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Must
I have a driver's license?
No, it is not
a prerequisite for a position in the Netherlands, but you
must be able to ride a bicycle to get the most out of your
experience! A Dutchman without a bike is like a fish without
water! Holland is the ultimate cycling country!
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What
are living conditions like?
You can
expect your own room as an au-pair, provided within the
family home. Most people live in rowhouses or in
apartments. Traditionally houses were compact because
building on boggy or reclaimed soil involved sinking pilings
deep into the ground. The structure on top of the pilings
had to be kept light and reasonably sized, so many houses
had shared walls.
What will my au-pair duties be?
Dutch
families require very little domestic assistance from their
aupairs. Most of the duties of an au-pair will revolve
around the children; however an au-pair should expect to do
washing and ironing, general
tidying up of the home, and cooking for the children.
You will be required to contract for a minimum period of one
year.
Click
here to have a look at a typical family's expectations
 Click
here to see the list of what the Netherlands Aupair
Organisation determined constitutes light housework in
Holland.
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| How
much will it cost me
Click
here for the program costs.
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AU PAIR program in HOLLAND
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AU-PAIR in
Netherlands
Netherlands is a
country where South Africans feel very much at home. Amsterdam has the
most ‘museum per square inch’ of the world, filled with modern
art, Dutch design, paintings from famous Dutch painters such as Van
Gogh, Rembrandt, Mondriaan, etc. Of all the monuments in Holland the
castles may be the most impressive. Step inside the gates of the
Muiderslot or visit the majestic Het Loo Palace. Holland has plenty
of windmills, tulips and cheese too!
It is a requirement of
the Dutch work permit that you study their language and the language
school is required to provide a certificate of attendance and
competency. If Netherlands is your choice, you MUST plan ahead. Many
of the documents required for the visa take two months to get, and the
visa itself can take three to four months from the time of
application. Your complete application must reach us six months before
your planned travel date!
YOU AND YOUR
HOST PARENTS
Dutch value three
things above all: their children, their homes and their gardens. The
Netherlands is a family-centred country. The Dutch have created a
special kind of domestic life, which they call gezellig, a home
that feels cosy and enjoyable.. You may be
responsible for bathing and feeding the children, playing games,
taking them to school and fetching them, supervising homework and
taking them to extra mural activities such as, swimming
lessons, art, karate, ballet; arranging play dates with friends and
taking them on suitable outings. You will be responsible for
ironing, general housework, meal preparation, help with grocery
shopping and other family chores. Family life is warm, cosy and
affectionate.
We provide you with
information about your host family and they will call you for an
interview. Often you will choose a family based on mutual expectations
and hobbies and interests, or they may just sound right. Should the
unlikely case of an exploitative situation occur, JCR will remove you
and arrange for you to stay in a safe house and where possible place
you with another family.
WHAT YOU CAN
EXPECT FROM THE AU-PAIR PROGRAM IN HOLLAND
- Have your own
furnished bedroom in your host family's home
- Receive
pocket money of between 300 to 340 Euros per month
- Have one weekend and
one day per week off per month
- work a maximum of 30
hours per week
- be able to travel
and explore Europe
- Be given a handbook
and attend an aupair course on arrival
- Meet regularly with
other au-pairs
- Be enrolled in a
Dutch language course by your host family.
- Have your airfare
paid for you by your host family
- A long stay
MVV visa that allows you to stay in the Netehrlands legally
for one year.
ACCEPTANCE
BY JCR FOR THE AUPAIR PROGRAM
To apply you
- be aged between 18
and 25 inclusive
- enjoy children aged
between 3 months and 13 years and have at least 200 hours of child
care experience with sibling or relatives or friends
- have completed
matric
- are a dedicated
person, willing to make a one year committment to experience Dutch
culture.
- are a non smoker
- be willing to apply
six months prior to your expected travel date as the Dutch visa
takes three to four months from date of application for approval
- are energetic and
enthusiastic
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