Why choose the Netherlands?
When you are an Au Pair you become an extended part of a new family, getting to know their culture, sharing yours and combining childcare & running a household with a year of adventure, learning and travel. Imagine celebrating the Dutch tradition “Sinterklaas”, dressing up in orange for Kingsday, ice-skating and if you are lucky experience snow while drinking hot coco in wintertime!
Living with a host family and caring for their children is the perfect way to learn about Dutch culture, and also a chance to share your culture with them. This is your chance for a real slice of life in the Netherlands. Make a decision you’ll never regret — the adventure of a lifetime is waiting for you!
There are a lot of reasons why the Netherlands is the perfect country to Au Pair. We have gathered the most important ones for you.
Safety
The Netherlands is a very safe country to live in.
It is easy and safe to travel on your bike or alone by Public Transport. It is the perfect hub to all other European countries because of its central location.
The program in NL is well organised and regulated to protect the Au Pair. You cannot Au Pair in the Netherlands without joining an official agency like HBN that will guide you through the complete process and will be responsible for you during your program in the Netherlands.
Travelling
Public transport is very well organized;
It is very easy to get from point A to point B safely , so you can easily explore our little country and visit its beautiful cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam.
The Dutch bike everywhere, it is THE way of transportation to work, school and sports. Biking will get you anywhere safely, so be prepared to take on this Dutch habit! The Dutch love their bikes!
Openness
The Dutch culture is known to be very open and friendly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to people you don’t know.
Young foreign people will notice the free and open vibe as soon as they arrive.
The Dutch are also known for being the best English speakers, which makes it easy for foreigners to communicate.
Active & Socializing
Dutch people have busy lives and therefore they have an active and healthy lifestyle. The Dutch love to have a lot of time off and they like to spend their leisure time socializing; this is called “gezelligheid”.
It is a typical Dutch word, which is untranslatable in any other language. Ask anybody in the Netherlands about this and they will all give a different explanation to the meaning of this word.
Directness
The Dutch are known for their directness; they like to get down to business straight away and they have a no-nonsense culture. If you are open to your Host Family, share your cultures, views and differences you will enjoy a full experience of the Au Pair program in the Netherlands. Integration and adaptation in the Netherlands is easy when you’re open to new experiences.
Love & Celebrating
Although the Dutch are very down to earth, they go all out whenever there is a national event. If, for instance, you’re visiting during the European football championships, the meaning of the Dutch word “gezelligheid” will be apparent in every city you visit.
The most important festivity for Dutch children is “Sinterklaas”. No, this is not Santa Claus 😉 ,this is celebrated on the 5th of December. Another traditional festivity is Kingsday or ‘Koningsdag”, celebrated on the 27th of April. All people wear orange clothes and everything is decorated in orange.
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