An au pair is a young person from another country who lives with a host family and provides childcare in exchange for room, board, and a small stipend. The benefits include cultural exchange, flexible childcare, and an enriching experience for both the au pair and the family. Nina.care helps match families with suitable au pairs and provides ongoing support.
An au pair is a young foreigner who provides childcare in exchange for room, board, and a stipend as part of a cultural exchange program. A nanny is a professional caregiver, hired for full- or part-time childcare with a payment and benefits. The main difference is that au pairs focus on cultural exchange, while nannies are childcare providers for an income.
At Nina.care we care about quality and screening. We also value proper support while you embark on this adventure to open up to welcome a new person into your family.
To host an au pair, your family must consist of at least one parent and one child. You must be financially solvent to accommodate an au pair. A two-parent household must have a verifiable gross income of at least €3,550 per month, including holiday pay. If you own a business, it must have been operational for at least 1.5 years. Single parents must earn at least €2,840 gross per month, including holiday pay. These amounts are valid as of March 1, 2025. Up-to-date figures can be found on the IND website.
Usually the process takes around 2-3 months from the moment you place your au pair booking, to arrival.
An EU au pair candidate can speed up things, but then again finding a motivated and serioeus candidate from Europa can take longer.
Typically, au pairs can stay anywhere between 3 and 24 months with their host family. It depends on which country you live in. You can find a detailed look at the regulations in your country or a general help on au pair here.
All you need is a private room for the au pair! Bathroom and toilet can be shared.
You can find a detailed look at the regulations in your country here or a general help on au pair here.
Most au pairs come from abroad, but it is possible to find Dutch-speaking candidates, especially from Belgium, South-Africa or Suriname. Nina.care can assist in finding candidates that match your language preferences.
There is no strict minimum, but most families choose 12 months for cost-effectiveness and stability. If it doesn’t work out, you can always stop earlier. Nina.care provides support in case an early termination is needed.
Book a free 15-minute info call with our agents to learn about the au pair program to become a host family.
On average you pay around €500 per month for 30 hours of help per week
The costs also differ per country regarding pocket money owed by the host family. You can check out all the specifics per country right here
Typically, au pairs can stay anywhere between 3 and 24 months with their host family. It depends on which country you live in. You can find a detailed look at the regulations in your country or a general help on au pair here.
All you need is a private room for the au pair! Bathroom and toilet can be shared.
You can find a detailed look at the regulations in your country here or a general help on au pair here.
Au pairs receive free housing and meals, making it a cost-effective way for them to experience life in another country. The €340 pocket money is a small thank-you for their help. Nina.care ensures that all agreements comply with Dutch regulations.
Au pairs follow specific regulations, including a maximum of 30 working hours per week and a cultural exchange agreement instead of an employment contract. Nina.care provides legal guidance and templates.
No, au pairs in the Netherlands are limited to a maximum of 30 hours per week.
It is recommended to maintain a weekly schedule and communicate clearly about working hours. Nina.care offers tools and templates to help manage schedules.
Rematch au pairs (who are already in the country but looking for a new host family) can sometimes be a more affordable option. Nina.care offers a rematch program for families in need of a new au pair.
You are required to take out a basic health insurance policy for your au pair. The cheapest option is available from ZEKUR, starting at €101.75 per month. Additionally, you can choose to purchase supplementary au pair insurance, which covers your au pair from the moment she boards the plane in her home country and also during her travels in Europe. This insurance can be obtained from providers such as ISIS Au Pair Insurance or Nina.care and costs approximately €55 per month. However, this additional au pair insurance is not mandatory.
Yes, you must pay your au pair a minimum of €300 and a maximum of €340 per month in pocket money. You can decide the exact amount within this range. This maximum amount is legally regulated because an au pair is not coming to the Netherlands primarily to work but to learn new things and experience the culture in a safe environment. The maximum amount varies by country, but in the Netherlands, it is set at €340 per month. For more details, see pocket money for au pairs.
We do face to face interviews with all our candidates, to check their childcare experience and intrinsik motivation to be an au pair.
We will not propose candidates that will be on their phone all day, or party all week.
Our screening process also includes a thorough background check including police record, references and also a detailed medical check (including pregnancy test).
In this case we offer you our Self Match Package, which will include our full professional support from the matching point onwards. We will include:
The process can take 1-3 months, depending on the au pair’s nationality and visa requirements. EU candidates may arrive faster. Nina.care provides a step-by-step timeline to ensure a smooth process.
Look for candidates with childcare experience, references, and a personality that matches your family’s lifestyle. Nina.care assists in the selection process and offers video interviews and background checks.
Yes, you can specify preferences for language and religion, but flexibility may increase your chances of finding a suitable match. Nina.care has a diverse database of candidates.
An au pair of +- 22 also does not want to sit next to you on the couch all evening. She is her on her gap year, and will relax in her room after “work”, meet with friends, explore new cities, just watch Netflix and do all other things you also did when you were 22.
We advice clear agreement and honest, open communication to ensure privacy and boundaries for both au pairs and families go smoothly!
All you need is a private room for the au pair! Bathroom and toilet can be shared.
You can find a detailed look at the regulations in your country here or a general help on au pair here.
Yes! in most countries this is very normal and the au pair also loves it. An au pair is like a big sister or brother. Be clear from the start when you would like the au pair to join on vacation, then she can tell you whether she would like to go with you and help a bit with the kids.
Often parents over flight ticket and all other costs for the au pair, in exchange for some extra help.
An au pair must live with the host family as part of the cultural exchange program.
This depends on your preferences and the au pair’s wishes. Some au pairs prefer to eat with the family daily, while others prefer occasional shared meals. Nina.care helps set expectations between families and au pairs.
It’s common for host families to provide a bicycle or contribute to public transportation costs.
Au pairs typically meet friends, explore the city, watch Netflix, read, go to the gym, or travel on weekends. Nina.care organizes events and WhatsApp groups to help au pairs connect.
Au pairs are entitled to two days off per week and additional holiday leave depending on agreements with the host family.
An au pair primarily helps with childcare and light household tasks. This includes vacuuming, doing laundry, ironing, loading and unloading the dishwasher, grocery shopping, and cooking. Many families appreciate coming home to a tidy house. Additionally, an au pair may also take care of pets, such as walking the dog, if agreed upon. However, deep cleaning is not part of their duties, as an au pair is not a professional cleaner.
Yes, as long as the total working hours remain within the 30-hour limit.
Officially, au pairs can only work at the registered home address. However, many families invite au pairs on vacation informally.
Au pairs are not professionals! but some have experience with brother sister or education in direction of pedagogics. it’s possible, but the au pair cannot be the sole responsible.
Ask your agent more info
It does not happen, but.. it can happen! A family member could get ill, or no match with one of the kids and the au pair..
First of all: you will have your personal point of contact at Nina.care, your agent, that will always assist you when something like this happens to find the best and most smooth solution.
We advice to take the Nina.care rematch insurance, just in case, for 45 euro per month, we will, in case something happens, put you on top of our list and find you a new matching candidate without having to pay the agency fee again.
Also the first month the au pair will have covered healthcare insurance, this is not possible to arrange without BSN ( takes a month to arrange)
If an issue arises, your personal Nina.care contact will assist in finding the best solution. Rematch insurance (€45 per month) ensures a new match without additional agency fees.
Clear rules and open communication help prevent issues. If serious problems arise, discuss them with Nina.care for mediation or a rematch.
There is no official trial period, but families can agree on a probationary phase and adjust plans if needed. Nina.care offers guidance on setting expectations early on.
Encourage social activities, provide clear expectations, and be supportive. Many au pairs connect with others through Nina.care WhatsApp groups and events.
Yes, au pairs often meet through agency-organized events, online groups, or local communities. Nina.care provides a strong network to ensure au pairs have a fulfilling experience.
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