Suppose you drive every morning via the A13 towards Delft or Den Haag and your net disposable income changes due to a divorce. The adjustment of the TREMA tables as of 1 January 2026 may then have a direct impact on the amount you retain or must pay each month.
The meaning of TREMA in practice
TREMA is not a statutory regulation but a calculation standard applied by virtually all family law judges in the Netherlands. The Expert Group on Maintenance Standards updates the tables on the basis of inflation and tax changes. Judges may deviate from them with reasons, but in practice TREMA 2026 forms the starting point for ongoing proceedings before the Rechtbank Den Haag.
Social assistance standard 2026: an increase with consequences
The amount that a maintenance debtor must at least retain for themselves rises by approximately 3.8 %. For a single person without children this amounts to around € 1,230 per month. Anyone with a lower income therefore has less scope to pay spousal or child maintenance. For many commuters from Rijswijk with a modal salary this represents a noticeable difference.
Ability-to-pay calculation under pressure due to higher housing costs
The notional items for housing costs, health insurance premiums and child-related expenses are also increased:
- Net rent or mortgage interest: from € 870 to € 905
- Health insurance premium: from € 165 to € 178
- Non-avoidable child-related expenses: from € 89 to € 96
The result is that maintenance amounts for middle incomes often turn out slightly lower.
Lower combination tax credit in cases of co-parenting
The income-dependent combination tax credit falls from € 2,694 to € 2,481. This particularly affects parents in a 50/50 arrangement who are still working. Their ability to pay therefore changes noticeably, which may play a role when an existing arrangement is revised.
When can you request an adjustment?
If your net disposable income has changed by more than 10 %, article 1:401 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) provides an opening for revision. Proceedings that have not yet been concluded are almost always calculated according to the new tables. An update of the calculation can make a difference of tens of euros per month.
Online tools versus professional calculation
Free calculation tools provide only an indication. A definitive calculation that will stand up before the Rechtbank Den Haag should be prepared by a specialised maintenance lawyer. You can contact Arslan Familierecht for this purpose at Generaal Spoorlaan 35 in Rijswijk (070 - 4500 300) or the Juridisch Loket Den Haag.