How do you start earning extra money?
From profile to first job in five steps. Plus: how to make safe arrangements and which mistakes you are better off skipping.
In short
- 1Choose 2 or 3 types of job
- 2Make a profile with a photo and postcode
- 3Ask the guide price, not less
- 4Reply quickly and confirm the arrangement in writing
- 5Ask for a review afterwards
Also: safe arrangements · 5 mistakes · with children · questions
1Choose your jobs
You can start right away with these, without experience:
Groceries
€16-20 an hour
Dog walking
€10-15 per walk
Garden work
€17-25 an hour
Moving help
€15-22 an hour
Cleaning
€17-25 an hour
Babysitting
by age
Strong and sporty? Moving or gardens. Patient? Babysitting or groceries for older people. Start with two or three, not with everything. All guide prices per job
2Make your profile
Your profile is the first thing someone posting a job sees of you.
- Photo: your face, friendly, not a group photo.
- Short text: who you are, what you do and when you are available.
- Postcode: then we email you as soon as a job comes up near you.
Example
Hi, I'm Lisa (22), a student in Amsterdam. I'm happy to help with garden work, groceries and moving. Own bike, weekdays after 4 pm and at weekends.
3Set your rate
- Start at the guide price, not below it. Cheap attracts bargain hunters, and asking more later is awkward.
- Give a range: "€18-22, depending on the job".
- Not sure? On your first job, ask what the person normally pays.
4Your first job
- Reply within a day, preferably within a few hours. The person posting often picks whoever replies first.
- Ask what exactly needs doing and roughly how long it takes.
- Confirm the arrangement in one message (see below).
- Confirm the day before and arrive 5 minutes early.
- Payment: in cash or via Tikkie, afterwards.
How to put it in writing
I'll come on Saturday at 10, it takes about 2 hours, cost €50.
5Build your reputation
- Ask for a review afterwards. Most people are happy to, but forget if you say nothing.
- Did it go well? Offer to come more often. Regular clients are your base.
- Did something go wrong? Apologise, sort it out and take the lesson to the next job.
Safe arrangements
Be careful if someone…
- wants you to pay upfront
- offers unrealistically high pay
- stays vague about the job
- pressures you to say yes right away
- asks for your BSN, passport or bank details
- sends a link to "receive your money"
At your first appointment
- let someone know where you are
- preferably meet a new client during the day
- agree the amount beforehand
- agree who pays for damage (are you insured?)
- does it not feel right? You can always leave
Did it go wrong? Report the job via the menu on the job page, keep your messages, file a police report and call your bank if you have lost money or details. Not sure? Contact the Fraudehelpdesk (the Dutch fraud helpline).
5 mistakes to skip
- 1Starting too cheap: you attract bargain hunters and it is hard to get away from them.
- 2Not putting anything in writing: one message with time, duration and price prevents hassle.
- 3Taking on everything: better three times well than five times so-so.
- 4Replying too late: within a day is the minimum.
- 5Quitting after one setback: it happens to everyone; agree it differently next time.
Earning extra with children
You decide when you work, so it fits around your family:
During school hours
cleaning, groceries, garden
In the afternoon
dog walking, the children come along
In the evening
babysitting for the neighbours
Children get ill: let the person you work for know as early as possible. Extra income can lower your Dutch benefits (toeslagen); check it with the benefits trial calculation (proefberekening toeslagen).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience?
No. Groceries, dog walking, tidying a garden and moving help can all be done without experience. People posting jobs mainly look at your profile, your replies and whether you keep your appointments.
How much can I earn as a beginner?
You agree that yourself. For most jobs the guide price for help from the neighbourhood is between €15 and €25 an hour. If you work in someone's home, €16.19 an hour (from age 21) is the legal minimum.
How do I get paid?
You settle up between yourselves, in cash or via Tikkie (a Dutch payment-request app), after the job is done. KlusjeBij is not involved in the payment and charges no fees.
How do I spot a fake job?
Be careful if you have to pay upfront, if the pay is unrealistically high, if the job stays vague, if you are put under pressure or if someone asks for your BSN (Dutch citizen service number), passport or bank details.
Do I have to pay tax?
What you earn goes in your Dutch income tax return. There is no fixed tax-free amount, but on a low income the tax credits (heffingskortingen) often mean you pay little or nothing.
Feel like getting started?
Create a free profile and fill in your postcode.