Spousal maintenance is a logical continuation of parental maintenance obligations, particularly for student couples in Leiden. With thousands of students at Leiden University and institutions such as Leiden University of Applied Sciences, this is a common issue. Article 1:157 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) governs contributions between partners in a shared household, including in this vibrant student city.
Conditions in Leiden
Both partners must be studying or have a gap in income, such as during a clinical internship at the LUMC. The maintenance obligation applies until one year after the completion of the last study programme, taking into account Leiden’s high rental prices in neighbourhoods like the Professorenbuurt or around the Pieter de la Court building.
Calculation
Based on financial capacity and need, often split 50/50 in cases of equal income. Costs such as rent (typically €800-€1,200 for student housing), study books, public transport (OV-chipkaart) for commuting to lectures, and living expenses are taken into account. Local judges at the District Court of The Hague (Leiden branch) consider these urban costs in their assessments.
Difference from Child Maintenance
Unlike child maintenance, which ends at a fixed age (18-21), spousal maintenance does not terminate at a set age but rather upon self-sufficiency. Judges apply stricter scrutiny in cases involving cohabiting couples in Leiden’s student housing. Example: A working partner employed by a Leiden-based company may pay €450 to their partner studying at Leiden University, with adjustments made in the event of a job change or internship. In the case of separation, maintenance continues until the end of the study programme, even during a master’s degree at the Lipsius quarter.