

Many parents register their child about a year before the desired start date at daycare. There is particularly high demand for spots in popular neighborhoods. You should apply for the daycare voucher no later than three to six months before your child is set to start, because without the voucher, you won’t get a spot. The sooner you start your search, the better your chances are that your child will get a caring spot in time.

It’s best to start looking for a daycare spot for your child as early as possible so you can secure a spot at the daycare of your choice. Many families start their search as early as a year before their child needs care. Of course, families can also start looking around during pregnancy and, for example, sign preliminary agreements with Stadtküken. However, it’s perfectly fine if you don’t contact us until after the birth, since you should be able to relax and enjoy those first few months as a family. You should submit your application for the daycare voucher no later than three months before your child starts. This will ensure that a spot is available for your child in time.

There are over 1,100 daycare centers in Hamburg, operated by various providers. These include public providers (municipal daycare centers), nonprofit organizations such as churches or social welfare organizations, as well as private daycare providers and parent-led initiatives. Many providers have their own educational focuses. Stadtküken takes a unique, holistic approach: As a private childcare provider in Hamburg, we focus on nature-based education. We not only provide children with regular time outdoors, but also structure our daily educational activities so that nature, mindfulness, and genuine participation become integral parts of their development.