Working as an au pair in the Netherlands: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working as an au pair in the Netherlands like?

• Working as an au pair means living temporarily with a host family to help with light housework and childcare, in exchange for room and board, and pocket money.
• It's often a cultural exchange: you learn about daily life in a Dutch family while developing your own language and social skills and having a base to explore from.
• Duties: The work varies per family, but primarily focuses on supporting the family and children, and participating in daily life:
  • Childcare: taking children to school or sports, playing, and helping with homework.
  • Household duties: light cleaning, cooking for the children, tidying up.
  • Language and cultural exchange: helping with English or sharing your native language, and participating in activities together.
• Work conditions (salary, allowance, and expenses): You will stay with your host family, in your own room. This should include meals, laundry, and internet access.
• Your salary depends on the number of hours, the family's financial situation.
• Duration: Usually 6 to 12 months, sometimes shorter.
• Language skills: Dutch is helpful but almost never required; English is often used.

What are the reasons for working as an au pair in the Netherlands?

• To feel involved: You work closely with a family, which often creates a close bond.
• To feel independent: You help out around the house for part of the day, sometimes even doing things alone with the children. The rest of the day, you're free to come and go as you please and live your life independently.
• To gain new experiences: You get to know the Dutch lifestyle and culture from the inside out.
• To increase your self-awareness: You discover your own boundaries, habits, and preferences in a new environment where you live closely with people.
• To be creative: you come up with games or solutions for daily challenges with children.

What skills and motivations do you need to work as an au pair in the Netherlands?

• Communication: you must be able to coordinate with parents and children, often in English or basic Dutch.
• Flexibility: family life is unpredictable; you adapt to new schedules and situations (for example, eating bread for lunch or taking a bicycle).
• Collaboration: you work together with the parents and sometimes other au pairs or family members.
• Responsibility: you keep agreements and are responsible for the well-being of the children.
• Situational awareness: you take the family, their routines, and lifestyle into account.

What are the best locations to work as an au pair in the Netherlands?

• Large cities with international families: Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam.
• Medium-sized cities or towns: Eindhoven, Groningen, Haarlem.
• Rural areas: Friesland, Gelderland.

What are the risks of working as an au pair in the Netherlands, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working as an au pair?
  • You work with children and in a household; an accident at home, a fall, or an unexpected illness can happen. Medical expenses can be high, but generaly covered with the mandatory Dutch health insurance.
  • If you accidentally damage the family's property or that of someone else, you can be held liable. Liability insurance protects you against this.
  • You might travel to the family yourself or take the children on outings. Good travel or au pair insurance often covers medical expenses and repatriation.
  • Sometimes the family situation changes (e.g., a divorce or sudden departure) and you have to leave your home or workplace unexpectedly; insurance can help with additional costs or emergency care.
  • Good insurance provides peace of mind and security, allowing you to fully focus on your work and experience without having to worry about the financial or medical consequences of accidents or damage.
• Are you insured while working as an au pair?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you are doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in the Netherlands may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.