← All countries

Employing an au pair in the Netherlands

Household employment / au pair scheme

Last reviewed

This is general guidance, not legal advice.

Employment law changes, varies by region and depends on your exact arrangement. Figures below are researched from official sources but go out of date — always confirm the current position with the official body linked on this page, or with a qualified labour adviser, before you rely on it.

The Netherlands treats two situations differently: an official “au pair” is a cultural-exchange arrangement (arranged via an IND-recognised agency, pocket money, capped hours — NOT ordinary employment), while a nanny employed for pay is a regular employee entitled to the minimum wage. Confirm which applies to you.

Pay floor

€14.99 per hour (21+)

Effective 1 July 2026, up from €14.71 on 1 January — the Netherlands indexes twice a year. Youth rates apply from 15 to 20 (€11.99 at 20, €8.99 at 19, €7.50 at 18). Since 2024 there is no statutory monthly or weekly minimum, only the hourly rate. This applies on the employment route; a genuine au pair receives an allowance capped at €340 a month instead. Verified against Rijksoverheid on 2 September 2026.

What to get right

1

Au pair route — the €340 ceiling

This is the opposite of most countries: the allowance is a maximum, not a minimum. Dutch law lets a host family pay an au pair up to €340 a month in cash without it being treated as taxable wages — and the exemption also requires that board and lodging and insurance are provided, that the terms are in a written agreement, and that the au pair has no other taxable income. Pay above the ceiling and the arrangement becomes employment. The figure is written into a regulation that has been in force unchanged since 1 January 2001 — the original text is in guilders (f 750) — so it has never been indexed.

2

Au pair route — hours and eligibility

At most 30 hours a week and 8 hours a day of light household duties and childcare. The au pair must be aged 18 to 25, live with the family and take part in family life, and the permit runs for up to one year. Only an au pair agency recognised by the IND can apply — an au pair cannot apply for the permit themselves. The host family must be at least two people and must provide board, lodging and the allowance.

3

Au pair route — who checks, and who cannot

The IND has itself reported dozens of cases of abuse of the scheme, typically working beyond 30 hours or doing heavy household work. Agencies are not authorised to inspect host families, and neither is the IND. Only the police and the Dutch Labour Inspectorate can, and they need a prosecutor’s authorisation to enter a home. The IND notes that because it can revoke an au pair’s permit, au pairs may be reluctant to report problems at all — which is a reason to keep your own written record of the hours you actually work.

4

Au pair vs employee

Official au pairs go through an IND-recognised agency with a standard au pair agreement (max ~30 hours/week, pocket money). A nanny hired as an employee is entitled to the statutory minimum wage — use the contract template in the NannyTank app for the employee case.

5

Minimum wage

For an employee, the statutory minimum wage (minimumloon) applies and is reviewed twice a year. Confirm the current hourly rate.

6

“Dienstverlening aan huis”

Under the household-services rule, if someone works for you no more than 3 days a week, simplified rules apply (you generally don’t withhold payroll tax — the worker handles their own). Check whether this fits your arrangement.

7

Leave & sick pay

Statutory paid holiday and continued pay during illness generally apply to employees.

Official sources

Check these for the current position — they are the authority, this page is not.

An editable contract template for Netherlands

NannyTank includes a downloadable employment contract template that references Household employment / au pair scheme — you fill in the agreed pay and hours. Available in the app, along with hours, overtime and claim tracking.

Start your free trial →

Other countries

South Africa United Kingdom Ireland Germany France Spain Switzerland Austria United States Canada Australia New Zealand

NannyTank is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is a starting point to help you know what to look into; it may be incomplete or out of date, and it does not account for your specific circumstances. Confirm anything you rely on with the official bodies above or a qualified adviser.