Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht
Childminding agency•Westerkwartier•LRK 144498224
Details updated on 11 September 2026
About this childminding agency
Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht is a small-scale, personal agency that has been facilitating childminder (gastouder) care in the north of the Netherlands for over 10 years. Based in Zuidhorn, the agency provides placement services between parents and qualified childminders for daycare (0-4 years), after-school care (BSO) (4-12 years), and evening and weekend care. The agency is characterised by personal guidance, short lines of communication, and transparency. All staff members are trained in pedagogy and are parents themselves, which fosters understanding and practical support. The agency only works with registered childminders who meet statutory quality requirements and hold first aid certificates and Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) declarations. Parents can count on careful matching, administrative support, and access to childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag).
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For parents
Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht matches requesting parents with qualified childminders (gastouders) for flexible, small-scale childcare. The bureau handles all administrative hassle, including the cashier function required for childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag). Parents receive personal guidance in finding a suitable childminder, with a careful matching process that begins with a no-obligation orientation conversation. The bureau works with a convenient online registration system (Portabase) for hour registration and invoicing. All childminders are registered in the National Childcare Register and meet statutory quality requirements.
Subsidy & costs
Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht is a recognized bureau, which means parents may be eligible for childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag) from the Tax Authority. The total hourly rate (childminder hourly wage plus bureau costs) fully qualifies for benefit, provided both the bureau and the childminder are registered in the National Childcare Register. The bureau provides the legally required cashier function and handles all administration. Parents can make a trial calculation via the Tax Authority website to see how much benefit they may potentially receive. The amount of benefit depends on family income and the number of care hours.
The total costs for childminder care consist of two components: the childminder's hourly wage (averaging €6.00 - €8.00 per hour) plus the bureau costs. The bureau costs are €1.05 per hour for the first child. For each second and subsequent child, you pay €31.50 per month, regardless of the number of hours. The bureau works with a min/max system: minimum €40.00 and maximum €94.50 per month for the first child. With more hours, the effective hourly rate therefore becomes lower. Parents can negotiate the hourly rate with the childminder and agree whether meals are included or paid separately. The bureau provides customized quotes on request.
Trust & screening
All childminders at Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht are carefully screened and must meet statutory quality requirements. Childminders hold at minimum an MBO2 diploma with a pedagogical component, a valid first aid certificate for children, and are included in the Childcare Personnel Register. All adult household members and regular visitors to the care location are also screened via the Personnel Register and must be able to present a valid Certificate of Conduct (VOG). The care location is assessed annually by the bureau for safety and hygiene, and prior to commencement also by the GGD. Childminders receive annual training on the reporting code for child abuse and domestic violence.
Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht is a recognized and registered bureau (number 144498224 in the National Childcare Register) and only works with registered childminders. The bureau is inspected annually by the GGD (municipal health service) and inspection reports are publicly available. The bureau is affiliated with the Childcare Disputes Committee for independent complaint handling and has an active parent committee affiliated with BOink. In addition, the bureau is a member of the Childcare Branch Organization and collaborates with Zorg voor Jeugd Groningen for referral to experts regarding developmental questions. The bureau has a reporting code for child abuse and domestic violence and follows strict protocols for safety and hygiene.
Next steps
The matching process at Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht takes place in several steps:
- Parent registers without obligation and free of charge by email or phone
- An orientation conversation follows by phone
- An appointment is made for a home visit by a childminder consultant (gastouderconsulent)
- The consultant inventories your questions and wishes together with you
- The bureau searches for a suitable childminder
- An introductory meeting follows with the consultant and the identified childminder
- If necessary, an alternative childminder is sought
- If there is a click, settling-in days (wendagen) are arranged to try out whether the care is a good fit
- If satisfied, a linking conversation follows for substantive agreements
- Contracts are signed with a one-month trial period
Highlights
- Personal guidance
- Small scale
- GGD approved
- Online administration
- Flexible care
- Childcare benefit (kinderopvangtoeslag)
- Parent committee
- Disputes committee
Support services
- Matching guidance
- Administrative support
- Cashier function
- Portabase system
- Intake home visit
- Trial month arrangement
- Settling-in days (wendagen) available
Service area cities
Mission & vision
Gastouderbureau Noorderlicht strives to provide high-quality childminder care (gastouderopvang) with children at the heart of everything they do. The bureau believes in small-scale, personal contact, where all children, parents, and childminders (gastouders) know each other personally. The staff, parents themselves, understand better than anyone what it's like to bring your child to childcare. The most important starting point when inspecting care locations is the question: 'Would I feel comfortable bringing my own child here?' The bureau dedicates itself wholeheartedly to guiding children to the right place, supporting parents and childminders, and watching children develop into confident, well-grounded individuals.
Linked childminders
GGD Inspection
All good
Inspection date: June 18, 2026
Strengths
- The pedagogical policy is being actively developed with involvement from parents and childminders
- All childminders, household members, and regular visitors hold valid Certificate of Conduct (VOG) declarations and are registered in the persons register
- Well exceeds the minimum supervision requirement of 16 hours per childminder per year, with regular home visits (at least twice yearly) and various themed evenings and training courses
- Clear complaints procedure that meets all legal requirements and is easily accessible to parents
- Contracts and invoices clearly specify the breakdown between operational costs and childminder fees
Summary
Childminder agency (gastouderbureau) Noorderlicht in Zuidhorn was inspected by GGD Groningen on 18 June 2026. The small-scale agency places children with 32 childminders across the three northern provinces. The annual inspection found that the agency meets all assessed legal requirements in the areas of pedagogical policy, staffing, and parental rights. No violations were identified and no recovery offer was made. The agency has a new pedagogical policy in development with active involvement from parents and childminders. The parent committee currently has one member who is stepping down; recruitment for new members is underway and alternative parent consultation is being applied. The advice to the municipality of Westerkwartier is: no enforcement.
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