Free au pair weekly schedule templates for host families

Creating a weekly schedule is one of the most important things you can do as an au pair host family. It sets expectations, prevents misunderstandings, and helps you stay within the Dutch 30-hour weekly limit. But where do you start?

We've put together practical schedule templates for different family situations. Use them as a starting point and adjust to your own routine.

Build your own weekly schedule

Download a blank weekly schedule

Download the free au pair weekly schedule (CSV). A Dutch version (CSV) is available too. No account is required.

Open or import it in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets. If prompted, choose UTF-8 and a comma separator. The file includes all seven days, with fields for start and end time, task, hours, the person providing backup and full days off. Fill in your own arrangements and copy a day row for each additional time block.

Add up the hours yourself: the CSV has no formulas or automatic checks. Check a maximum of 8 hours a day, 30 hours a week and at least two full days off. Name who carries out duties alongside the au pair. Review the completed version with your agency and both sign the final daily schedule. Read what the IND requires in the schedule and share the guide to your signed daily schedule with your au pair.

Why a fixed schedule matters

Without a clear schedule, hours tend to creep up. A quick "can you also do the laundry?" here, an extra school pickup there, and suddenly you're at 35 hours. A written schedule prevents this by making the workload visible and concrete.

A good schedule also helps your au pair settle in. They know when they're working and when they're free, which makes it easier to plan language courses, meet other au pairs, or simply relax.

Template 1: Family with school-age children (ages 6-12)

This schedule works well when children are at school during the day. Tasks cluster around school runs and after-school hours.

Weekly total: 23 hours, with Saturday and Sunday completely free. The 30-hour limit is a maximum, not an entitlement to unplanned extra hours. Discuss changes beforehand, update the schedule together and keep at least two full days off while respecting the daily and weekly hour limits.

This split-shift pattern gives the au pair free time during school hours for language classes or personal activities. Wednesday is intentionally a longer block, since many Dutch schools end early on Wednesdays.

Template 2: Family with a toddler (ages 1-3)

Families with young children need longer continuous blocks of childcare. This schedule focuses on mornings and early afternoons.

Weekly total: 28 hours, with two full days off on the weekend.

Notice that the au pair's day ends after the toddler goes down for a nap. This gives clear boundaries and avoids the trap of "well, they're sleeping anyway, can you also do X?"

Balancing childcare and household tasks

Dutch au pair regulations allow both childcare and light household tasks. Childcare is the primary duty; household work should be light and secondary. There is no official split prescribed, but keep it realistic. An au pair is not a professional cleaner.

Reasonable household tasks include:

• Children's laundry and tidying their rooms
• Light cleaning of common areas
• Cooking simple meals
• Grocery shopping from a list
• Loading and unloading the dishwasher

Tasks that should not be assigned: deep cleaning, garden maintenance, ironing for the entire family, or anything requiring professional skills. Document these boundaries clearly in your house rules, so everyone knows what is and isn't expected.

Tips for making your schedule work

1. Share it in writing: a shared document or app is better than a verbal agreement. Both sides can refer back to it.
2. Review it monthly: schedules that worked in September may not work in January. Seasons, school holidays, and your au pair's own activities change.
3. Track actual hours: compare planned vs. actual hours weekly. If they consistently differ, update the schedule.
4. Mark flex time: designate 1-2 hours per week as "flexible" for things that come up unexpectedly. This way it's already accounted for.
5. Include it in your documentation: a weekly schedule helps keep the week predictable and organized. Having one ready also saves time when your agency asks for it.

Export and share your schedule

With Opairly, you build your weekly schedule directly in the calendar and export it as a PDF or Excel file, formatted and ready for agency submissions or your own records. The export includes a signature section for both the au pair and host parents, which official documentation often requires. Try it free →

Final thoughts

Start with one of these templates, adjust it to your life, and revisit it regularly. When everyone knows what to expect, staying under the 30 hours takes little effort. Want to know what an au pair costs in total? See our breakdown of all au pair costs.

Sources

• IND. Background article: au pairs
• IND. Au pair awareness declaration (PDF)

Related articles

• How many hours can an au pair work in the Netherlands?
• Au pair leave and holiday rights in the Netherlands
• First week with your au pair: a practical checklist
• How much does an au pair cost in the Netherlands?
• Au pair rules in the Netherlands: a complete overview