By Anja Martin

Imagine it is midnight on a Saturday night at Amsterdam’s Centraal Station. The last train to Appeldoorn, your home abroad, has just left. It happened to me more than once and, even if the moment was bad, I would not trade it for anything. Because I never felt unsafe.

I was an au pair in the Netherlands in 2023 and it was the best year of my life.

On 29 December 2022 I landed at Schipol Airport in a wet, cold Amsterdam – dead tired, unfamiliar and unsure. The family, with one nine-year-old boy, with whom I would be staying, welcomed met with a sign with my name on it. In Appeldoorn, about an hour from Amsterdam, they tried to console me with a big cup of hot tea … because I was tired, tearful and far from home!.

After five months in Apeldoorn, I moved to another family – a young South African family with a two-year-old little girl. I packed my life back into three suitcases and on a Saturday afternoon in June they came to pick me up, to the beautiful university city Utrecht.

The year in the Netherlands was full of excitement, laughter, crying and forming friendships that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was a year of adventures, crises, life lessons and growing up.

My best memories focus on experiences – not always highlights, but always unforgettable moments.

Barely a month after my arrival, my friend and I were at Best’s station after the last train left. Thanks to Über, we were able to get home safely (at a price!).

Our first ‘foreign’ breakaway was to Belgium in February. I will always remember this visit when I hear Nicki Minaj’s “Starships”, because in a karaoke bar in Antwerpen that is what we sang!

In March I saw and experienced snow for the first time. It was probably the coldest that I have ever been in my whole life, but I lay on the ground in a park and made a snow angel!

On a visit to Amsterdam in April, we visited the Vondelpark, a huge public park (47 ha), and the Bloemenmarkt, the only floating flower mark in the world. A visit to the Efteling Theme Park with its fantasy theme and five million visitors annually, was a wonderful experience.

On 27 April, King’s Day, the birthday of the Dutch king, was celebrated. On this day it is time for the oranjegekte – the streets and people are decorated in orange, the Dutch national colour. What an experience to be part of this big birthday party!

A year-long visit to the Netherlands is not complete without photos in a field of tulips. In May we went frolicking in the tulip fields at Lisse. Many a weekend in the course of the year have ended with sandwiches, cold meats and cheese, while admiring the sunset at Zandfoort.

In June my parents came to visit. For my birthday, we went to A’dam Lookout in Amsterdam where my friend and I swung together on the highest swing in Europe, Over the Edge. The swing is on the top floor, 100 m high, and while you swing you can see the whole of Amsterdam.

The following month we had a bit of South Africa in the Netherlands again when we went to see Spoegwolf in Amsterdam.

My favourite month was August, because then it was time for a little holiday. We saw seven countries in two weeks – Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. It is one of the privileges of au pair in the Netherlands, you can explore!

In September, we explored Giethoorn, the Dutch Venice, on boats on an au pair day of the agency. Later that month I with my guest family to France by car, where they went to watch a World Cup rugby match in Paris.

World Cup fever continued into October. In the bar Coco’s Outback in Amsterdam I saw more South Africans together than I have seen in a long time!

In November my friend and I went to Paris together, a dream of mine when I was a little girl. Seeing the Effeil Tower’s lights flicker and taking photos in front of the Louvre’s pyramids, is a feeling that I will never be able to describe!

Our last big trip was to see the American group, The 502’s. in The Hague. I did not want the night to end!

On 23 December I boarded the airplane again, this time to return to South Africa. With excitement and sadness in my heart I was ready to start a new chapter of my life.

I miss the Netherlands and wish that I could return to feel cold once or twice again at a train station. I miss the family I stayed with and their daughter that found a way deep into my heart.

Although I have more appreciation for home and for South Africa, my decision to go au pair was the best that I could have made.

Tips: 

• Work through an agency, the agency I used was The Au Pair.
• Do not let fear for the unknown hold you back.
• The house is only one call away, and you will get used to being away.
• Even if you experience difficult days just remember, many have been through it, you will too.
• Save from the beginning of the year for your holiday.
• See as many places as you can.
• Enjoy every moment and experience – good or bad! 

Share your experience

Are you currently working as an au pair abroad? Maybe you took a gap year and worked as an au pair. Share your experience with us.