Fifteen years ago, HBN began with a simple but powerful dream: to connect cultures, support families, and give young people the opportunity to experience life in another country through meaningful cultural exchange.
Today, as we celebrate 15 incredible years, we couldn’t be more grateful for the journey we’ve shared. What started as a small vision has grown into a trusted community of host families, au pairs, international partners, and a passionate team of seven dedicated professionals who continue to believe in the power of bringing people together.
But this milestone isn’t just about looking back—it’s also about looking forward.
Celebrating Together in Bulgaria
To celebrate this special milestone, our team came together in Bulgaria earlier this year for a few days of celebrating, exploring and, of course, plenty of team bonding.
We took the opportunity to step away from our busy day-to-day work and enjoy some quality time together as a team. From discovering the sights and soaking up the atmosphere to enjoying delicious local food and sharing plenty of laughs, it was a chance to reconnect and celebrate everything we’ve achieved together.
Trips like this remind us that HBN is not only about the connections we create between host families and au pairs — it’s also about the relationships within our own team. Getting to celebrate this milestone together made it even more special.
A New Chapter for HBN
To mark our 15th anniversary, we’re proud to introduce our brand-new HBN platform.
Designed with both host families and au pairs in mind, our new platform makes the entire journey easier, more transparent, and more connected than ever before. From creating profiles and finding the right match to managing your placement and accessing support, we’ve invested in a platform that reflects the personal, high-quality service HBN is known for.
While technology helps make the process smoother, one thing will never change: our people-first approach. Behind every match is a real team providing personal guidance, answering questions, and supporting both families and au pairs throughout their journey.
Thank You to Our Host Families
To every host family who has opened their home and their heart—thank you.
You have welcomed au pairs not simply as extra help, but as temporary family members. You’ve shared your traditions, celebrated milestones together, supported cultural exchange, and created lifelong memories that extend far beyond the Netherlands.
Your trust in HBN over the past 15 years has allowed thousands of cultural exchanges to flourish, and we are incredibly grateful to have been part of your journey.
Thank You to Our Amazing Au Pairs
To all of our wonderful au pairs—thank you for your courage, kindness, enthusiasm, and curiosity.
Moving to another country takes confidence. You embraced new cultures, learned new customs, cared for children with love and dedication, and shared your own traditions in return. You have helped children grow up with a broader understanding of the world while creating unforgettable memories for the families you joined.
Your stories continue to inspire us every day.
More Than an Agency
Over the past 15 years we’ve celebrated countless successful matches, airport arrivals, birthdays away from home, cultural discoveries, bike rides through Dutch cities, first stroopwafels, friendships that span continents, and families that continue to stay in touch long after the programme has ended.
These moments remind us that HBN is about so much more than arranging au pair placements.
We’re a community built on trust, respect, personal connections, and the belief that cultural exchange changes lives.
Looking Ahead
As we begin this exciting new chapter with our new platform, our mission remains exactly the same as it was 15 years ago: creating safe, meaningful, and rewarding experiences for both host families and au pairs.
Innovation allows us to improve the way we work, but our commitment to personal guidance, quality matching, and genuine human support will always remain at the heart of everything we do.
Whether you’ve been part of the HBN family for many years or have only just discovered us, thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey.
Here’s to the friendships we’ve built, the memories we’ve created, and the many more still to come.
Happy 15th Anniversary, HBN!
With gratitude,
The HBN Team
