In the Netherlands, there is growing interest in the day care and education of young children, stemming from the increase in culturally different, multilingual pupils in recent years and the understanding that the first 2 years of primary education form the basis for a successful school career. This position paper of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands describes the current provisions for child care and education of children ages 4 and 5. Chapter 1 discusses the vision, basic assumptions, and policy relating to the preschool period and to primary education. Chapter 2 presents a discussion of the structure of preschool provisions and of primary education. Two attachments to this chapter provide surveys of the quantitative data of several pupils, of the costs, and of personnel working in child care and education. Chapter 3 deals with education, inservice training, and counseling. Chapter 4 considers the relationship and coordination of preschool policy between the Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sport and the educational policy of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This chapter concludes with several policy measures taken to eliminate bottlenecks in the provision of preschool and the first 2 years of primary education. (KB)