De opvangkosten volgen de uurprijs.

Because Dutch usually forms compound nouns by joining words together.

• opvang = care / childcare / reception / shelter, depending on context
• kosten = costs

So opvangkosten is a normal Dutch compound noun: opvang + kosten.

This is very common in Dutch. English often uses separate words where Dutch prefers one long word.

Examples:

• uurprijs = hourly rate
• zorgkosten = healthcare costs
• schoolgebouw = school building

Because kosten is a de-word, and in this compound the head word is kosten.

In Dutch compounds, the last part usually determines:

• the gender/article
• whether it is singular or plural

So:

• de kosten
• therefore de opvangkosten

The same applies to:

• de prijs → de uurprijs

So both nouns in this sentence take de.

Because the subject opvangkosten is plural.

• singular: de kost volgt or more naturally another singular noun
• plural: de kosten volgen

Here the subject is de opvangkosten, and kosten is plural, so the verb must also be plural:

• De opvangkosten volgen ...

Not:

• De opvangkosten volgt ...

Not in a physical sense. Here volgen means something like:

• to track
• to match
• to move in line with
• to depend on changes in

So the sentence suggests that the childcare costs change according to the hourly rate.

This is a common extension of volgen in Dutch. It can mean literal following, but also figurative following.

Examples:

• De prijzen volgen de markt.
• De lonen volgen de inflatie.

Because this is a normal Dutch main clause with standard word order:

subject + finite verb + object

So:

• De opvangkosten = subject
• volgen = finite verb
• de uurprijs = object

That is the basic pattern in a simple statement.

If another element came first, the verb would still stay in second position:

• In dit systeem volgen de opvangkosten de uurprijs.

So Dutch is a verb-second language in main clauses.

Uurprijs is another compound noun:

• uur = hour
• prijs = price

So uurprijs means hourly price or hourly rate.

Dutch normally prefers the compound:

• uurprijs

rather than a longer phrase like:

• prijs per uur

Both can exist, but uurprijs is compact and very natural.

Dutch often expresses these ideas more compactly than English.

Instead of saying something like:

• the costs of childcare follow the price per hour

Dutch can package the nouns into compounds:

• opvangkosten
• uurprijs

So rather than using extra words like of or per, Dutch often builds one noun out of smaller parts.

A more expanded Dutch version could be:

• De kosten van de opvang volgen de prijs per uur.

That is also understandable, but the original sentence is shorter and more typical of formal or administrative Dutch.

No. Opvang is broader than that.

Depending on context, it can mean:

• childcare
• care/reception
• shelter
• temporary accommodation

For example:

• kinderopvang = childcare
• opvang voor vluchtelingen = shelter/reception for refugees

In opvangkosten, the exact meaning depends on the situation. In many everyday administrative contexts, it often refers to childcare costs, but the word itself is not limited to that.

Yes, it sounds fairly neutral-to-formal, especially because of the compact compound nouns.

You are likely to see this kind of sentence in:

• websites
• contracts
• policy documents
• price lists
• municipal information

A more conversational version might be a little more explicit, for example:

• De kosten voor de opvang hangen af van de uurprijs.

That sounds slightly more explanatory in everyday speech.

Yes, absolutely. That is a very natural alternative.

Compare:

• De opvangkosten volgen de uurprijs.

  • more compact
  • slightly more formal or administrative
  • suggests the costs move in line with the hourly rate

• De opvangkosten zijn afhankelijk van de uurprijs.

  • very clear
  • slightly more explicit
  • emphasizes dependence

Both are good Dutch, but they are not identical in tone.

In Dutch, the last part of the compound is usually the main noun.

So:

• opvangkosten → the main noun is kosten
• uurprijs → the main noun is prijs

That tells you important things:

• the article: de
• the number: singular or plural
• the basic category of meaning

For example:

• opvangkosten = a type of costs
• uurprijs = a type of price

This is a very useful rule for understanding Dutch compounds.