• Home
  • Au pair or daycare?
    • Au Pair vs Daycare
    • Au Pair vs Childminder
    • Au Pair vs Nanny
  • Finding an au pair
  • Rates
  • Nederlands
  • Events & Training
  • Experiences
  • About us
  • Contact

Experiences of our host families

Below are some extensive stories from our host families.

au pair monogram transparant

Jolanda Pas from Naarden

We’ve had years of experience with the au pair program by now. When our second child was born, we consciously chose this form of support, mainly for practical reasons. We couldn’t consistently rely on family, and my husband was often away for work. As a young mother with two children home alone for several days, you reach a crossroads: do you opt for daycare, or look for an alternative? We chose the au pair program because of the flexibility and the familiar face in the house.

Read more

An au pair brings peace and stability. She helps during the morning and evening rush, which reduces time pressure. We’re now on our seventh au pair. Most of them have been from Brazil, but also from Germany, Namibia, and South Africa. For us, the cultural exchange is the most beautiful aspect. It’s amazing to see how the girls often arrive a bit shy — for many, it’s their first time far from home — and over the year grow into independent, worldly young women.

Thanks to the au pairs, our home has become a lively meeting place. They often bring friends, so we regularly have multiple cultures at the table. That extra liveliness is incredibly valuable. We’re lucky that good friends of ours also have an au pair, and the girls often get along well. Sometimes we suddenly have three extra kids and an au pair in the house. One time, two au pairs surprised us on Sinterklaas evening with a tattoo of the Naarden fortifications on their ankle — very special!

Of course, no placement is perfect. We’ve had our share of drama too, as you’d expect with young people. That’s why we always keep the conversation going with our au pairs. If we notice they spend a lot of time in their room, we encourage them to go out and make social connections. The program isn’t just about our family, but about cultural exchange and the personal growth of the au pair.
Since our first placement, we’ve worked with Au Pair International, and that’s been excellent. They think along with us, are easy to reach, and provide great service. We can confidently say the program has enriched our family, especially in what it brings to our children. They now speak English well and can easily manage with international friends.

The stability an au pair provides is of great value. She handles the busy moments of the day: takes the kids to school when we have to leave early, makes sure dinner is ready in the evening, and creates calm at home. Children thrive on peace, cleanliness, and routine — and an au pair contributes to that naturally.
For families open to other cultures and comfortable with having someone in the house, the au pair program is a fantastic solution. It has connected us with new perspectives, different habits, and a broader view of the world. For young, busy families, the program offers exactly what you need: peace, stability, and a valuable enrichment of family life.

The Gouriye Family from Arnhem

We have now welcomed our fourth au pair. After previous placements from the United States and Spain, our current au pair is from Italy. We’ve noticed that they all fit seamlessly into our family life — something that is incredibly important to us.
We chose the au pair program because of my wife’s irregular working hours and my own busy schedule. Our parents and in-laws live far away, so childcare isn’t always easy to arrange. Fortunately, we have enough space at home to provide an au pair with a comfortable living environment.
Read more

The au pair is like a big sister to our four-year-old twins. Although they don’t speak English yet, we can already see them forming a wonderful connection with other cultures. When we’re not around, the au pair naturally takes over the care. She brings calm, stability, and makes our family life more enjoyable. Mornings and evenings are much more relaxed. Without her, we would probably eat later and less healthily, and peak moments would be far more stressful. I must admit, though: the cooking skills of our au pairs haven’t always been something to brag about. One of them wanted to make a “real” lasagna but came home with a ready-made one from the supermarket… Still, I can confidently say that having au pairs has made us better parents. You trust them with your children, which reduces stress and frees up mental space. And above all: you gain a wonderful new family member.

An au pair is, of course, a young person spending a year abroad. She has expectations for that year, and we believe it’s important to support her in that. The program is about cultural exchange and personal development. We coordinate a lot and give each other space. Sometimes that means adjusting your own schedule. Clear communication and setting expectations are essential — and that starts with the pre-selection on the AuPairWorld platform. Why does someone want to become an au pair? What makes her happy? We’ve noticed that the program becomes more enjoyable and relaxed as we remain open to the wishes of our au pairs.

We can recommend having an au pair to everyone. She becomes a valuable part of the family. The costs are reasonable — you quickly offset them if your children spend one less day at after-school care. Privacy isn’t an issue for us: during the week we’re busy, and on weekends the au pair is often out and about. We feel responsible for her well-being and do everything we can to give her an amazing year. For example, we provide each au pair with a gym membership and a weekend free-travel pass for the Dutch Railways (NS). We also stay in touch with her parents — after all, it’s a big step for them to see their daughter go abroad.
We’re happy to have our au pairs supported by Au Pair International. They are involved and always easy to reach. With every placement, something doesn’t go perfectly at first, and it’s reassuring to know there’s a listening ear and expert advice. Plus, they organize lots of fun activities for the au pairs. For us, the program is absolutely worthwhile, and we hope to continue for many years to come!

Abena Higgins from Amsterdam

We’re an American family that moved to the Netherlands a few years ago. One of the most enjoyable parts of our experience has been discovering the country together with our au pairs. We’ve visited places like the Zaanse Schans, Maastricht, the Keukenhof, Eindhoven, The Hague — and of course, we’ve celebrated King’s Day together! Having an au pair encourages us to engage more with Dutch culture and helps us integrate more fully.  
Read more

Back home in the U.S., I grew up in a large family where my grandmother and aunt were always around. I’ve missed that sense of closeness and community here in the Netherlands. But with our three children and the au pair, we’ve created our own little community of seven — and that means a lot to me. 

Having an au pair helps us in countless ways. She prepares breakfast, gets the kids into the cargo bike, and is simply an extra pair of hands we truly need. Thanks to her, our mornings are calm and happy. It’s also reassuring to know there’s always another adult present when we’re not home — that kind of support is invaluable. 

What’s especially wonderful is the bond our children form with the au pairs. They talk about them at school, especially about the delicious food they make. We’ve always chosen au pairs from Central and South America so our children can learn Spanish. The program has given them so much — not only do they speak Spanish now, but they’ve also learned how to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds. They’re open-minded, hear stories from around the world, and understand that people come and go. Of course, it’s sad when an au pair leaves at the end of the year, but it’s also a life lesson: nothing lasts forever, and there’s always a new au pair bringing fresh energy and a new dynamic to our family. 
I was an au pair myself in Spain and had an amazing experience. That’s why we find it incredibly important to make sure our au pairs have a great time here. We encourage them to explore — they get a bike, a train pass, and the time and space to discover the country. They’re always welcome in our home, but with three young kids, it can get noisy, so we understand if they need some quiet time. We hope to support them in becoming more independent during their stay. 
A successful placement needs to work long-term. That means setting realistic expectations and offering support where needed. I always think: how would I want my own daughter to be treated if she were an au pair abroad? Be a warm and welcoming home. Homesickness and culture shock are part of the experience. One of our au pairs came from rural Colombia — the transition to Amsterdam was huge in terms of language, pace, and weather. We had to help her become “street smart.” And yes, every au pair experiences homesickness at some point. We try to ease that by celebrating small moments — half birthdays, Valentine’s Day cake… and the kids never complain about extra treats! 
Even before moving to the Netherlands, we reached out to Dutch agencies to explore our options. Au Pair International stood out immediately for their transparency, helpfulness, and clear communication. From the very beginning, the contact has been excellent. We once had a mismatch, and even then, the support was professional, thoughtful, and focused on the well-being of the au pair. It was reassuring to see how much care and attention Au Pair International gives in such situations. 
With their fast and clear communication, genuine care, and willingness to help in any situation, we’re confident: we’re not going anywhere else!

Familie Lugtenberg uit Utrecht

Over twelve years ago, we began participating in the au pair program. The immediate reason was a drawing our son made at after-school care, in which he illustrated his biggest wish: “not to have to go to after-school care so often.” As parents, we had both spent time abroad during our student years, which we found to be incredibly enriching. Choosing to host an au pair was therefore a natural decision.

Read more
We usually find our au pairs through the AuPairWorld database. We always look for a French-speaking au pair, as we are a Dutch-French family and want to pass on the French language and culture to our children. The most important factor for us is a personal connection with the candidate. If that connection is there, we trust that Au Pair International will thoroughly handle the rest of the screening process. This organization has been a consistent and professional partner for many years. We feel that they handle all interests with care and offer flexible support — always within legal boundaries. So far, we’ve had nothing but positive experiences, which is quite remarkable — especially now that our twelfth au pair is about to arrive.

What stands out most for us are the refreshing ideas and perspectives each au pair brings. Different educational backgrounds, habits, values—every au pair teaches our family something new. We deliberately look for someone who has lived independently or has previous experience abroad, to reduce the chances of homesickness. European au pairs sometimes struggle with this a bit more, so it’s something we consider carefully in advance. Au Pair International actively supports us in this as well.

Interestingly, all our au pairs have had similar personalities. Every year, a few of them come back to visit, and they often recognize themselves in each other—which confirms that we consistently choose a profile that suits our family well. We’re still in touch with nearly all of them, and that’s incredibly valuable to our entire family.

We’ve also learned firsthand that Utrecht is a great city for shopping — every au pair leaves with more suitcases than they arrived with. One even bought an extra suitcase just to take home all the drawings and crafts made by our children.

We truly believe that our children’s upbringing has been enriched by our participation in the program. We hope they’ll benefit from it later in life. For now, we’re simply looking forward to welcoming our twelfth au pair — and we’re confident it will be another wonderful year.

Sibma-Wassenaar family from Pijnacker

We started with the au pair program twelve years ago. Today, our eldest is eighteen and our youngest is six. Thanks to our au pairs, our older children spoke fluent English from a young age, and our youngest is already picking up English words—with the au pair’s accent! That’s why we usually choose au pairs from the United States. Not only because of the language, but also because we know they don’t come to the Netherlands for economic reasons. They participate in a cultural exchange program and truly become part of our family.

Read more

We still have a WhatsApp group with all our former au pairs. Some now have children, one is getting married soon, and whenever we get the chance, we visit them. We’ve truly gained a big extended family.

Of course, it’s not always easy. In the beginning, you have to explain a lot, but it’s important to give au pairs the space to learn. Most au pairs join the program with the best intentions and are eager to grow. We give them our full trust, and that always pays off. At the same time, we as parents remain responsible for our children—the au pair is there to support us. And yes, sometimes things go wrong while the au pair is carrying out her tasks. But things can be replaced. What really matters is that the children and the au pair are happy.

We involve the au pair in everything. She joins us on outings and is truly part of our family. The children learn so much from them—from English to cultural differences, and even practical things like the many ways to open a bag of chips. Learning English happens playfully and with joy, which is important to us too, as we both work for international companies. If we ever move abroad, we’re confident our children will adapt more easily thanks to their experiences with au pairs.

Our focus is on the well-being of the children. As long as they eat healthily and don’t spend the whole afternoon in front of the TV, we give the au pair a lot of freedom. She’s free to plan her day within clear boundaries—we don’t impose a strict schedule.

We encourage our au pairs to explore on their own. They always receive a museum pass and a zoo membership. How they get there is up to them—it’s a great way to learn how to navigate public transport. Sometimes we get a call that they’ve ended up in a city and don’t know how to get back. We laugh, help them out, and appreciate their willingness to try. That’s how you get to know your surroundings.

We deliberately choose au pairs who are slightly older—over twenty—because they tend to have more life experience. We also always ask if we can speak with their parents, so everyone feels reassured. When the au pair arrives, we personally pick her up from Schiphol and give her plenty of time to settle in. We also make sure previous au pairs are available to offer help and advice.

We greatly appreciate the support from Au Pair International. They ensure a smooth landing and welcome the au pair into their network. They handle the registration and guide every step of the process. That’s ideal for us, as we don’t always know exactly what’s required. Communication with the agency is excellent, and we always receive prompt assistance. Au Pair International provides clarity for both families and au pairs. We value the sense of community they foster. Au pairs can turn to them with any questions or concerns and are invited to fun activities to help them make connections and get to know the Netherlands better.

After all these years, au pairs have become an integral part of our lives. The program is about embracing different ideas and perspectives. That’s not only educational for the children, but also for us as parents. When one of our children comes home upset, we might ask directly what’s wrong. An au pair will approach it differently. If you’re open to new insights, you can learn so much from this program—and that’s exactly what we appreciate most about it.

Van Bugnum - van Dongen family

Why is an au pair so important to us? An au pair allows us to enjoy more quality time with our children! During busy times, we can fully focus on them instead of household tasks like doing laundry, making lunch boxes, or cooking. This gives us more freedom and flexibility in our family life. After having four au pairs, we can truly say that thanks to them, we have become more fun parents!

Read more
We love involving the au pair in everything. She is a friend and a part of our social life. She celebrates Christmas and Sinterklaas with us, visits to Zaanse Schans, and rides along with the cargo bike. Our previous au pair even regularly brought stroopwafels and herring home. We really see the au pairs grow throughout the year. Our previous au pair became increasingly confident and assertive. It is nice to give them a push in their development. The au pair is also a mirror for us. We have different parenting styles, and the au pairs show us how we can approach certain things differently. We also learn from their culture!

For the children, it is also good to have an au pair. We can raise them internationally and give them a broad cultural spectrum. They learn an extra language. We have had two South African and two Thai au pairs. Our children grow up with Thai and South African songs. The South African au pairs speak better English, which is very nice. The Thai au pairs can cook deliciously, which makes our children now love chicken with rice and enjoy to go on vacation to Asia. The au pairs complement our family well. They do girls stuff and makeup with our daughters. Our first au pair could braid hair beautifully!

We consciously chose Au Pair International. We wanted to select an au pair through self-match and were excellently guided by Au Pair International. The communication is professional but informal. The agency strictly adheres to deadlines, and the visa was quickly arranged. Au Pair International is easily accessible, reasonably priced, and very competent.

We find the self-match service very pleasant. We want to search for a suitable candidate ourselves. Chemistry is important in this process. Often, you know enough within thirty seconds. How persistent is the au pair, how quickly does she respond? We always briefly introducet the children to see how the potential au pair reacts. They must ask about the children and come with the right intentions. We want an au pair to have some flexibility and be open to light household work. More importantly, it should be an open-minded person with a pleasant character. After all, she will be living with us for a year.

Of course, it is sometimes a disadvantage to always have someone in the house. But we really have gained a friend. We can therefore recommend the au pair program to everyone!

Menkveld family and their au pair experiences

I grew up with au pairs, and my wife has also been an au pair. We knew what we were signing up for and have always had this in mind since we had children. I can recommend an au pair to everyone! An au pair provides a stable home base, and it’s nice that the children see the same face every day.

Read more

We have enough space in the house, so there is enough room to ensure privacy and give everyone their own place and peace. Additionally, it is simply more affordable than after-school care, and my wife and I even have the opportunity for a ‘date night’ without having to look for a babysitter!

We are now on our fourth au pair and the third from the United States. We feel that the culture in terms of manners, norms, and values aligns best with ours. We also find it enjoyable to give an au pair the chance to develop themselves and discover Europe with us as a base. The fact that the au pairs speak English makes communication much easier, of course. Additionally, the American au pairs always adhered well to the agreements, and we found them responsible.

We choose our au pairs ourselves through the online database AuPairWorld. We select au pairs who are familiar with the dynamics which two young boys bring. One has to be able to handle that, of course! We also pay attention to the level of independence of an au pair. For example, has she lived on her own? How old is she? Has she completed a bachelor’s degree? Finally, international experience is always a plus. Knowing what it’s like to be in another culture is important, as they also have to deal with the directness in communication in the Netherlands.

An au pair brings a nice energy into the household, which is incredibly educational for the children. We have several enjoyable conversations with the au pairs and try to celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving with them. Friends and girlfriends of the au pair are always welcome at our home. Our children love suddenly having a table full of young people from home and abroad. We do everything to make the au pair feel at home and are always open to their friendships, relationships, ideas, and culture. We get that energy back from them as well. And of course, we keep in touch with the au pairs when they go back home.

We chose Au Pair International based on their positive reviews, and we are extremely satisfied. The communication is pleasant, quick, and they always provide great support. Additionally, their online portal is user-friendly. We are glad we took the step to invite an au pair!

Bilardie family experiences

Due to our busy work schedules, we quickly realized that we couldn’t rely only on the help of parents and friends to assist with the children. So, we decided to consider an au pair! What are the rules? Can we handle this as a family? Finding an au pair is not easy, but thanks to the great guidance from Au Pair International, we have managed each time.

Read more

Our door is always open, and we love having someone with a different cultural background come live with us. We want to expose the au pair to Dutch culture as much as possible. We celebrate birthdays together, and with the museum card we provide, she can explore all around our hometown, Amsterdam. We also encourage the au pairs to discover the rest of the Netherlands. This way, they also visit several cities such as Nijmegen, Groningen, and Maastricht.

We have had European, South American, and African au pairs. Each one has added something unique to our family. We still keep in touch with some of them. One still regularly comes to the children’s birthdays. On one of our holidays we even had coffee with our former Italian au pair in Milan. She introduced a completely different diet that we still follow. She loved spending hours in the kitchen and taught us delicious vegetarian cooking. Au pairs truly enrich your life! Just the joy when the new au pair arrives and you see how happy the children are with her from day one! The children know that she is always there for them. We have to divide our attention between working, cooking, shopping, and trying to give our children the best in the meantime. The au pair brings a lot of peace to the house. I feel that the attention and time the au pair gives my children adds something extra to their development.

Having an au pair in the house brings fun challenges. I am originally from Poland and know how difficult it is to integrate well in the Netherlands. My husband and I always try to help the au pair where we can. Additionally, an au pair is still young and has to make many choices in life. We find it special that we can help her in her journey to adulthood. Every new au pair is a unique opportunity for a beautiful friendship.

I always recommend people choose Au Pair International. The service is excellent, and you are helped in a friendly and professional manner. They take the time for you and are always ready with good and, above all, honest advice. I really enjoy working with people I can trust.

Host mum Eva about au pair Dhea from Indonesia

Our au pair brings stability to our family. For our children, it is good to have a familiar face. At the out-of-school care we saw a lot of changes and little flexibility, with Dhea the children know exactly what they have and what to expect. She is sweet, caring, and involved with our family.

Read more

The au pair program offers a hope that an out-of-school care could never offer. For example, Dhea helps the youngest in developing English language skills. Thanks to her, my seven-year-old son can and dares to speak English and he also translates for his peers. Dhea also does a lot of fun things with our children. For example, she goes on a picnic with them, cooks, goes into town for short trips or does something spontaneous that comes as a pleasant surprise their way. Dhea remains active with the children, they are not put behind a tablet.

We have had several au pairs and we see that they always need about six weeks to loosen up. One also have to be realistic about this. We all have to get acquainted. We always encourage our au pairs to be out and about. Go do fun things, because they are only here for a year! The au pairs are always welcome to join us. For example, we celebrated Halloween with Dhea and we take her with us on our outings. This is what we thought was one interesting aspect of the au pair program and luckily the same goes for Dhea. The previous au pairs we have had were also very nice and we would have liked for them to stay with our family much longer. We still miss them!

Of course, there are cultural differences to keep in mind. Dhea had to laugh terribly that we ate pancakes for dinner, you don't do that, do you? Dhea also really had to switch gears with the weather. She was already cycling with gloves on at the beginning of autumn. As a forewarning, we discussed, that she will have a hard time in the winter... She also thought it was special that we use so many towels and dishcloths here. Why use six different wash cloths? In Indonesia she had one towel that she used for everything for a month. The great thing is that one learns a lot from each other. We have a busy schedule and along with a busy lifestyle. Dhea is a bit relaxed, she takes life as it comes. She teaches us that sometimes the simple things are more than enough.

I am glad that I choose Au Pair International. It is an agency with years of experience and a lot of clarity. Both the costs and the content were completely clear well in advance. The connection with AuPairWorld is also a big plus. In addition, I like the fact that there is always a Dutch-speaking point of contact, but that many other languages are also spoken at Au Pair International. It is an extremely professional and knowledgeable agency.

Host mum Monique about au pair Shantel from Zimbabwe

Now that I have an au pair, the stress in the house is gone. My Zimbabwean au pair Shantel gives peace of mind in our home. She is there for my daughter and is vigilant to what is needed. My daughter loves her and I can trust Shantel. In addition, it is of course wonderful that our house is tidy when we come home!

Read more

I think it is important to be good friends with the au pair and with Shantel, we have encouraged this type of relationship. She is independent and also a part of our family. I can trust her and we are always open and honest with each other. Shantel feels at home with us and knows that she can always make a mistake. The most important thing is that I know I can count on her.

Shantel takes extremely good care of my daughter. In addition, she really enjoys playing with my daughter. Whether it is playing with the Barbie house, on the trampoline, being silly, shopping, crafting or taking weird pictures, Shantel is really like a big sister to my daughter!
The au pair program is really an addition for me. It is less expensive than daycare, but it is so much more. It is important that we learn from each other and know that your child is having a good time. An au pair lives in your home and becomes aware of the support needed. As a single mom, I always have someone to talk to. I really like the relaxed atmosphere and it is always a pleasant addition to learn from other cultures.

Shantel can always join us on weekends. At times, we go for a family visit or to a holiday park, for example. We went to the Efteling and Fairytale Wonderland, we visited Enkhuizen and Shantel even tasted herring and liquorice. Shantel is fascinated by the Netherlands and it is exciting to see how she has become part of our family and how she experiences her exchange program.

I am pleased to have an au pair through Au Pair International. The agency is just right. No sales pitches, but an honest story and good guidance. Au Pair International is there for you, makes time for you, helps and guides you adequately. It is an agency you can trust and one which delivers quality service. Au Pair International does what it says and is reliable. I'm super positive!

Claudio about au pair Milagros from Argentina

We are an international family: A Spanish-Brazilian family living in the Netherlands. Thanks to the au pair program, our children have a chance to grow up with even more cultures and backgrounds. Currently, we have an au pair from Argentina and prior to this, from Indonesia. Cultural diversity will soon be running through our children’s veins!

Read more

Of course, we also chose an au pair for pragmatic reasons: with twin babies it is very nice to have an extra pair of hands. In addition, it is a safe knowing that a trusted person is taking care of our children.

Our au pair is very calm and caring, and our babies love her. We love to make plans, cook and enjoy dinner together. Our warm relationship with her really matters to us. We also have a lot of contact with our previous au pair. She misses us and we still miss her! Sometimes she comes to visit and it feels like a daughter who is coming home for a visit.
We also gained a lot of knowledge ourselves about other countries and cultures, as well as about different dietary habits, religions and ways of living. For example, we learned a lot about Indonesia and local traditions through our previous au pair, and we are learning to cook delicious vegetarian dishes with our current au pair.

We have recommended Au Pair International to several friends. An agency which has a lot of experience and assists skillfully when there are difficulties. We know that we can trust Au Pair International completely and the au pairs also enjoy being a part of your agency. You offer a good program and are always very clear and helpful to the au pair.

Host family Labberton about au pair Darina

For us, participating in the au pair program meant getting to know cultures from all over the world. We have had no less than eight au pairs and we are still in touch with all eight! In the picture you can see our son who was about three years old at the time. He had come up with a fun game, namely ‘Let’s paint au pair Darina’. That worked out pretty well as you can see!

Read more

Darina has a special place in our hearts because she really got the most out of the au pair year. She crisscrossed all over Europe, quickly gathered a whole international circle of friends around her and always did fun things with our son. Setting up a play tent in the garden, a photo scavenger hunt through the house, nothing was too crazy for her. She was also a star in baking cakes, which we certainly enjoyed.

Each au pair has something different which is unique. Marina, the first au pair, learned Dutch in no time. It was a bonus that she had already been an au pair in Germany, as this made her the ideal au pair to start with. Ksenia, the third au pair, had studied pedagogy and made beautiful crafts with our son. We are not very adept at that ourselves, so that worked out nicely.

We have always searched for an au pair ourselves through AuPairWorld. It's a bit of work, because you don't want to take any chances. An au pair will live with you for a year, so you want to make sure that you have a good click. Au Pair International always did the additional screening. This way we could be sure that all documents and references were correct.

We can recommend everyone to participate in the au pair program. It truly enriches your family life, and it is also enormously de-stressing when one can take comfort in knowing that your children are well taken care of, a meal is ready and the house tidied up when you come home after a busy day at work.

Experiences of our au pairs

Twané

Twané

I am absolutely delighted to share my experience with Au Pair International. Over the past couple of months, I have been incredibly fortunate to be part of their program as an au pair, and I cannot express enough how much they have helped me during a time of great difficulty.

Recently, I faced a serious medical emergency that required me to spend three weeks in the hospital. It was an incredibly challenging period for me, but Au Pair International went above and beyond to support and care for me throughout this process. They opened their doors and their hearts to me, providing a safe and nurturing environment that made all the difference in my recovery.

The level of care and compassion I received from Au Pair International was truly remarkable. Despite my circumstances, they organized outings and activities that allowed me to continue experiencing the cultural exchange aspect of being an au pair.

I want to extend a special thank you to Mirjan, Wouter and Nazan at the agency, who went out of their way to take care of me. Their unwavering support, kindness, and genuine concern made me feel like I was part of a family rather than just a program participant. Their efforts went beyond their professional roles, and I am forever grateful for their genuine care and friendship.

Au Pair International has shown me the true meaning of compassion and community. They have exemplified what it means to support individuals in times of crisis and have made a profound impact on my life.

In conclusion, I cannot thank Au Pair International enough for all they have done for me. Their support, kindness, and generosity have made a world of difference in my life, and I will forever be grateful. If you are considering becoming an au pair or seeking a program that truly cares, look no further than Au Pair International. They have my highest recommendation, and I am confident that they will continue to positively impact the lives of others as they have done for me.

Corinna

Corinna

Mijn jaar als au pair in Nederland Ik ben Corinna, 24 jaar oud, uit Duitsland. Al lang wilde ik Nederlands leren en probeerde het zelf te leren, maar dat werkte niet. Ik dacht dat ik wel in Nederland op vakantie kan gaan, maar dat ik dan niet echt Nederlands kan leren. Omdat de tijd te kort is en ik waarschijnlijk dan meer Engels of Duits ga praten. Ik werkte ook in Duitsland al veel met kinderen en toen kwam de gedachte in mij op, dat ik als au pair naar Nederland kan gaan, zodat ik eindelijk Nederlands kan leren van een familie die de hele dag Nederlands praat, en tegelijkertijd nog kan helpen door op de kinderen te passen.

Dus ging ik op zoek naar een familie via AuPairWorld. Ik vond een hele leuke familie en had een eerste gesprek met de moeder. Na korte tijd hadden we al heel veel dingen waarover we konden praten en het voelde voor mij alsof we elkaar al veel langer kennen. Omdat ik redelijk dichtbij in Duitsland woon, maakten wij een afspraak om elkaar een keer te ontmoeten zodat ik ook de kinderen kon leren kennen en de kinderen mij ook een keer konden ontmoeten. Daarna had ik steeds meer contact met de familie en in de zomervakantie kwamen ze een keer naar Duitsland om mijn familie een keer te ontmoeten en omdat ze benieuwd waren waar ik woon.

Voordat mijn au pair jaar kon beginnen moest ik nog een paar dingen regelen voor Au Pair International, het au pair bureau. Het was redelijk makkelijk alle dingen te regelen en steeds duidelijk wat de volgende stappen zijn. Als ik vragen had kon ik altijd bellen of een mailtje sturen om hulp te krijgen. 1 oktober 2022 was het zo ver en mijn jaar als au pair kon beginnen. Vanaf de eerste dag ging mijn gastgezin alleen Nederlands met mij praten, dat hebben we afgesproken omdat ik zo graag Nederlands wilde leren. Als ik iets niet kon verstaan of begrijpen, gingen ze het aan mij in het Engels uitleggen. Ik verstond redelijk veel, maar durfde in het begin nog niet echt veel met de ouders te praten omdat ik bang was fouten te maken. Met de kinderen was de communicatie makkelijker, ze gebruikten nog redelijk makkelijke taal en zo kon ik mijn taalgebruik steeds verder ontwikkelen.

Al in mijn eerste week begon ik een taalcursus te volgen, waar ik veel over de regels en grammatica in het Nederlands kon leren en vooral ook met andere mensen kon praten die nog niet zo goed Nederlands kunnen praten. De eerste paar weken ging ik ook in mijn vrije tijd veel met de familie doen, bijvoorbeeld naar een grote speeltuin of naar een voetbalwedstrijd van één van de kinderen. Ik vond het leuk, dat ik de kans van de ouders heb gekregen dat ik bijna overal mee mocht, maar niet moest. Ik kon altijd zeggen, dat ik iets anders voor mezelf wilde doen. Maar ik vond het heel leuk om de familie en kinderen de eerste weken een beetje beter te leren kennen en ook een beetje aan elkaar te wennen. In mijn vrije tijd ging ik veel wandelen en fietsen langs het water naar het strand, of door het bos.

Maar ik ging ook al in Duitsland op zoek naar een koor in de buurt van mijn gastgezin. Ik zat in Duitsland ook op een koor en vond het heel leuk in Nederland ook naar een koor te gaan, nieuwe mensen te ontmoeten en mijn Nederlands verder te kunnen oefenen en verbeteren. Vanaf mijn eerste week in Nederland ging ik dus ook naar een koor toe en werd heel hartelijk welkom geheten. Mijn Nederlands was nog niet zo goed, maar we konden elkaar begrijpen. Ik leerde daar heel lieve mensen kennen met wie ik later ook vaker in het weekend en mijn vrije tijd ging afspreken. In mijn gastgezin voelde ik me altijd welkom, vanaf het begin had ik het idee echt een lid van de familie te zijn. Zij lieten aan mij culturele dingen uit Nederland zien, zoals de lantarentocht met Sint Maarten, Sinterklaas, waar ik mee mocht naar het feestje met de hele familie. Ik had een heel leuke tijd bij de familie en kon heel veel over Nederland leren en van Nederland zien.

Helaas moest ik na ruim een half jaar van familie wisselen, maar ik sta nog steeds in contact met mijn eerste gastgezin en ben van plan om nog vaker bij hen op bezoek te gaan. Tijdens het wisselen van familie had ik veel hulp door Au Pair International, wat heel fijn was. Door hen heb ik een nieuwe familie kunnen vinden die zelfs in hetzelfde dorp woont. Daardoor kon ik verder naar koor gaan en woonde verder in een bekende omgeving. Het leven in de nieuwe familie was heel anders dan in de eerste familie, ook omdat de kinderen iets ouder waren en daardoor heel andere dingen interessant vonden en al een beetje zelfstandiger waren.

Ik heb tijdens mijn au pair jaar veel van Nederland kunnen zien en door de acties van Au Pair International ook typisch Nederlandse dingen kunnen meemaken, zoals bijvoorbeeld een Bossche Bollen workshop, een bezoek in kasteel De Haar en een speurtocht door Den Haag. Ik ben blij, dat ik als au pair naar Nederland ben gekomen. Ik heb in dit jaar heel veel over mezelf geleerd en heb me verder kunnen ontwikkelen. Mijn doel Nederlands te leren is mij ook redelijk gelukt en ik heb nieuwe mensen en vrienden leren kennen met wie ik mijn Nederlands nog verder kan oefenen. Ik zal zeker nog heel vaak naar Nederland terug komen en van de mooie natuur, het water en de cultuur genieten. Ik heb een tweede familie in een ander land gevonden en ook vrienden voor het leven.

Erin

Erin

I’m Erin and I’m 23 years old. I started my au pair year in January. I’m living in a small suburb in Netherlands taking care of 4 young boys (yes 4, but it’s not as crazy as it sounds). I have a great host family, made some lovely friends and I’m overall having a wonderful year so I’m very excited to share a bit of it with you!

In 2018 I spent 6 months backpacking around Europe and had a love at first sight moment with Netherlands. After that I vowed to come back one day. After I returned from backpacking, I continued working towards my Human Nutrition Bachelor degree, but I wasn’t in love with what I was doing! Things fell into place an au pairing seemed like a nice gap year option. I had my heart set on returning to Netherlands but had my au pair world profile open to Italy and the UK. The applications were pouring in from every country but Netherlands, but my heart was set on the Dutch haha. I eventually found my host family and it all worked out in the end.

Being abroad during a global pandemic isn’t easy. At the beginning there was a moment I debated going home, I ended up staying, and I’m very happy with my decision. I had friends that went home, and they were also happy with they’re decision. Do what’s best for you, but don’t let fear stop you from what you really want! Thankfully Netherlands didn’t go into a full out lockdown and we were still able to go for walks, and be outside. I had one friend who lived very close that I was able to bike to on weekends and during the week, we watched a lot of movies and had a lot of picnics, being able to have social connection was great for my mental health! I was able to go to Spain during the summer to visit a friend, and I appreciated it so much more than I normally would have! If travel is safe take advantage of it! Remember to take all the necessary precautions and have fun!

Mary

Mary

Our chat with au pair Mary from Uganda!

About her host family: She is very happy with her host family. She plays a lot together with her host children (for instance local games Mary used to play as a child), they are teaching her Dutch and she is teaching them Luganda (one of the official languages in Uganda). They teach each other about their cultural differences. They have visited various museums together like Nemo Science Museum and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.  “The kids are so lovely and we have a very good connection together”.

About the Netherlands: Mary finds that the Dutch hardly are outdoors, but she thinks maybe the weather during this time of year isn’t the best to go outside a lot. In Uganda folks usually do a lot of activities outdoors. Mary took two week lessons on how to ride a bike and is now comfortable bicycling around. She loves the fact there are special bicycle lanes, as this makes it safer, especially for a new learner. She also really likes it that when someone passes you by on the bike, they are always greeting her.  “I love Dutch people, they are friendly people, smiling while on their bicycle, and also walking with their dogs. They always say ‘Hoi’. I love this”. She is learning Dutch online, finds it a bit hard to learn the words, but in time she feels she will be able to at least communicate using short sentences. Her host children help her a lot in this area as well.  She also likes the trains in the Netherlands and the tall futuristic buildings in cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

About her birthday: She had to get used to the different kind of weather here. But her host parents got her a new raincoat when it was her birthday recently, and she loves that! “My host family gave me a rain jacket to learn how to walk in the rain.” She celebrated her birthday for the first time in her life as it is not a tradition in Uganda to celebrate birthdays. Her host family sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in English, so she could understand the words. Her host children helped her cut her birthday cake, as she never did this before. “The kids had to teach me how to cut my birthday cake. It was the best day in my life”. Her appointment at the local GGD Health Center (to do the mandatory Tuberculosis tests) was eventful as well. As the appointment was on her birthday, the nurses sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. “I have never felt so special. What a nice tradition to celebrate birthdays.”

Belinda

Belinda

My au-pair adventure started roughly three years ago. I use the word “adventure” deliberately because there really isn’t a better word to express what a journey this has been! I had no idea how insanely epic of an adventure this would be. This all started after my final year at university. I needed a break before venturing into “adulting”, or to put it more elegantly: I decided to take some time out of academics and have a different life experience; to take the time to calmly reflect on my future professional and personal orientation. A friend of mine had just returned from her au-pair experience and suggested the idea to me. With the intention of getting away and clearing my mind, the idea of travelling through Europe, making new friends and making unforgettable memories, was something that certainly appealed to me. So I got in touch with an agency and signed up.

My first au-pair experience, aka the one that started it all, I moved to Bentonville, Arkansas in the US. This was too special of an encounter to not do again if there is an possibility to do so. After that I registered for my next destination: Europe, Belgium. Part two of my adventure was spent with my Flemish family, and it too was special. Living with them was an entirely different experience as there was now a language component. Yes my exposure to Afrikaans made the transition a lot smoother, but there is still a difference (to Flemish).

My adventure continues with my current family in the Netherlands. For the very few weeks I have been here, I already feel like part of the family in the truest sense of the word. I am dumbfounded at how incredible our journey has been so far. Do I feel like that maybe in a previous life they were my parents, no, they are too young for that. Yet our vibe is so unreal, I can’t help but wonder. Knowing me it goes without saying that I am thoroughly enjoying the cuisine; die Mutter (you know because she's German) is a basically an in-house chef; the papa is a oenophile (look it up, it's not as bad as it sounds); I am a foodie and together we are the perfect match. I am having so much fun with the children, and enjoy getting to know them. I continue to travel within Europe but also visit small towns in The Netherlands; side note they are gorgeous! There is a possibility of signing up for a language course. I plan to take part in the activities hosted by the au pair agency (Au Pair International). I look forward to experiencing the Dutch holidays, festivities and national celebrations.

The dynamic of moving away from your home country, to a foreign land, to essentially move into a home with strangers (let alone take care of their children) offers a unique chance at growing yourself, while also allowing you the opportunity to live out your other dreams, which in this care are primarily that of travelling. It can be hard at times. No I lie, it is hard at times. Adjusting to a new life, lifestyle, sometimes even a new language is dauting fam. Perhaps there is no better way if understanding unless you have been through it. But allowing myself to go through these moments, allowed me to discover parts of myself that needed more growth than other, but it also revealed traits and skill I was unaware of.

Essentially the au-pair program is something I am passionate about because it combines two of my greatest passions of people and travel in such a beautiful way that offers a rich experience; one that I could not get otherwise. I thought I would travel to escape life, when in fact I do it so that life does not escape me. I have come to realize that in my attempt to rest and recuperate in preparation to “adult”, adventure is the best way to learn; with an incredible family in a beautiful country - yes please!

Clémence

Clémence

So, I’m Clémence, a French au pair, and I live with a French/Dutch family and I enjoy it a lot. With the children I speak French and English with the parents. The kids are bilingual French/Dutch and start to understand everything in English (impressive, isn’t it?). I arrived three months ago now so I adjust to life here, it wasn’t too complicated because if you love cheese, fried food and cycling (there are no hills here, it’s a child’s play haha), you’ll be very comfortable and happy, for sure!

I already visited a bit of The Netherlands, like Amsterdam, Den Haag and Rotterdam. Amsterdam is of course a beautiful city but so full of tourists, if you have some free days during the week it’s the opportunity to go there (instead of the weekends), it’s a bit quitter in the street! In Den Haag, you can get a map of the town for free at the tourism office, they are really nice. There, I visited the Maurits Huis, it was very interesting, and with the museum card the entrance is free! I also went to the beach, from the centre you can take the tram (line 1 near the tourism office) during around 15 minutes and you can finally soak your feet in the sea for around 30 seconds because it’s really cold haha. It’s a pretty nice city too, all the country is nice actually. In Rotterdam, I walked during 5 hours around the city, it was really pleasant! There, the city map costs 50 cents (good to have it when the Internet doesn’t want to work). I went to the Euromast, a kind of Eiffel tower but Dutch and lower, it’s 10 euros to get in and it was worth seeing! I loved Rotterdam because this is so different than Amsterdam or Utrecht or Den Haag, it’s really interesting, I recommend it!!

Anecdote of the month:I’m sleeping on the third floor of the house, and to access my room there is a door on the second floor, where the family’s bedrooms are. So, this Friday morning, I went down early because I had to bring the kids to school, but I couldn’t open the door. I was stuck in the stairs, great, so I called my host mom, she was very surprised, as you can imagine haha, and she came to open the door. We finally found who shut me in and it was the little girl, she thought that was very amusing, but it would can be annoying because basically when I wake up, everybody is already gone so I would be stuck the whole day, not great then!
Tip of the month: Don’t give the keys to children at the risk of being stuck the whole day with nothing.
Second tip: If you’re clumsy and not used to bike when it’s raining and wet, be careful because the ground is very slippery. (I already slipped two times, it was really embarrassing, I’m not recommending that for sure haha).

Google reviews

aupairinternational_nl

Au Pair International - Dé au pair expert in Nederland 🇳🇱
🌎 Wij plaatsen au pairs van over de hele wereld bij gastgezinnen in Nederland.
✨ Au pair experience spotlight! ✨ We loved readin ✨ Au pair experience spotlight! ✨ We loved reading the experience that au pair Carlotta shared with us! 💛 Stories like hers truly show how special the au pair journey can be — full of learning, connection, and unforgettable moments. Have you had a beautiful experience as an au pair or host family and would you like to share it too? 🌍✨ We’d love to hear from you! You’re always welcome to send us your story via DM or by email at info@aupairinternational. Your story might inspire others just like Carlotta’s did! 💫 #aupairinternational #aupair #culturalexchange
We’re still smiling from our unforgettable au pair We’re still smiling from our unforgettable au pair event among the tulips 🌷✨ Relive this colorful excursion with us and look back on a day full of fun, connection, and Dutch spring vibes! #aupairinternational #tulips #aupair
Being an au pair means learning the language too 🇳 Being an au pair means learning the language too 🇳🇱😉 So we challenged our au pairs to pronounce Dutch words… Which one is your favorite or hardest? Let us know in the comments and follow us on TikTok: @aupairinternational_nl 💙 #aupairinternational #dutch #culturalexchange
What a DAY!!! 🌷☀️ We hit the tulip fields with ov What a DAY!!! 🌷☀️ We hit the tulip fields with over 200 amazing au pairs and it was pure MAGIC ✨ Endless colors, sunshine, laughter, and all the Dutch pride you can imagine 🇳🇱💛 Still smiling thinking about it!! Swipe for the first photo dump and soak it all in 😍📸 #aupairinternational #tulips #netherlands #aupair
Beste families, Wij zien dat het sinds enkele wek Beste families, Wij zien dat het sinds enkele weken niet langer mogelijk is om een afspraak te maken bij de Filipijnse ambassade in Den Haag voor het ondertekenen en legaliseren van het au‑paircontract. Dit is een verplicht onderdeel van de immigratieprocedure voor Filipijnse au pairs die vanuit de Filipijnen naar Nederland reizen. (Voor Filipijnse au pairs die in het bezit zijn van een geldige EU‑verblijfsvergunning en vanuit een ander EU‑land naar Nederland komen, geldt deze verplichting niet.) Op dit moment kunnen wij geen inschatting geven van hoe lang deze situatie zal voortduren en wat dit betekent voor de doorlooptijd van Filipijnse au‑pairs. Zolang deze situatie aanhoudt, adviseren wij rekening te houden met een langere doorlooptijd en een grotere mate van onzekerheid. Indien dit in jullie situatie niet wenselijk is, adviseren wij om te overwegen een au pair uit een ander land uit te nodigen. In Azië werken wij bijvoorbeeld ook met au pairs uit Indonesië, Thailand, Vietnam en China.  - ENG - Dear families, We have noticed that for several weeks now it has no longer been possible to make an appointment at the Philippine Embassy in The Hague to sign and legalize the au pair contract. This is a mandatory part of the immigration procedure for Filipino au pairs traveling from the Philippines to the Netherlands. (This requirement does not apply to Filipino au pairs who hold a valid EU residence permit and travel to the Netherlands from another EU country.) At this time, we are unable to estimate how long this situation will continue or what impact it will have on the processing time for Filipino au pairs. As long as this situation persists, we advise taking into account longer processing times and a higher level of uncertainty. If this is not desirable in your situation, we recommend considering inviting an au pair from another country. In Asia, for example, we also work with au pairs from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China.
👑 Koningsdag & jouw au pair 🧡 Heb je er al over n 👑 Koningsdag & jouw au pair 🧡 Heb je er al over nagedacht om je au pair vrij te geven op Koningsdag? Voor veel au pairs is Koningsdag één van de absolute hoogtepunten van het uitwisselingsprogramma. De gezelligheid, tradities en nationale feestvreugde maken deze dag extra bijzonder. 👉 Tip: start op tijd het gesprek met je au pair. Bespreek samen wat mogelijk is, zodat verwachtingen duidelijk zijn en iedereen kan genieten van een fijne Koningsdag. Samen zorgen we voor een mooie ervaring voor het hele gezin én de au pair. ✨ *ENG* 👑 King’s Day & your au pair 🧡 Have you already thought about giving your au pair time off on King’s Day? For many au pairs, King’s Day is one of the absolute highlights of the exchange program. The festive atmosphere, Dutch traditions, and nationwide celebrations make this day truly special. 👉 Tip: start the conversation with your au pair in good time. Discuss together what’s possible, so expectations are clear and everyone can enjoy a wonderful King’s Day. Together, we create a great experience – for the whole family and the au pair. ✨ #aupairinternational #kingsday #aupair #netherlands
Happy Easter to our valued host families and dedic Happy Easter to our valued host families and dedicated au pairs.🐰🐣 May this season bring a sense of renewal and appreciation for the cultural connections you create together. Wishing you a peaceful holiday filled with meaningful moments and shared traditions.🌍🩵 #HappyEaster #HostFamilies #AuPairLife #CulturalExchange #SpringSeason AuPairInternational
A true Dutch lunch break: walking through the rain A true Dutch lunch break: walking through the rain (because when is it ever sunny?) just to get a fresh stroopwafel. 🧡🌷🇳🇱 So tell us, what Dutch treat would you happily get soaked for? #aupairinternational #netherlands #stroopwafel
Bekijk op Instagram

Are you looking for a successful experience?

Au Pair International has been guiding host families for more than 14 years. In a no-obligation introductory call, we inform you on how you can make the period as a host family a success!

Free introduction
View the rates
Boek een kennismaking
Stuur ons een e-mail
Bel ons

Contact

📞 +31(0)70 221 13 95
📧 info@aupairinternational.nl


Au Pair International

In partnership with:

Au Pair International

More

About us · FAQ

Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy · Cookies

🇳🇱Nederlands

2010-2026 © Au Pair International | Webdesign A·Sister
  • Home
  • Au pair or daycare?
  • Finding an au pair
  • Rates
  • Events & Training
  • Experiences
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Nederlands