Dam Parenting

This month is about the conversations we don’t say out loud.
I’m bringing in familiar voices and new ones to talk about maternal mental health, the reality of motherhood, and what it actually feels like beneath the surface.
These are not easy conversations.
They may feel uncomfortable at times.
But they matter.
Because motherhood can be both a gift…
and one of the most draining, excruciating, identity-shifting experiences we go through.
And yet, so many of us are expected to carry on
as if our entire world hasn’t been turned upside down.
These episodes are not for everyone.
But they are for someone.
They’re not here to give you answers.
They’re not here to “fix” anything.
They’re here so you can hear something and think:
“Okay… it’s not just me.”
You are not meant to suffer in silence.
You are not meant to do this without support.
You are not meant to navigate this without a village.
So take what you need from this month.
Leave what you don’t.
And if something resonates—
reach out, share it, or start a conversation of your own.
Because it matters.
And you matter in this too.

Are you pregnant in the Netherlands — and not sure what your rights at work actually are?
You are not alone. This is the most asked-about topic in international parent communities, and in this episode we finally get it answered properly — by an employment lawyer.
Eva sits down with Ferline van Laerhoven, founder of Fair Line Law and Dutch employment law specialist, who has spent a decade working with international companies and employees in the Netherlands. In this conversation they cover:
→  When you are legally required to tell your employer you're pregnant
→  Whether employers are allowed to ask if you're pregnant (even in a job interview)
→  Medical appointments and prenatal checks — are they paid time?
→  What workplace adjustments employers must legally provide
→  Night shifts, overtime and physically demanding work during pregnancy
→  Extra paid rest breaks — the legal right most people don't know they have
→  Sick leave during pregnancy: why it is treated differently, and why you get 100%
→  How sick leave interacts with maternity leave length
→  What happens after maternity leave ends if you're still unwell (including PPD/PPA)
→  The 16 weeks: how it splits, how it's applied for, and the WAZO process
→  Permanent contracts, temporary contracts, part-time and freelancer rights
→  What non-renewal of a contract while pregnant really means legally
→  Miscarriage before and after 24 weeks — what Dutch law says right now
→  The Amsterdam and Utrecht grievance policy — and what it means nationally
→  Stillbirth rights and bereavement leave
→  Documentation, complaint timelines and what to do when things go wrong
→  Partner leave — the full 6-week picture
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Fair Line Law — employment lawyer specialising in pregnancy and parenthood at work
Website: www.fairlinelaw.nl 
Instagram: @fairlinelaw   
Email: [email protected]

Juridisch Loket — free basic legal advice (income-dependent): www.juridischloket.nl
UWV — Employee Insurance Agency, maternity benefit questions: www.uwv.nl

Dam Parenting Podcast — questions and community: [email protected]
Paternity leave episode coming soon — send your questions to [email protected] or DM us on Instagram.

If you've been carrying the weight of your child's minority language entirely on your own — this episode is going to change how you think about multilingual parenting.
This week Eva is joined by multilingual family expert Eowyn to explore one of the most undertalked truths in raising bilingual children: you cannot do this alone, sustainably. Language lives in connection — not in one determined parent pushing harder.
We talk about what a 'multilingual village' actually looks like for expat families in the Netherlands, how to build one intentionally when you don't have family nearby, the practical power of language partners and community events, and why having multiple people in your child's language life changes everything.
Whether you're parenting in English, Bulgarian, Spanish, French or anything in between — this conversation will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped. For international families in the Netherlands, this is the permission to stop being a one-person show.

When I started moving beyond the easy first foods and into toddler snacks, pouches, crackers, and supermarket “healthy” options, I realised I had no idea what I was actually looking at.
Why does one snack get a bright green A, while plain nuts or hummus score lower?
How can the same crisps get a better Nutri-Score in the larger bag?
And why are some brands now quietly removing their Nutri-Score altogether?
In this solo DAM Parenting episode, I break down a fascinating Keuringsdienst van Waarde Dutch TV investigation into the Nutri-Score system — translated into English for international parents navigating Dutch supermarkets.
We unpack:
what Nutri-Score actually measures

why it’s still voluntary across Europe

how brands can “optimise” ultra-processed foods to score better

why some frozen pizzas can jump from E to B

why certain brands are now dropping the label under the stricter 2026 algorithm

what this really means for baby snacks, toddler foods, and busy parents trying to make good choices

If you’ve ever stood in a supermarket wondering whether the front of the packet matches what’s actually inside, this episode is for you.
A practical, honest conversation about food labels, processed snacks, and the emotional labour of feeding a family in the Netherlands.
If you enjoy these Dutch TV breakdown episodes, message me !

For the very first time on Dam Parenting, both parents are here — together. Liam and Vivi join me to share not one birth story, but two. Two children, two completely different births, and a journey that shows what can happen when you stop being afraid to learn.
Vivi is a Greek mum building her own community space in Amsterdam. Liam was previously on the podcast speaking about the vulnerabilities of fatherhood. Together, they talk about the real experience of preparing for birth in the Netherlands — hypnobirthing, doula support, the midwife-kraamzorg-doula team — and what changed between their first and second birth when they truly invested in preparation.
This episode is about knowledge as power. It's about what a woman's body can do when she believes in it. And it's about the extraordinary role a partner can play.
Two births. Both on their due dates. Both in the Netherlands. One family, transformed by learning.

If you want to reach out to Vivi - you can find her at GreekMama on Instagram - she is always up to new nad wonderful things!
Liam can be found as a supporting member of so many projects, including - Dads Do Art - Connecting dads & families through creativity and play in Amsterdam Nieuw West. And of course his own Instagram page where you can find out more about his upcoming comedy projects. And soon enough this podcast also!
And if you wan to find out more about their wonderful Doula - her instagram is Toni Muller Doula .