Daycare centres cannot refuse to accept children who have not been vaccinated on principle, health minister Edith Schippers said in answer to MPs questions.

A general refusal would mean children were being treated differently on the grounds of their religion or belief system and that is not allowed by law, the minister said.

However, daycare centres are also required by law to offer safe surroundings to children, so there may be legal grounds for a temporary ban, the minister said. This would need to be tested in court.

Infection

The questions follow the commotion over a baby at a daycare centre in The Hague who became seriously ill after picking up measles from a child who had not been vaccinated.

The child was eight months old and spent some time in hospital. Dutch babies are vaccinated against measles at around 14 months.

Last year there was a measles outbreak in the Dutch Bible belt. Many orthodox Protestant families do not allow their children to be vaccinated on religious grounds.