If you plan to work as a nanny in the Netherlands (Au pair, freelance, or officially employed), it’s important to arrange the essential insurance coverage.

1 - Mandatory Health Insurance (Basisverzekering)
Required for everyone who lives and works in the Netherlands. It covers GP visits, hospital treatment, and prescription medications. You must arrange it within 4 months of starting work or registering in the country, otherwise you may face a fine.

2 - Liability Insurance (AVB - zakelijke aansprakelijkheidsverzekering).
If a child is injured due to your actions or you damage the family’s property, this insurance covers the costs. It is not always legally mandatory, but it is often required by agencies or families. Make sure your policy includes coverage for childcare activities (gastouder extension).

3 - Sickness / Income Protection Insurance (WIA/ZW)
Self-employed (ZZP) nannies do not automatically receive sick pay. You can take out voluntary insurance that replaces your income if you are unable to work due to illness.

4 - If You Transport Children
Passenger insurance (Inzittendenverzekering) is recommended. The best option is SVI, which covers actual damages and medical costs. You must also have written parental permission to transport the child.

The right insurance protects you, the family, and most importantly, the children in your care. It gives everyone peace of mind and builds long-term trust.

Working as a nanny or domestic staff member in the Netherlands means it’s essential to understand your employment rights. If you have questions about your contract, salary, dismissal, or working conditions, there are official organizations that can help you.

1- Trade Union Support – FNV
The largest trade union in the Netherlands is FNV. They support employees in labor disputes, salary negotiations, and collective agreements. Full legal assistance is available to members.
ttps://www.fnv.nl

2 -Employment Advice – CNV
CNV provides guidance on employment contracts, dismissals, sick leave, and workplace conflicts. Extended legal support is available with membership.
https://www.cnv.nl

3 - Care & Domestic Workers Union – Vakbond Pico
Vakbond Pico specializes in supporting workers in care and domestic sectors. They advise on employment rights and working conditions. Membership is required for full support.
https://www.vakbondpico.nl

4 - Free Legal Advice – Juridisch Loket
If you have a lower income, Juridisch Loket offers free legal advice regarding labor disputes and employment issues. Eligibility depends on your income level.
https://www.juridischloket.nl

5 - Reporting Violations – Inspectie SZW
If your employer violates labor laws (for example unpaid wages or unsafe working conditions), you can file a complaint with Inspectie SZW, now operating as the Netherlands Labour Authority.
https://www.nlarbeidsinspectie.nl

6 - Benefits and Social Insurance – UWV
For questions about unemployment benefits, sick leave payments, or social insurance, contact UWV.
https://www.uwv.nl

Knowing your rights and where to seek help protects you professionally and personally. Save these resources — they may be useful for you or someone in your network.

Under Dutch law, verbal agreements and arrangements made through messaging apps can be legally valid and binding, including agreements with a nanny.

Dutch contract law (Burgerlijk Wetboek, Book 6) is based on the principle of freedom of contract. In most cases, a contract is considered concluded once both parties reach agreement on the essential terms — a written document is not usually required.

Conversations in messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram can serve as evidence of an agreement. Dutch courts regularly accept such communication as proof of contractual arrangements.

When it comes to nanny agreements, the key terms typically include payment conditions (rate and payment frequency), working schedule, duties, and termination conditions. If these terms are agreed upon verbally or through written messages, the agreement can already be considered legally established.

However, employment relationships in the Netherlands involve additional requirements. If a nanny works on a regular basis (not just occasionally), the employer is required to provide a written employment contract within one month after the start of employment and register as an employer for tax and social security contributions.

Even if there is a verbal agreement, the absence of a formal written contract may lead to complications with the tax authorities or in the event of employment disputes.

A nanny working under the RDaH scheme (Dutch scheme for nannies and domestic helpers that makes taxes simple) is required to pay two main mandatory contributions.

The first is income tax (inkomstenbelasting), which ranges from 36% to 49% of income, depending on earnings. This tax already includes social security contributions. The second mandatory payment is health insurance (zorgverzekering), which costs approximately €140–€160 per month and is paid directly to the insurance company. A key advantage of the RDaH scheme is that VAT (btw) is not charged at all.

Payment Procedure:

The main tax procedure follows an annual cycle. Each year, by May 1st of the following year, you must file a tax return (aangifte) declaring your total income for the previous year. Based on this declaration, the Tax Office (Belastingdienst) calculates the exact tax amount.

During the year, a system of advance payments applies. This is called voorlopige aanslag – a preliminary tax assessment. Based on your estimated annual income, you pay the tax in advance, either monthly or quarterly. After submitting the annual return, usually in July–August, the final calculation is made. If you overpaid, the difference is refunded; if you underpaid, the remaining amount must be paid.

What You Need to Do:

The administrative process is fairly simple. You need to issue invoices to your clients without including VAT, receive payments only via bank transfer (not in cash), keep all documents and invoices for at least seven years, and file a tax return once a year.

In summary, there is one main tax – income tax – plus mandatory health insurance. Everything else under the RDaH scheme is designed to be as straightforward as possible.

One of the main dangers for nannies operating as ZZP is being classified as falsely self employed, known as schijnzelfstandigheid. This happens when the working relationship formally appears independent, but in reality resembles regular employment.

Tax authorities look at several warning signs. These include working long term for a single client, having a fixed schedule, receiving direct instructions, and being treated like an employee. Additional risks arise if you do not use your own tools or cannot refuse or delegate work. All of these factors indicate a lack of independence.

The consequences can be serious. The Dutch Tax Administration may reclassify the relationship as employment, requiring the client to pay back taxes and social contributions, often with fines. The worker may lose ZZP status, tax benefits, and face issues with previously received allowances.

To reduce risks, it is important to work with multiple clients, use proper contracts, and confirm your status through official tools like the Webmodule Zelfstandigen zonder personeel. You should also clearly demonstrate independence by setting your own schedule, choosing your work methods, and taking on business risks.

popupnanny.nl

Работа домашним персоналом в Швейцарии: что важно знать

Работа домашним персоналом в Швейцарии остаётся одной из самых востребованных среди русскоязычных специалистов. В эту категорию входят няни, домработницы, maternity nanny, батлеры, водители и личные ассистенты — как с проживанием, так и без проживания.

Спрос на квалифицированный персонал стабильно высокий, однако важно понимать, что работа в Швейцарии требует официального оформления и соблюдения строгих правил как со стороны работника, так и работодателя.

Где искать работу няней или домработницей в Швейцарии

Эти ресурсы полезны как для кандидатов, так и для семей, которые планируют найм няни или домработницы в Швейцарии:

• https://www.swissnanny.org/— подробная информация о правах, обязанностях и законах (на английском языке)
• В случае если семья хочет нанимать няню без агентства, такая семья принимает на себя обязанности работодателя. В Швейцарии существует онлайн система, которая выполняет за семью все функции работодателя, предоставляет форму контракта, рассчитывает все необходимые платежи и формирует ежемесячную и ежеквартальную отчетность https://quitt.ch/
• https://rusnyanya.com/ — платформа для поиска русскоязычного домашнего персонала в Европе
• Тематические группы в Facebook где публикуются актуальные вакансии нянь, домработниц и другого домашнего персонала.

Налоги и социальные взносы в Швейцарии

При работе домашним персоналом в Швейцарии важно учитывать обязательные отчисления:

Социальные взносы (AHV/AVS):
Социальное страхование применяется с первого франка для работников старше 17 лет. Это правило распространяется на всех — включая нянь, домработниц, водителей и другой домашний персонал. Взносы составляют 10,6% и делятся поровну между работодателем и работником (по 5,3%).

Страхование от несчастных случаев:
Обязательно для всех сотрудников, включая работу няней в Швейцарии или работу домработницей. Полностью оплачивается работодателем (примерно 0,2–0,5%).

Пенсионное страхование (BVG):
Обязанность возникает, если годовой доход превышает CHF 22’050 (или CHF 1’837,50 в месяц) и трудовые отношения продолжаются более трёх месяцев. Взносы делятся между работодателем и работником.

Важно: официальное оформление работы
В Швейцарии под недекларированной работой понимается любая занятость, при которой трудовые отношения не оформлены официально. Это правило напрямую касается сферы домашнего персонала: нянь, домработниц, maternity nanny, ассистентов и других специалистов.

Такая работа может включать отсутствие письменного договора, регистрации в системе социального страхования и уплаты налогов, а для иностранцев — ещё и отсутствие разрешения на работу в Швейцарии.

Важно понимать, что работа в частном домашнем хозяйстве в Швейцарии подлежит обязательному декларированию с первого заработанного франка. Это касается всех форм занятости — с проживанием или без проживания, на полный или частичный день.

Не существует «безвредного минимума» или «работы по-дружески», которая не требовала бы оформления. Любая работа няней или домработницей в Швейцарии должна быть официально оформлена в соответствии с законом.

Hiring a nanny on your own can feel overwhelming, but having a clear process makes it much easier.

Start with the basics. Before even meeting, make sure the person can match your schedule, is comfortable with the responsibilities, and agrees with the salary. It sounds obvious, but many people go into interviews hoping to “figure it out later.” It’s better to align expectations from the start.

When you meet, focus less on the checklist and more on the connection. Do you understand each other easily? Are you on the same page when it comes to parenting? That feeling of “we get each other” matters more than you think — it’s already half the success.

Next step is introducing them to your child. This is often the most telling moment. Watch how they interact, how natural they are, and most importantly — how your child responds. Comfort and trust can’t be forced.

And finally, don’t skip the trial period. A few weeks (usually around a month) gives everyone time to adjust — both you and the nanny. It’s a chance to fine-tune expectations and build a routine that works for everyone.

Finding the right person takes time, but when it clicks, you’ll feel it.