A 60/40 split sits between an equal split and an arrangement where the children mainly live with one parent. The children have one parent as their base, but see the other parent every week and every other weekend.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Parent A | Parent A | Handover A→B | Handover B→A | Handover A→B | Parent B | Parent B |
| Week 2 | Handover B→A | Parent A | Handover A→B | Handover B→A | Parent A | Parent A | Parent A |
Half coloured = handover day: the children go from one parent to the other that day.
How it works
In the example, parent B has every Wednesday, and Friday to Sunday every other week. That is 5 of the 14 days: about 64/36, which parents usually call 60/40.
Want to get closer to 60/40? Give parent B the Thursday as well in the weekend week. That makes 6 of the 14 days, about 57/43.
Advantages
- The children see both parents every week, also on weekdays.
- One parent as a fixed base, which keeps the school week calm.
- Handovers can happen via school: picked up from school, back to school the next morning.
Disadvantages
- More handovers than 70/30: six per two weeks in the example.
- The split is not equal; discuss what that means for costs and child support.
- Requires that you don't live too far from each other and from school.
Who is it for?
Often chosen when both parents want to be closely involved, but an equal split isn't feasible because of work or distance.
Variations
- Wednesday and Thursday with parent B in the weekend week: 6 of the 14 days, about 57/43.
- The weekend until Monday morning: an extra night without an extra handover.
The schedule in Harmoneaz
In Harmoneaz you colour in the schedule once, over one or two weeks. The app finds the handover days itself, puts them in both parents' calendars and creates a packing list for each handover day. A swap or holiday goes in as a temporary schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What does a 60/40 schedule look like?
A common form: a fixed weekday with the other parent every week, plus every other weekend. Over two weeks that is 5 or 6 of the 14 days.
What is the difference between 60/40 and 70/30?
With 60/40 the other parent has a weekday every week; with 70/30 often only every other week. The difference is one or two days per two weeks, but with 60/40 the children do see the other parent every week.
Does the split affect child support?
Yes, in the Netherlands the care split counts in the child support calculation (the care discount). Have it calculated, for example by a mediator or lawyer. In Harmoneaz you record the amount and keep track of payments.
Other schedules
- Week on week off: A full week with one parent, then a full week with the other. One handover a week.
- 2-2-5-5 (5-2-2-5): Each parent has two fixed weekdays; weekends alternate. An equal split, four handovers per two weeks.
- 2-2-3: Blocks of two, two and three days. Never more than three days with one parent, six handovers per two weeks.
- 70/30: The children mainly live with one parent; the other parent has every other weekend and a weekday.
- Every other weekend (80/20): The children live with one parent and spend every other weekend with the other. Two handovers per two weeks.
Compare all co-parenting schedules
More information
- Dutch government: parenting plan checklist (in Dutch)
- Netherlands Youth Institute: separation (in Dutch)
This is general information, not legal advice. The split in days is an approximation: the number of nights depends on the handover moment.
