diff --git a/src/unfold_fobi/api/views.py b/src/unfold_fobi/api/views.py
index c0b84d3..6d202c1 100644
--- a/src/unfold_fobi/api/views.py
+++ b/src/unfold_fobi/api/views.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """DRF API views for unfold_fobi."""
 
+import datetime
 from django.apps import apps as django_apps
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.forms.fields import EmailField
@@ -13,6 +14,17 @@
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 
 
+def _serialize_initial(value):
+    """Return a JSON-friendly initial value for API responses."""
+    if callable(value):
+        value = value()
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+    if isinstance(value, (datetime.date, datetime.datetime)):
+        return value.isoformat()
+    return value
+
+
 def normalize_field_choices(field, field_name):
     try:
         optgroups = field.widget.optgroups(field_name, field.initial)
@@ -159,6 +171,7 @@ def get_form_fields(request, slug):
     }
 
     for field_name, field in fields.items():
+        widget_attrs = getattr(getattr(field, "widget", None), "attrs", {})
         field_info = {
             "name": field_name,
             "type": field.__class__.__name__,
@@ -168,6 +181,14 @@ def get_form_fields(request, slug):
             "help_text": getattr(field, "help_text", ""),
         }
 
+        placeholder = widget_attrs.get("placeholder")
+        if placeholder not in (None, ""):
+            field_info["placeholder"] = placeholder
+
+        initial = _serialize_initial(getattr(field, "initial", None))
+        if initial is not None:
+            field_info["initial"] = initial
+
         if hasattr(field, "choices") and field.choices:
             field_info["choices"] = normalize_field_choices(field, field_name)
 
diff --git a/tests/api/test_form_fields.py b/tests/api/test_form_fields.py
index b961f96..5200876 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_form_fields.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_form_fields.py
@@ -117,6 +117,49 @@ def test_select_field_has_choices(self, admin_client, multi_field_form):
         values = [c["value"] for c in f["choices"]]
         assert "r" in values
 
+    @pytest.fixture()
+    def metadata_form(self, db, admin_user):
+        entry = FormEntry.objects.create(
+            user=admin_user,
+            name="Metadata Form",
+            slug="metadata-form",
+            is_public=True,
+        )
+        FormElementEntry.objects.create(
+            form_entry=entry,
+            plugin_uid="text",
+            plugin_data=json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "label": "Full Name",
+                    "name": "full_name",
+                    "required": True,
+                    "placeholder": "Enter your name",
+                }
+            ),
+            position=1,
+        )
+        FormElementEntry.objects.create(
+            form_entry=entry,
+            plugin_uid="date",
+            plugin_data=json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "label": "Initial Date",
+                    "name": "initial",
+                    "required": False,
+                    "initial": "2026-04-16",
+                }
+            ),
+            position=2,
+        )
+        FormHandlerEntry.objects.get_or_create(form_entry=entry, plugin_uid="db_store")
+        return entry
+
+    def test_includes_placeholder_and_initial(self, admin_client, metadata_form):
+        fields = _get_fields(admin_client, metadata_form.slug)
+
+        assert fields["full_name"]["placeholder"] == "Enter your name"
+        assert fields["initial"]["initial"] == "2026-04-16"
+
 
 class TestFormFieldsWidgetDisambiguation:
     """Widget key is correct for every registered fobi field plugin."""