Pet sitting in Amsterdam: 22 questions answered for 2026 sitters

Earnings depend on the mix of services and the hours you put in. Active Petme sitters in Amsterdam typically earn €516–€946 per month. Sitters who lean into overnight boarding and house sitting reach the top of that range, while drop-in and dog-walking-only sitters sit in the lower half. You keep up to 90% of every booking: Petme's service fee is 10-15%.

A common pattern: 3–5 dog walks during weekday lunchtimes, 1–2 drop-in visits in the evenings, and one overnight stay across the weekend. That's roughly 12–15 hours of actual paid time per week and clears €123+ before factoring in repeat clients. Sitters who go full-time stack multiple boarding stays back-to-back.

Dog walking pays €15–€22 per walk on Petme. A 30-minute neighbourhood walk is typically priced near the lower end; longer walks, multi-dog walks, or walks in busy city centres command the upper end. You set your own rate when you build your profile.

Boarding at the sitter's home pays €30–€50 per night, and house sitting (you stay at the owner's home) pays €35–€55 per night. Boarding is where most full-time Petme sitters concentrate their income because the per-booking value is the highest.

Petme takes 10-15% from each completed booking and the sitter keeps up to 90%. There's no signup cost, no monthly subscription, and no charge to keep your profile live. The fee covers payment processing, customer support, and the Petme Protection Plan that covers every booking automatically.

Payouts are released automatically once a booking is marked complete in the Petme app. The money lands in your bank account within 2 business days. You don't need to invoice the owner or chase payment: the platform handles it end-to-end.

Every booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan, which includes up to 20,000 in veterinary expenses if something happens to the pet in your care. It's automatic on every reservation: no separate purchase, no claim paperwork upfront. Petme also offers 24/7 customer support so you're never left handling an emergency alone.

No formal qualifications are required to apply as a Petme sitter. You need to be 18 or older, own a smartphone capable of running the app, complete ID verification, and demonstrate genuine experience around animals during your profile review. Some local rules apply for commercial-scale boarding: see the country-specific question below.

Most new sitters in Amsterdam go live within 24–48 hours of submitting verification. Your first booking typically lands within 1–2 weeks if your profile has at least 4 good photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions, and a competitive rate for your city. Sitters who add availability over a major holiday (Christmas, summer break) often book their first stay within days.

Yes: most Petme sitters in Amsterdam start while working full-time elsewhere. Dog walking fits into lunchtime windows; drop-in visits work around evenings; weekend boarding stacks on top of a Monday-to-Friday office job. You set your own availability and accept only the bookings that fit your schedule.

On Petme, walks pay €15 to €22 per walk, drop-in visits €14 to €22 per visit, and overnight boarding at your home €30 to €50 per night. House sitting at the owner's home runs up to €55 per night. Active sitters in Amsterdam clear €516 to €946 per month.

In Amsterdam, demand concentrates in Centrum, De Pijp, and Jordaan. Sitters who register there typically book their first stay within 1 to 2 weeks. Neighborhoods with younger families and apartment dwellers generate mostly walks and drop-in visits; outer-city single-family-home areas generate more boarding and house sitting.

For regular income, yes. You register with the KvK in Amsterdam (online form, about 30 minutes) and receive a BTW number. The Belastingdienst is notified automatically. Newcomers benefit from zelfstandigenaftrek (€3,750) and startersaftrek for the first three years.

Amsterdam sits at €30 to €50 per night for boarding at your home. An apartment with balcony or garden lands at the upper end; a small studio without outdoor space at the lower end. House sitting at the owner's home pays more: €35 to €55 per night.

Mid-July to end of August (zomervakantie) is the biggest block. Christmas and New Year form the second peak. February voorjaarsvakantie and late-April meivakantie give smaller but reliable spikes. Rates typically run 10 to 15% higher during these peaks.

Petme connects you automatically with local requests once your profile is approved (24 to 48 hours). A profile with 4 or more photos, a written bio, clear service descriptions, and a competitive rate typically books its first stay within 1 to 2 weeks. In Amsterdam it helps to open availability for meivakantie or zomer in advance.

Couriers in Amsterdam clear €9 to €12 per hour after bike maintenance and weather. Petme pet sitting clears €13 to €22 per hour effectively, with no rain-on-the-bike component. Boarding pushes the per-hour rate higher.

Labradors, cockapoos, whippets, and dachshunds dominate bookings. Whippets need warm blankets in the Dutch winter, doodles need more brushing than owners admit, and dachshunds need to avoid stairs. The Amsterdam city mix of small apartment-friendly breeds is usually the easiest first booking.

The Netherlands does not have a national permit for occasional home boarding. Some municipalities (including Amsterdam) have rules around commercial activity in rental apartments or VvE complexes. Check your rental contract or building rules before scaling up overnight boarding.

Every confirmed booking is covered by the Petme Protection Plan with up to €20,000 in vet expenses. Automatic, free, on every booking. A personal liability insurance is still recommended for property damage outside the plan.

Petme keeps 10 to 15% service fee on every completed booking; you keep up to 90%. On top, sitter cashback is credited automatically to your Petme wallet on every booked service. Active sitters net 3 to 5% extra effective income via cashback.

Sign up at petme.social/nl/become-a-pet-sitter. The form is in Dutch and English. Verification typically returns within 48 hours and your profile goes live in Amsterdam right after.