Gastouderbureau De Pluktuin
Childminding agency•Zeist•LRK 218745114
Details updated on 24 September 2026
About this childminding agency
Gastouderbureau De Pluktuin is a recognized mediation agency for childminder care (gastouderopvang) in Zeist and the surrounding area. We guide parents in finding suitable childminder care, looking not only at availability but above all at what suits the child and the family. Our childminders (gastouders) offer small-scale care in a homely environment with one consistent caregiver, providing overview, personal attention, and a trusted foundation.
As an agency, we support parents step by step, from the initial introductory meeting to the start of care and beyond. We work with childminders in Zeist, Bunnik, De Bilt, Bilthoven and Odijk, and ensure a careful match between parental wishes and childminder profiles. All childminders are registered in the National Childcare Register (Landelijk Register Kinderopvang) and meet the statutory quality requirements.
De Pluktuin stands for personal guidance with calm, attention and genuine connection at its core. Owner Sietske Bunge guides parents and childminders in an equal manner, with commitment and experience. We handle the administration, ensure clear contracts and remain involved throughout the care period.
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For parents
When you're looking for childcare for your child, a lot comes at you. You want a place where your child feels safe and where there is attention for who they are. At the same time, you want to be able to go to work with peace of mind. We guide parents in finding suitable childminder care in Zeist and the surrounding area.
We listen to your wishes and look together at what is needed for a good start. Childminder care takes place in a homely environment where a childminder looks after a small group of children and aligns with each child's rhythm. We always start with a no-obligation conversation, after which we search for a childminder who fits your family.
Subsidy & costs
For childminder care through De Pluktuin, you can apply for childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) from the Tax Authority. All childminders are affiliated with this recognized childminder agency and meet the legal requirements for benefit. For 2026, a maximum hourly rate of €8.49 applies for which childcare benefit can be claimed.
The amount of the benefit depends on your assessed income and the number of children attending care. For a second child, the benefit percentage is sometimes higher than for the first child, especially with a higher income. The agency costs of De Pluktuin also count towards the childcare benefit.
We advise parents to consult the current childcare benefit table and calculation tool from the Tax Authority for a precise calculation. Our agency costs for 2026 are: first child €39.80 fixed per month plus €0.68 per invoiced hour, second child €39.80 fixed plus €0.25 per hour, third and subsequent children €39.80 fixed with no additional hourly costs.
The costs of childminder care through De Pluktuin consist of three components: the childminder's hourly rate, the agency costs of De Pluktuin, and the childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag). Childminders are self-employed and set their own hourly rate, which in 2026 generally ranges between €7.45 and €11.50 per hour.
The exact rate varies per childminder and depends on experience, qualifications, location, and the nature of the care. During mediation, we always discuss which rate applies for a specific childminder. Because every situation is different, we are happy to work with you to make a personal cost calculation based on the hourly rate, number of care hours, agency costs, and the childcare benefit that applies to you.
Trust & screening
Childminders affiliated with De Pluktuin must meet legal requirements and are carefully selected. Owner Sietske Bunge only works with childminders with whom she would feel comfortable leaving her own children. Childminders are expected to document their vision and working methods in a pedagogical work plan, for which De Pluktuin provides a basic document.
Selection criteria include: ability to make genuine connections with children (empathy, sensitivity, positive attitude), mindful action and ability to explain pedagogical choices, daily outdoor play with children, and ensuring sufficient physical activity appropriate to age. Childminders must communicate respectfully with children, speak at eye level, and provide clarity and predictability.
All childminders of De Pluktuin are registered in the National Childcare Register (LRKP: 218745114) and meet the legal quality requirements. The agency is registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK: 76860914) and works according to an established pedagogical policy plan.
For quality assurance, we carry out annual risk assessments at care locations, which are transparent to parents. Childminders hold valid first aid certificates for children and complete at least 7 hours of continuing education per year. Additionally, they receive at least 3 hours of pedagogical coaching per year.
In case of complaints or dissatisfaction, we first seek a solution together. If we cannot resolve the matter, we are affiliated with the Childcare Disputes Committee. De Pluktuin is rated excellently by parents on Google.
Next steps
Childminder care through De Pluktuin follows clear steps. From first contact to administration and guidance during care: everything is arranged carefully, clearly, and properly.
- Introductory conversation: We start with a no-obligation conversation (by phone or at your home) to discuss your wishes and explain how childminder care works in practice.
- Childminder search: After the conversation, we search for a childminder who fits your family.
- Introduction at childminder's home: When a suitable childminder has been found, we schedule an introductory meeting at the childminder's home with the agency present.
- Match decision: The next day, we discuss with both parties whether there is a match. If there is a match, we ensure care can start.
- Contracts and arrangements: Before the start, contracts are drawn up and practical arrangements are made about meals, sleeping, drop-off and pick-up.
- Guidance at start: Approximately one month after starting, we get in touch to hear how things are going, and we remain involved thereafter.
Highlights
Support services
- Mediation
- Contract management
- Invoicing
- Benefit advice
- Pedagogical coaching
- Replacement arrangement
- Risk assessment
- Annual evaluation
Service area cities
Mission & vision
De Pluktuin is a metaphor for a childminder agency (gastouderbureau) where children can grow and flourish into who they are. This is only possible when there is a solid foundation: a caring childminder (gastouder) who sees and understands your child, and responds to what they need, in a safe, warm environment. As a parent, you too need to feel a connection with the childminder, after all, your child is in her care for a large part of the day.
We believe that care is only truly good when there is calm, attention, and genuine connection. Childminders need to be grounded and do what they themselves believe in, which benefits the quality of care and ensures a varied offering for parents. For childminders too, there needs to be a solid foundation if they are to continue developing and enjoying their work.
Pedagogical vision
De Pluktuin gives childminders freedom in their pedagogical vision and parenting style, so they can work from their own conviction—whether that's an anthroposophical vision, Christian values, the Gordon method, natural parenting, or positive parenting. However, there are clear conditions: childminders must be able to make genuine connections with children, which requires empathy, sensitivity, and a positive attitude.
Our childminders communicate respectfully with children, speak at eye level, listen to what children have to say, and provide clarity and predictability. This contributes to a pedagogical climate in which children feel safe and can thrive.
Three additional principles are mindful action, daily outdoor play, and sufficient physical activity. Childminders think consciously about their choices and can explain why they do something. They go outside with children every day and ensure sufficient movement appropriate to the age.
Linked childminders
GGD Inspection
Violations
Inspection date: April 9, 2026
Strengths
- Clear pedagogical vision with four educational objectives that are available and discussable for all childminders
- Childminders receive at least 16 hours of guidance and mediation per year, including intake, evaluations, peer consultation meetings, and professional development opportunities
- Active recruitment for the parent committee and alternative parent consultation on policy changes
- Risk assessments for safety and health are up-to-date and accessible to parents via the parent portal
- Good accessibility and transparent information provision to parents about costs, policy, and inspection reports
Violations
- Pedagogical policy plan: missing concrete description of the number of children cared for by the childminder and the ages of those children, including own children up to 10 years (resolved on 9 April 2026)
- Reporting code domestic violence and child abuse: missing concrete allocation of responsibilities per childminder and insufficient assurance that childminders can independently apply the reporting code (resolved on 9 April 2026)
Summary
The annual investigation by GGD region Utrecht into childminder agency De Pluktuin in Zeist shows a predominantly positive picture. The agency, active since 2017 with 10 affiliated childminders, is compliant in all investigated areas, although twice only after a recovery offer. The inspection took place on 9 April 2026. Strong points are the clear pedagogical vision, the good guidance of childminders with at least 16 hours per year, and the active recruitment for the parent committee. Two violations were identified that have both been resolved: the pedagogical policy plan lacked a concrete description of group composition including own children up to 10 years, and the reporting code for domestic violence and child abuse lacked a concrete allocation of responsibilities per childminder. Both shortcomings were resolved within one week. The GGD advises no enforcement action.
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