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AU PAIR NETHERLANDS d - The Original Cool
AU PAIR NETHERLANDS
Holland - The Original Cool
Our Partner • Over 16 years of placing Au Pairs
• Place Au Pairs from all over the world
• Member of BONAPA and IAPA
• Program rules are set by the IND Dutch Immigration Office and au pair agencies need to be licensed and are audited regularly
•Au Pair placements have to work through a licensed au pair agency
•With careful partnership OVC and Travel Active screen both the host families and the au pairs
•OVC and Travel Active have been partners for over 12 years
Where in the Netherlands are au pairs placed ....
The Netherlands is just a small country, divided in 12 provinces.
Most au pairs are placed in the provinces of Noord Holland, Zuid Holland and Utrecht .
Amsterdam is situated in Noord Holland, however placements happen throughout the country.
It takes no more than 4 hours to get from the south to the north of the Netherlands.
An average family in Holland is made up of….Father and Mother (most parents are married)2 or 3 children Pets dog / cat or maybe a rabbit Families could live in the suburbs or in cities In most cases, host fathers work full time, and host mothers part time, however this differs to each individual family. Some families have a cleaning person for about 4 hours a week, but not all of them! Dutch families attach much value to family life; Dutch parents teach their children to be independent from a very early age and children are treated like adults at the age of 18 years.
The Dutch are very straight forward and direct, prepare yourselves for this.
• 18 – 30 years, female, single with no dependants• SA or EU passport holder • Hold a Matric • Have valid childcare experience and a love / passion for children• Be in good health• Have a clear criminal record • Be able to ride a bicycle • Be flexible, adaptable and responsible• Be willing to get out of your comfort zone • Be a bit of a culture vulture• Good understanding of the role of an au pair• Interested in learning new things• Unique and inspiring
Personal growth ● Independence ● New language ● Memories and moments ● Cultural diversity ● Friends for life ● Communication skills ● CV enhancement ● Skills ●
Understanding ● An experience of a lifetime!! OPEN YOUR WORLD
How to become an Au Pair in the Netherlands
What to gain from the program
•Maximum of 30 hours per week• 2 Days off per week and 2 weeks paid vacation• At least one weekend off per month • 12 Month contract • Pocket money of 300 Euros per month • Private room and food provided • Contribution of 320 Euros for a Dutch language course once in the Netherlands•Medical Insurance coverage for the full 12 months• Support by local agency and monthly activities hosted by Travel Active staff • Optional First Aid Course - terms and conditions apply • Visa valid for all Schengen countries for one year so the opportunity to travel is all year round
PlacementsAll year round with the most popular time to arrival between May through to September (Dutch Schools start in September)
Benefits of the program
This is an EXAMPLE of a weekly schedule. No two schedules are the same
and things could still change and move around. However the hours cannot go beyond
30 hours per week. Day From- To Total timeMonday
7.45-8.45 preparing breakfast and take care of the children, having breakfast with the children.9.30-11.00 ironing, light housekeeping11.45-13.15 pick up children, lunch, bring them back to school13.30-15.00 free time15.00-19.00 pick up children from school and play with them until one of the parents comes home at 18.30-19.00. Preparing dinner and already having dinner with the children.
8 hours
Tuesday As monday 8 hours
Wednesday 7.45-8.45 preparing breakfast and take care of the children, having breakfast with the childrenFree day – host mother is off to be with the children.
1 hour
Thursday As Monday, except the 1,5 hours housekeeping/ironing.
6,5 hours
Friday 7.45-8.45 preparing breakfast and take care of the children, having breakfast with the children.12.00 pick up children from school, lunch.Taking care of the children in the afternoon until 17.00.
6,5 hours
Saturday Free day – host parents will be home
Sunday Free day – host parents will be home
TOTAL TIME 30 hours
•Dressing the children •Making school snacks and lunches•Taking and fetching from school and other activities • Outings •Entertaining the children (not TV), playing organising activities etc... •Cooking •Bathing •Feeding •Laundry, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, ironing, making up beds•Shopping •Using a bakfiets to get around including getting the children around.•All duties are age dependant
Duties and Responsibilities of an au pair
•Very easy, simple process•Will need to attend a physical interview in either Cape Town or Pretoria •Visa is issued in SA for 03 months and then is extended for the balance of the 12 months once in the Netherlands•Best of all it that there is no cost for the au pair = FREE!
Visa enables you to travel in and around Europe for 12 months, this means no applying for visas for visiting other Schengen countries and it also means lots of spontaneous holidays can be arranged at the drop of a hat!
Visa
• Register with your OVC office • Pay the admin fee•Complete application (paper application)• Interview with your OVC Consultant •Submit your application and supporting documents with your OVC Consultant•Application gets reviewed and references get verified •Application is then submitted to Travel Active •Application under review with Travel Active •Application goes into circulation •Travel Active send us profiles of interested host families •Interview with the host family •Match •Visa application •Ticket is booked •Bon Voyage
Application Process
Admin fee € 34.00 +- R 600.00 Placement fee FREE Airline ticket +- R 10 – 12 000.00Medical insurance Included Visa fee FREERecommended spending money € 300.00
TOTAL COST Excluding spending money +- R 12 600.00
Costs
YOU CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS BUT YOU CAN BUY A BIKE AND THAT’S PRETTY CLOSE!
From the diary of Nokwanda – an OVC Au Pair
