An au pair is a young person (often 18-26 yearss old) from another country who lives with you and provides (child) care in exchange for room, board, and a small stipend. The benefits include cultural exchange, flexible childcare, and a cool experience for both the au pair and the family or senior.
An au pair comes from aborad, lives with your family as a sister and helps 30-35 hours per week for a duration of 6-24 months as part of a cultural exchange.
A babysitter or nanny is a paid local student or professional who often works for 2-8 hours a week at a fixed rate per hour and does not live with you.
An au pair is most suitable for recurring, fixed days.
A babysitter for one time evenings or day’s
The process takes around 2-3 months from the moment you start the search.
An EU aupair for an EU host can be arranged as fast as in 2-4 weeks as no visa is required.
Au pairs can stay anywhere between 1 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.
There is no strict minimum, but most families choose 6 or 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.
We are the youngest, fastest growing international agency: At Nina.care we care about quality and a smooth, stressfree experience for busy parents and young adults. We value proper support while you embark on this adventure to open up to welcome a new person into your family.
It differs per candidate: some au pairs are very social and extrovert and will explore new cities and make other au pair friends in the weekends/ evenings. More introvert and love to relax in their room reading a book.
Don’t worry: 20 something people often do not want to sit next to you on the couch all evening themselves either.
Book a free 15-minute info call with our agents to learn about the au pair program to become a host family.
Yes, we advice on the visa application process when you take the Insurance and support package
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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