Household staff for families in the Netherlands, selected in Spain
Amsterdam, Wassenaar and The Hague
Live-in housekeepers, Spanish-speaking nannies and domestic couples for families in Oud-Zuid and the Gooi, the Wassenaar estates and the diplomatic quarters of The Hague. We explain why a live-in role is regular employment rather than the home-services scheme, and which permits non-EU staff need.
- Placement agency licensed by the SNE, no. 1300000318
- 4.8 · 79 Google reviews
- One-off fee · 6-month guarantee
Why families in the Netherlands hire live-in staff through a Spanish agency
The Netherlands has one of the most efficient markets in Europe for hourly domestic help, thanks to a tax scheme that makes it easy for a household to pay someone for a day or two a week. What it does not have is a tradition of live-in staff: a housekeeper who lives in the house, runs it six days a week and cooks for the family is rare, and the families who want one, expatriate executives in Amsterdam, diplomats and international-court staff in The Hague, owners of estates in Wassenaar, find few candidates locally.
Most of the families who contact us from the Netherlands have lived in Spain or Latin America, or have a Spanish partner, and they want to keep Spanish at home. Our placement in The Hague was exactly that: an international family that wanted a live-in housekeeper who spoke Spanish to the children and English to everyone else. The other searches we have opened there were for nannies and for a couple for a Wassenaar house with grounds.
For an EU candidate the move is free, and the Dutch rules are unusually well documented: the family becomes a regular employer with payroll, because the simplified home-services scheme stops at three days a week. For a non-EU candidate the Netherlands is strict: a work permit or single permit with a labour-market test, which a household role rarely passes. We say that in the first call.
Amsterdam, Wassenaar and The Hague
The capital's southern districts and the Gooi, an estate town by the dunes, and the seat of government and the international courts.
Amsterdam
Oud-Zuid, the Museumkwartier and the Apollolaan villas, plus the Gooi towns of Laren and Blaricum where families with more space live. Amsterdam households ask for a live-in housekeeper for a canal house or villa and a nanny for children in the international schools; English is the working language.
Wassenaar
Estates and villas among the dunes between The Hague and Leiden, home to diplomats, executives and old Dutch families, with the American School nearby. The request is a couple living in a staff house, keeping the property and grounds and driving, or a housekeeper and nanny for a large family.
The Hague
Benoordenhout, Statenkwartier and the Archipelbuurt, where the embassies, the international courts and the Shell headquarters draw families from everywhere. Our Dutch placement was here: a Spanish-speaking live-in housekeeper for an international family; nannies are the other frequent request.
The profiles Dutch and international families ask us for
Housekeepers and nannies for Amsterdam and The Hague; a couple for the Wassenaar estates.
Live-in housekeeper
Runs a canal house or villa, laundry and cooking; English for the household, often Spanish with the children.
Spanish-speaking nanny
For families of the international courts, embassies and companies with children in the international schools; first aid and happy on a bike.
Domestic couple
For Wassenaar and Gooi estates with a staff house: housekeeper and houseman-driver keeping the property.
House manager
For families with several homes across Europe who base themselves in Amsterdam or The Hague and need staff, suppliers and travel coordinated.
Permits and rules for household staff in the Netherlands
The Netherlands applies EU free movement and requires a work permit or single permit from non-EU staff. Its distinctive point is the home-services scheme, which does not apply to a live-in role.
EU/EEA/Swiss candidates: no work permit
Employees who are nationals of an EEA country or Switzerland do not need a work permit to work in the Netherlands. The candidate registers with the municipality (BRP) on arrival and receives a citizen service number (BSN), which the family needs to run payroll and which she needs for health insurance, compulsory within four months.
Non-EU candidates: TWV or single permit, with a labour-market test
A third-country national needs a work permit (TWV) issued by the UWV for work of up to 90 days, or a single permit (GVVA) issued by the IND for longer stays, which combines residence and work. The employer applies for the TWV; either employer or employee can apply for the GVVA. For a household role the UWV examines whether the vacancy could be filled from the Dutch or EEA labour market, and household work is not one of the exempt categories such as highly skilled migrants, so a Filipino candidate resident in Spain has a difficult route. Her Spanish permit does not transfer.
Regular employment, not the home-services scheme, and minimum wage
The Regeling dienstverlening aan huis lets a private individual employ someone for household work up to three days a week without withholding wage tax or social premiums. A live-in housekeeper works more than that, so the family is a regular employer: payroll, wage tax, employee insurance and holiday allowance. The statutory minimum wage is €14.71 gross per hour from 1 January 2026 for employees aged 21 and over, adjusted every 1 January and 1 July, and the contract states board, lodging and rest days.
Who employs, and under which law
The employer is the family, in the country where the home is. We are a placement agency: we select and present, we are neither the employer nor a temp agency, so the Posting of Workers Directive (written for companies) does not apply. The contract is governed by the law of the place where the work is habitually done, even if the parties choose another (Rome I Regulation, art. 8).
Social security: the destination country's
The general rule of Regulation (EC) 883/2004 (art. 11(3)(a)) is to contribute where you work. The exception is a temporary posting (art. 12): a family resident in Spain that takes an employee already hired here may keep her in the Spanish system for up to 24 months with the A1 certificate issued by the TGSS, if the conditions are met. Otherwise the registration is done in the destination country.
Data protection when sending profiles
Profiles travel with the candidate's informed consent. Within the EEA there is no international transfer; to Switzerland, the UK and Andorra there is, covered by a European Commission adequacy decision (GDPR arts. 44-45). Monaco has no adequacy decision: we rely on appropriate safeguards or the explicit consent of art. 49.
Checked on 12 September 2026 against business.gov.nl (work permit for employees), rijksoverheid.nl (2026 minimum wage), belastingdienst.nl (Regeling dienstverlening aan huis), EUR-Lex and the European Commission adequacy list.
What you need to know before starting, not legal advice: each case is confirmed by the family with its adviser or the country's authorities. We keep these notes reviewed and tell you what we have checked and where.
Languages, currency and cost of living
Dutch; English spoken everywhere and the working language of the households we serve
Dutch is not expected of a live-in housekeeper; families want Spanish or English with the children.
Euro (EUR)
No exchange risk on the salary or on our fee.
Amsterdam among the most expensive cities in Europe for housing
Live-in accommodation in Oud-Zuid or Wassenaar is a large part of the package and is stated in the contract.
Payroll with wage tax and employee insurance; compulsory health insurance
A live-in role exceeds the three-day home-services scheme, so full payroll applies.
From €14.71 gross per hour (statutory minimum wage, January 2026)
Legal floor for employees aged 21 and over. Live-in staff for the families we serve in Amsterdam, Wassenaar and The Hague earn above it; the market range is agreed case by case and we give it to you with the quote.
Figure pending confirmation from an official sourceStatutory minimum hourly wage from 1 January 2026 per rijksoverheid.nl; adjusted every six months.
A Dutch placement, step by step
For an EU candidate the Netherlands is a short flight and a well-documented payroll; we make sure the family knows from the start that a live-in role is regular employment.
Brief and status check
We confirm the candidate must hold an EU passport in practice, and define the role: live-in hours, rest days, the language of the house and whether a couple or a single housekeeper fits the property.
Selection in Spain
Interviews in Madrid or by video, references called, working English checked, and an honest conversation about Dutch weather, cycling and a household that runs on schedules.
Video interviews and trial
From your client portal; families in Amsterdam and The Hague often meet the finalist on a trip to Spain or bring her for a two-day trial.
Contract, payroll and move
Dutch employment contract at or above the minimum wage, BRP registration and BSN on arrival, payroll set up by the family or its accountant, health insurance within four months, and a start date around the notice period in Spain.
One-off fee and a 6-month guarantee, outside Spain too
You pay nothing during the search. Only once you take the person on and you're happy do you pay a single fee: the equivalent of one month of the agreed salary, plus VAT where applicable depending on where the job is. No subscriptions or lock-in.
One-off fee: one month's salary (+ VAT where applicable)
A single payment, only once you take the person on. We confirm the exact amount upfront, in euros or in your country's currency.
6-month guarantee
Replacement at no cost if the person isn't the right fit, and a 50% refund of the fee if you're not satisfied during the first month.
Relocation and trial
The family covers the relocation trip; before that you can interview by video and, if you travel to Spain or the candidate to your city, run a two-day trial.
Hiring household staff in the Netherlands from Spain
No. EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a work permit. She registers with the municipality on arrival, receives a BSN and takes out Dutch health insurance within four months.
Only with a TWV or single permit, and the UWV tests whether the role could be filled from the Dutch or EEA labour market; household work is not an exempt category. Her Spanish permit does not transfer. We are frank that this route rarely succeeds.
No. The Regeling dienstverlening aan huis applies to household help up to three days a week. A live-in role exceeds it, so the family is a regular employer with payroll, wage tax, employee insurance and holiday allowance.
€14.71 gross per hour from 1 January 2026 for employees aged 21 and over, adjusted every January and July. Live-in staff for the families we serve are paid above it.
Yes, it is our most frequent Dutch request after housekeepers: families of the international courts, embassies and companies who want Spanish kept at home. We present nannies with first aid and references we have called.
NanniesFor an EU candidate, first profiles in days and a start date usually four to six weeks after your decision, allowing for the notice period in Spain and the move. Payroll setup by the family's accountant runs in parallel.
Pages families in the Netherlands also read
Looking for live-in staff for a home in the Netherlands?
Tell us the city, the role and the date. We answer with what the rules allow, the salary floor and the first profiles.