How Much Does a Babysitter Cost?

Wondering what a babysitter costs in the Netherlands in 2026? Whether you’re hiring a teenager for the occasional evening or looking for a professional nanny, rates vary widely depending on age, experience, and responsibilities. In this guide you’ll find average hourly rates, real-world examples, and tips for setting a fair and reasonable babysitting rate.

According to internal Sitly data, the average hourly rate for a babysitter in 2026 is €10.10. This figure typically applies to teenagers and students providing informal childcare. That said, rates can vary considerably, from less than €6.00 to more than €12.00 per hour, depending on age, experience, and the tasks involved.

What is the average babysitting rate in 2026?

The type of babysitter you hire makes a big difference:

• A professional nanny will generally charge a higher rate.
• A 16-year-old student doing the occasional evening of babysitting will often ask for significantly less.

According to Nibud (National Institute for Family Finance Information), babysitters aged 15 to 18 earn on average between €4.41 and €7.36 per hour, based on the minimum youth wage. You are not legally required to pay this minimum wage for occasional babysitting, but it does provide a useful reference point for what is considered reasonable.

As of 1 January 2026, the following minimum hourly wages apply in the Netherlands:

Babysitter’s age	Minimum hourly wage
15 years	€4.41
16 years	€5.07
17 years	€5.81
18 years	€7.36
19 years	€8.83
20 years	€11.77
21 years and older	€14.71

Babysitting rate for a 15-year-old

Many parents choose a 15-year-old babysitter when they want to go out for the occasional evening or need a few hours of extra help. Rates for babysitters of this age tend to be a little lower than for older sitters. This is because younger babysitters often have less work experience and usually carry out simpler tasks, such as keeping an eye on children while they sleep or playing with them after school.

According to the minimum youth wage, the minimum hourly rate for a 15-year-old in 2026 is around €4.41 per hour. In practice, many 15-year-old babysitters charge slightly more, particularly if they already have babysitting experience or are responsible for more than one child. Generally, the babysitting rate for a 15-year-old tends to fall between €4.50 and €6.00 per hour. Rates can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the region, the number of children, and the tasks expected. If a babysitter is also helping with light household tasks or preparing dinner, a slightly higher rate may be reasonable.

What does an 18-year-old babysitter cost?

An 18-year-old babysitter is an adult and often has plenty of experience with childcare. At this age, many babysitters are fully independent and capable of taking responsibility in more complex situations, such as looking after several children at once, helping with homework, or handling unexpected circumstances.

As of 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum hourly wage for an 18-year-old is €7.36 per hour. You are not legally required to pay this minimum wage for occasional babysitting, but it does provide a useful reference point for what is considered reasonable.

In practice, rates for an 18-year-old babysitter are often slightly higher. On average, 18-year-old babysitters charge between €7.50 and €11.00 per hour. This can vary depending on the situation. If the babysitter is caring for multiple children, preparing meals, or is responsible for a longer period of time, the hourly rate may be higher. Rates also tend to be higher in larger cities such as Amsterdam or Utrecht than in smaller towns.

Hourly rate or fixed fee: what is standard?

Most babysitters are paid by the hour, particularly for occasional or flexible childcare. This is the fairest way to align payment with time and effort.

That said, there are situations where a fixed amount per session is agreed, for example for a regular weekly evening, when the children are already in bed and little active care is needed.

Things to consider when choosing between an hourly rate and a fixed fee:

• An hourly rate is fairer for flexible arrangements: if hours vary, tasks may change, or you need last-minute childcare. You pay exactly for the time the babysitter is present, including unexpected situations or extra work.
• A fixed fee works well for regular arrangements: for example, every Saturday evening from 7pm to 11pm. When expectations are clear and both parties know in advance what is involved, this is often simpler for both administration and budgeting.

What to consider when agreeing a fixed babysitting rate

If you agree on a fixed amount per babysitting session, it’s important to be clear upfront about what is included. Think about:

• The number of children being cared for
• Whether any household tasks are involved
• Any travel time or transport costs

Make sure the fixed amount doesn’t end up too low if the work takes more time or effort than expected. Even with a fixed rate, you can choose to give a small bonus or additional payment if the babysitter carries out unexpected tasks or stays longer than planned.

Example: A babysitter agrees a fixed fee of €40.00 for a 5-hour evening where the children are already asleep and there are no extra tasks. If she needs to arrive earlier, stay later, or prepare dinner, it’s reasonable to agree an additional hourly rate or adjust the total accordingly.

How experience and training affect babysitting rates

A babysitter’s knowledge and experience have a significant impact on how much they earn and what they feel is reasonable to charge. It’s not just about age:

• A 20-year-old student with a qualification in childcare or early years education will naturally charge a higher rate than a first-time babysitter.
• But a 15-year-old with plenty of babysitting experience is also perfectly entitled to charge more than the minimum wage.

Generally speaking, the more experience or qualifications a babysitter has, the higher the expected hourly rate. As a parent, it comes down to a personal choice:

• Are you happy to hire someone with little experience, and would you rather pay a lower rate while they learn?
• Or do you place a high value on experience and reliability, and are you willing to pay more for that?

There’s no right or wrong answer. What matters is that you both arrive at a rate that feels fair for everyone involved. Want a guideline to help you work out a suitable babysitting rate? Take a look at the infographic below.

Use the Sitly calculator to see babysitting rates in your area straight away. Enter your location, the tasks involved, and the number of children, and you’ll instantly see the average rate.

A babysitter’s hourly rate depends not only on age and experience, but also on the tasks you expect them to carry out.

What exactly does your babysitter do?

If you ask your babysitter to take on extra responsibilities, it’s only fair that a higher rate reflects that.

For example:

• Are they looking after more than one child at a time? A higher rate is reasonable.
• Does your child need a lot of attention or specific care? That also justifies a higher amount.

Babysitting babies vs. older children

The age of your children plays a big role in determining a fair rate. Looking after a baby or toddler is intensive and requires constant attention. The babysitter needs to stay alert and actively engaged the whole time. This justifies a higher hourly rate.

With children of around six and older, care is often less intensive. They can feed themselves, use the bathroom independently, and keep themselves entertained for a while. This reduces the workload for the babysitter, which can also be reflected in the rate. In short: the younger and more dependent the children are, the more care is needed — and the higher the babysitting rate can reasonably be.

Household tasks and light cleaning

If you’d like your babysitter to help with household chores on top of childcare, it’s only fair to pay them a higher rate.

Examples of tasks that justify extra pay:

• Hoovering the living room
• Loading or unloading the dishwasher
• Folding laundry
• Washing up
• Preparing dinner

Bear in mind that a cleaner in the Netherlands earns on average between €14 and €16 per hour. So if your babysitter is also helping around the house, it’s perfectly reasonable to pay extra for that.

Evening babysitting vs. daytime babysitting

Do you only need someone for the evening hours, or does your babysitter need to pick the children up from school and look after them for the whole afternoon? The babysitting rate may differ depending on this. During the day, babysitters are generally more actively involved with the children. In the evening, the children go to bed and there is usually less work involved.

That said, there can be big differences when it comes to evening babysitting:

• The children are already in bed and sleep through the night — the babysitter is present but not very active. In this case, many parents and babysitters opt for a slightly lower rate than when active care is needed. The babysitter is always responsible though, even when the children are asleep.
• The babysitter still needs to put the children to bed — think of giving dinner, bath time, reading a story, and tucking them in. This requires active involvement and justifies a higher rate.
• The children wake up frequently during the night — if you know in advance that the children regularly wake up and the babysitter needs to stay alert, a higher rate is fair and logical.

It’s a good idea to discuss these kinds of expectations clearly in advance, so you can agree on a rate that truly reflects what is being asked.

Also agree on how you’ll handle getting home safely at night. Will you give the babysitter a lift home? Will you cover a taxi? Your babysitter’s safety is a shared responsibility.

Last-minute or on-call babysitters

Do you unexpectedly need a babysitter? That flexibility comes at a price. Asking your babysitter at short notice, especially during the day or on a tight timeline, may mean they have to cancel other plans or rearrange their day. Especially if they’re a student, that requires real flexibility.

In these situations, it’s respectful to offer a slightly higher hourly rate. Quick availability is convenient for you, and it deserves fair recognition.

Babysitting rates by region

As you’ve seen in the examples above, babysitters in Amsterdam tend to earn more than those in Emmen:

• Amsterdam: average €11.15 per hour
• Emmen: average €9.70 per hour

That’s a difference of almost €1.50 per hour for comparable work.

Similarly, the average hourly rate for a babysitter in Rotterdam is around €0.95 higher than in Zwolle. Where you live definitely has an impact on how much you pay a babysitter.

Map of hourly babysitting rates in the largest cities

Data based on the hourly rates set by babysitters registered on Sitly in the Netherlands.

Babysitting rates: large cities vs. smaller towns

Babysitting rates in the Netherlands vary not only by region, but also significantly between large cities and rural areas. Based on the hourly rates babysitters list on their own Sitly profiles, the table below shows the average by age.

Average hourly rates: Top 15 cities vs. the rest of the Netherlands

Babysitter’s age	Large cities (Top 15)	Smaller towns / rural areas
14 years	~ €4.50	~ €4.20
15 years	~ €5.40	~ €5.10
16 years	~ €6.00	~ €5.50
17 years	~ €6.40	~ €5.80
18 years	~ €7.20	~ €6.50
19 years	~ €8.50	~ €7.00
20 years	~ €10.00	~ €8.50
21 years and older / experienced babysitter	~ €11–13+	~ €9.00–11

Source: These figures are based on the average hourly rates listed by babysitters aged 16 to 21 on their Sitly profiles.

The average difference between large cities and smaller towns is currently around €1.50 to €2.00 per hour — an amount that can add up significantly if you need regular childcare.

What does a registered childminder cost?

If you’re looking for regular daytime childcare and like the idea of your child being looked after outside your own home, a registered childminder is a good option.

To be eligible for childcare benefit, the childminder must meet a number of legal requirements:

• Be registered with an approved childminder agency
• Have completed at least an MBO level 2 qualification
• Provide care at a location that meets official safety standards

If your childminder meets these requirements, you may be able to apply for childcare benefit. Please note: you must apply within 3 months of the month in which care began.

So, what do you pay a babysitter?

There’s no fixed amount that applies to every situation. The right hourly rate depends on a number of factors, such as:

• The babysitter’s age, experience, and any certificates they hold
• The number of children and their ages
• Whether any additional tasks are expected, such as cooking or light household chores
• Whether care takes place during the day or in the evening
• Your location or region
• And of course: your own budget

Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance between fair pay for the babysitter and affordable, reliable care for your family. The most important thing is open communication. Talk through expectations, responsibilities, and the rate together. That way, you’ll reach an agreement that feels right for both parties.