Help us around our home and kids while enjoying countryside and nature in Langbroek, Netherlands

Detalles

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  Descripción

  # Experienced Horse & Dog Carer Wanted – Private Cottage in the Dutch Countryside (Minimum 6 Months)
  
  ### What We're Looking For & How You Can Help
  
  We are a friendly Dutch family of four living on a beautiful small country estate surrounded by forests, fields and nature.
  
  We are looking for an independent, responsible and hands-on person who has **genuine practical experience caring for both horses and dogs** and would enjoy spending an extended period living in the Dutch countryside.
  
  This opportunity is particularly suitable for someone studying online, writing a thesis, working remotely or pursuing a personal project, who would appreciate combining their own activities with looking after animals and helping with everyday life on our property.
  
  **Two things are essential: you must already have practical experience with both horses and dogs, and you must be available for at least six months, preferably longer.**
  
  We are not looking for someone who simply loves animals or would like to learn how to care for them. We need someone who already knows what they are doing, enjoys the daily responsibilities and can be trusted to work independently.
  
  ### Caring for Our Animals
  
  Our animals are an important part of life here. We have two ponies, two dogs and chickens, and their daily care will be your main responsibility during your agreed helping hours.
  
  **Horse care**
  
  You should already be comfortable and experienced with:
  
  - Feeding horses and understanding their daily needs.
  - Bringing them in and out of stables and fields safely.
  - Grooming and handling them confidently.
  - Mucking out stables and keeping their environment clean.
  - Recognising changes in their behaviour, health or general well-being.
  
  Practical horse-care experience is much more important to us than riding ability. However, if you are also an experienced rider, you may be welcome to ride our ponies on our land or explore the beautiful forest trails directly from our property, depending on your experience.
  
  **Dog care**
  
  We have two dogs who enjoy being outdoors and going for walks through the surrounding countryside.
  
  We need someone who is genuinely experienced and confident with dogs, including larger breeds, and who understands how to handle them responsibly.
  
  Your activities will include walking them twice a day on agreed helping days, making sure they have everything they need and giving them appropriate attention.
  
  **We expect you to be confident handling both our ponies and dogs independently, without requiring training or constant supervision.**
  
  We also have chickens that need feeding and checking, and you can enjoy collecting fresh eggs.
  
  ### Gardening & Helping Around the House
  
  Alongside caring for the animals, we would appreciate some practical help with everyday household activities.
  
  This includes:
  
  - Grocery shopping and preparing simple family dinners.
  - Keeping the kitchen and shared living areas tidy.
  - Helping with occasional light household tasks.
  - Helping in our vegetable garden, particularly during the growing season.
  
  Our vegetable garden is a lovely place to spend time outdoors. Depending on the season, you might help with planting, watering, weeding and harvesting vegetables and herbs. If gardening is something you enjoy, you're also welcome to grow some of your own vegetables.
  
  We already have a cleaner who comes twice a week, so **we are not looking for a housekeeper**. We simply appreciate someone who is practical, organised, proactive and happy to take initiative.
  
  We value someone who notices what needs doing and can manage their responsibilities without needing detailed instructions every day.
  
  ### Our Family & Occasional Responsibilities
  
  We are a family of four with two teenagers, aged 15 and 13.
  
  Our children are very independent. They cycle to school, organise their own routines and have busy lives with school, sports and friends. This is not a traditional childcare position.
  
  Occasionally, particularly during winter or bad weather, we may ask you to drive them to sports or music activities. A valid driving licence and confidence behind the wheel are therefore essential.
  
  From time to time, Mum and Dad may spend a weekend away together. On these occasions, we may ask whether you would be comfortable staying at the property, looking after the animals and being a responsible adult presence for the children. This would always be discussed and agreed in advance, with the schedule and time off arranged accordingly.
  
  ### Your Schedule & Independence
  
  We generally look for **around 4–5 hours of help per day, five days a week**, with two days off.
  
  The activities are varied and can be organised around an agreed routine, leaving you plenty of time for studying, remote work or other interests.
  
  We appreciate flexibility, but equally believe in clear expectations and respecting each other's time.
  
  You will be trusted to organise your own daily activities and take responsibility for the animals and agreed household tasks. We are not looking for someone who needs constant direction or supervision.
  
  On your days off, we take care of the animals ourselves, so you are free to explore the Netherlands, meet friends or simply relax.
  
  ### Your Own Private Cottage
  
  One of the great advantages of staying with us is that you will have **your own comfortable little house next to our family home**.
  
  Your accommodation includes:
  
  - Your own bedroom and bathroom.
  - A private living room.
  - A small kitchen.
  - Wi-Fi.
  - Plenty of privacy and independence.
  
  This makes it particularly suitable for someone who wants to study, work remotely or simply enjoy their own space.
  
  You can prepare your own meals, organise your own daily routine and enjoy your independence.
  
  We are a friendly and welcoming family, and you're very welcome to join us for dinner or other activities when it suits everyone. We normally speak English at home, so there are plenty of opportunities for conversation and cultural exchange.
  
  However, there is no expectation that we spend every evening together. We all have our own busy lives, and we respect each other's privacy.
  
  ### Enjoy Country Life in the Netherlands
  
  Our property is surrounded by beautiful countryside, with forests, fields and walking, cycling and riding trails directly accessible from our land.
  
  We have a swimming pool, plenty of outdoor space and a vegetable garden.
  
  Nearby villages offer shops and cafés, while Utrecht is a lively university city with restaurants, cultural activities, shopping and opportunities to meet people.
  
  Access to a car can be arranged, provided you have a valid driving licence and are a confident driver.
  
  This is a wonderful place for someone who enjoys nature, animals and peaceful surroundings while continuing their studies, remote work or personal interests.
  
  ### Who Would Be a Great Fit?
  
  We are only interested in applicants who meet the following requirements:
  
  - **Proven practical experience caring for horses**, including daily stable work, feeding, grooming and safe handling.
  - **Practical experience with dogs**, including confidently handling and walking larger dogs.
  - A genuine love of animals and enjoyment of outdoor activities in all seasons.
  - A mature, independent and responsible attitude.
  - The ability to take initiative and work without constant supervision.
  - Comfort with cooking, grocery shopping and light household activities.
  - A valid driving licence and confidence driving.
  - Good conversational English.
  - **Availability for a minimum of six months.**
  
  You don't need to be particularly outgoing or constantly involved in family activities. We are equally happy to welcome someone quiet and independent who enjoys their own company, provided they are friendly, reliable and communicate well.
  
  ### A Good Balance Between Helping and Independence
  
  We believe this opportunity offers a lovely balance between practical outdoor activities and independent living.
  
  Perhaps you are studying online, working on a personal project, writing your thesis or working remotely, and would enjoy taking breaks to walk the dogs through the forest or spend time with the ponies.
  
  In exchange for your agreed help, we offer comfortable private accommodation, beautiful surroundings and the opportunity to experience everyday life in the Netherlands.
  
  We hope to find someone who enjoys taking responsibility, genuinely cares about animals and appreciates having the freedom to organise their own life.
  
  **If you already have hands-on experience with both horses and dogs, enjoy country life and are looking for a peaceful, independent place to stay for six months or longer, we would love to hear from you!**
  
  When contacting us, please tell us:
  
  1. About your practical experience with horses, including the daily care and stable work you have personally undertaken.
  2. About your experience with dogs, particularly larger breeds.
  3. What you plan to do during your stay, such as studying, remote work or a personal project.
  4. When you would be available and how long you would like to stay.
  
  We look forward to hearing from you!
  
  Warm regards,
  Our Family

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Práctica de idiomas

  Enseñanza

  Jardinería básica

  Cuidado de animales

  Ayuda en una granja

  Cocinar para toda la familia

  Ayuda doméstica
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  Intereses

  

  Sostenibilidad

  

  Mascotas

  

  Agricultura

  

  Cuidado de plantas

  

  Libros

  

  Idiomas

  

  Jardinería

  

  Cocina y alimentación

  

  Animales

  

  Yoga / bienestar

  

  Naturaleza

  

  Fitness

  

  Deportes de invierno

  

  Montaña

  

  Deportes acuáticos

  

  Actividades al aire libre

  

  Deportes de aventura
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  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  We are an open minded family, fluent in Dutch, English and a bit of Spanish. We offer you a beautiful location in the countryside of Holland close to the city Utrecht. If you like the countryside, nature, quietness yet still within 30 minutes of a major city you come to the right place.

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  Proyectos con niños

  En este proyecto podría haber niños. Para obtener más información, consulta nuestras directrices y consejos aquí.

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  Ayuda

  ### What Kind of Help Are We Looking For?
  
  We are looking for an independent, responsible and hands-on person who genuinely enjoys country life and, most importantly, **already has practical experience caring for both horses and dogs**.
  
  This opportunity is particularly suitable for someone studying online, writing a thesis, working remotely or pursuing a personal project, who would enjoy combining their own activities with helping us look after our animals and country estate.
  
  **We are only interested in stays of at least six months, preferably longer.** We are looking for someone who can settle into a routine, become familiar with our animals and take responsibility for their care.
  
  ### Looking After Our Animals
  
  The main focus of your help will be caring for our two ponies, two dogs and chickens while we are at work.
  
  This includes feeding the ponies, bringing them in and out of the stables, grooming, mucking out and making sure they are healthy, comfortable and well looked after.
  
  **Previous hands-on horse experience is essential.** You should already be confident handling horses independently and familiar with their daily care. Riding experience is welcome, but practical stable experience is more important to us.
  
  If you are an experienced rider, you may also have the opportunity to ride our ponies on our land or explore the beautiful forest trails directly from our property.
  
  Our two dogs enjoy long walks through the surrounding countryside, generally twice a day. We are looking for someone who is already experienced and confident with dogs, including larger breeds, and comfortable handling them independently.
  
  We also have chickens that need feeding and checking regularly.
  
  **Please only apply if you have genuine practical experience with BOTH horses and dogs.** We are not looking for someone who would like to learn animal care from scratch.
  
  ### Gardening & Household Help
  
  We have a vegetable garden and would appreciate some help maintaining it, particularly during the growing season. Depending on the time of year, this may include watering, weeding, planting and harvesting vegetables and herbs. If you enjoy gardening, you're also welcome to grow some of your own vegetables.
  
  Alongside caring for the animals, we would appreciate help with grocery shopping, preparing simple family dinners and keeping the kitchen and shared living areas tidy.
  
  We already have a cleaner who comes twice a week, so we are not looking for a housekeeper. We simply appreciate someone who is practical, organised and proactive, and who enjoys helping with everyday activities without needing constant instructions.
  
  ### Our Family & Occasional Responsibilities
  
  We are a family of four with two teenagers, aged 15 and 13. Our children are very independent, cycle to school and organise most of their own activities. **This is not a childcare position.**
  
  Occasionally, particularly during winter or bad weather, we may ask you to drive them to sports or music activities. A valid driving licence and confidence behind the wheel are therefore essential.
  
  From time to time, we may spend a weekend away together. On these occasions, we may ask whether you would be comfortable staying at the property, looking after the animals and being a responsible adult presence for the children. This would always be discussed and agreed in advance, including any adjustments to your normal schedule and time off.
  
  ### Your Schedule & Independence
  
  We generally ask for **around 4–5 hours of help per day, five days a week**, with two days off.
  
  We can agree on a practical routine that works for everyone, taking into account your studies, remote work or other commitments. We appreciate someone who can organise their own day and take responsibility for the agreed activities independently.
  
  On your days off, we take care of the animals ourselves.
  
  You will have your own comfortable private cottage next to our family home, with a bedroom, bathroom, living room, small kitchen and Wi-Fi. This provides an excellent environment for someone who wants to study, work remotely or simply enjoy their independence.
  
  You can prepare your own meals and organise your own free time. You are also very welcome to join us for dinner whenever it suits everyone. We normally speak English at home and enjoy sharing a meal and good conversation, but there is no expectation that we spend every evening together.
  
  In your free time, you can relax by the swimming pool, explore the Netherlands, visit Utrecht, go cycling or hiking, meet friends or enjoy the beautiful countryside around our property. Access to a car can also be arranged.
  
  ### Who Would Be a Good Fit?
  
  We are looking for someone who:
  
  - **Has proven practical experience caring for horses**, including feeding, grooming, stable work and safe handling.
  - **Has practical experience with dogs**, including confidently handling and walking larger breeds.
  - Is mature, responsible, trustworthy and comfortable working independently.
  - Is proactive, organised and happy to take initiative.
  - Enjoys outdoor activities and doesn't mind getting muddy or working in all weather conditions.
  - Is comfortable cooking and helping with everyday household tasks.
  - Has a valid driving licence and is a confident driver.
  - Speaks conversational English.
  - **Can commit to a minimum stay of six months.**
  
  We value independence and reliability more than constant social interaction. You don't need to spend all your time with our family; we are equally happy to welcome someone who enjoys a quiet, independent lifestyle and has their own studies, work or personal interests.
  
  In return for your help, we offer a beautiful and peaceful place to live, comfortable private accommodation, plenty of independence and the opportunity to spend time with animals in lovely natural surroundings.
  
  **If you are experienced with both horses and dogs, enjoy practical outdoor activities and are looking for a peaceful place to live, study or work remotely for at least six months, we'd love to hear from you!**
  
  When contacting us, please tell us about your practical experience with horses and dogs, what you plan to do during your stay and how long you would like to come for.
  
  Warm regards,
  Our Family

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas hablados
  Inglés: Fluido
  Español: Intermedio
  Francés: Intermedio

  Este anfitrión ofrece intercambio de idiomas
  Interested to learn more Spanish and French
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  Alojamiento

  Your own private apartment, in the Dutch countryside of Utrecht, with bathroom, washing area and all the privacy you need!

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  Algo más...

  Sports, hiking, horseriding, travelling, relaxing, tranquility

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  Un poco más de información

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    Acceso a Internet

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    Acceso a Internet limitado

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    Tenemos animales

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    Somos fumadores

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    Puede alojar familias

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  Puede acoger a nómadas digitales

  Este anfitrión ha indicado que le encanta acoger a nómadas digitales.

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Uno

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  Mis animales / mascotas

  12 chickens (3 meses)

  Chickens

  Trigger (10 meses)

  Maremma

  Bullet (1 año)

  Belgian Shepherd

  Blacky (15 años)

  Irish Tinker

  Ukkie (13 años)

  Irish Tinker

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