[jvanloov]

With regards to Belgium: it's 4 months parental leave now (it changed last year, apparently to comply to a European directive).

However, only the first three months you get paid (by social security, not your employer). It is the same amount as unemployment benefits I think, so not your full salary. In my case it was more like 1/3 to 1/2 of my regular salary. The 4th month you get nothing. So whether you can actually benefit from this, depends also on your savings and whether you want to spend them this way.

On the other hand, you can make use of your parental leave until your kids are 12 years old, so you can save it up for when your kid goes to school, or to take them on a trip around world when they are old enough to actually remember it :-)