An English-speaking dog walker in The Hague and Wassenaar: what expats should know
For expats and international families in Wassenaar, Benoordenhout and Marlot: what to check before you hand over your dog and your key, which local rules apply, and how booking with us in English works.
Can you find a dog walker in The Hague who speaks English?
Yes. We are Dominic and Evika, a dog walking and home boarding couple in Wassenaar, and we work in English every day: the meet-and-greet, the WhatsApp messages and the update after every walk. We moved to the Netherlands ourselves, so we know what it's like to arrange dog care in a country where the rules sit on the council website in Dutch.
The big pet-sitting platforms also list walkers in The Hague who speak English. So checking the language is the easy part. It still matters, because you'll make agreements with your walker that you both need to understand in exactly the same way:
- When your dog may go off-leash, and when not, for example while their recall is still a work in progress.
- Health and medication: an allergy, a stiff hip, or a dog who must not eat anything off the ground.
- Your key and your home: which door, the alarm, other pets inside.
- The update after the walk: it's only useful if you can read every word of it.
What should expats check before hiring a dog walker in the Netherlands?
Check seven things: the language, a meet-and-greet first, who actually walks your dog, how your key is kept, insurance, registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK), and whether your address is in the walker's area. The table shows why each one matters in the Netherlands, and how we handle it.
| What to check | Why it matters | How we do it |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Agreements about off-leash time, health and your key must be clear to both of you. | Everything in English, from the first WhatsApp message to the update after each walk. |
| A meet-and-greet first | Your dog meets the walker before the first walk, and you see how they handle your dog. | Always a free meet-and-greet first: we come to meet you and your dog. |
| Who turns up | On platforms and at larger services, the person walking your dog can change. | Only Dominic or Evika walks your dog. No other walkers work for us. |
| Your key | A key with an address tag, or no clear agreement, is a risk. | We arrange this with you at the meet-and-greet. Most owners give us a spare key, which we keep safe and never label with your address. A key safe works too. You get the key back whenever you stop. |
| Insurance | If your dog causes damage, Dutch law holds the keeper liable. | Business liability insurance with Centraal Beheer, including the dogs in our care. |
| KvK registration | A registered business can be looked up and held to account. | LuckyPaw VOF, KvK 42139601. |
| Area and pick-up | Prices often assume a fixed area; outside it, terms can differ. | Pick-up and drop-off within Wassenaar are included; for other areas we agree the details at the meet-and-greet. |
Want the full list? How to choose a dog walker has twelve questions for the meet-and-greet, plus the red flags. For the key itself, see Giving a dog walker your house key.
Which Dutch dog rules should your walker know?
Every Dutch municipality sets its own dog rules in its local bylaw (the APV), so Wassenaar and The Hague differ. Both require a leash in (almost) all of the built-up area except designated off-leash areas, both require you to clean up and carry a bag or scoop, and both ban dogs from children's playgrounds. A good local walker knows these by heart.
| Rule | Wassenaar | The Hague (Den Haag) |
|---|---|---|
| Leash | Always on a leash inside the built-up area, except in designated off-leash areas | On a leash in almost the entire city, except in designated off-leash areas |
| Clean-up | Always, including in off-leash areas; you must carry something to clean up with | Everywhere in the city, including off-leash areas and the beach; bag, scoop or similar required |
| No dogs | Playgrounds and sandpits, the Prinsessetuin in Park De Paauw, Persijnhof cemetery, Landgoed De Horsten | Children's playgrounds and play and sunbathing lawns (speel- en ligweiden) |
| Off-leash dogs per person | In several off-leash areas, such as Park De Paauw, a maximum of four off-leash dogs per person | See the off-leash map on denhaag.nl |
| Dog tax | Yes; you register your dog yourself through BSGR | Abolished from 1 January 2024 |
Sources: the municipal websites of Wassenaar and The Hague, and The Hague's official municipal gazette. Voorschoten and Leidschendam-Voorburg have their own rules; check your municipality's website.
Where your dog can run free in Wassenaar is in our Off-Leash Dog Areas guide. Just arrived? Microchip registration, the paperwork to bring your dog into the country and the amount of Wassenaar's dog tax are all in Moving to Wassenaar With a Dog, so we won't repeat them here.
Which parts of The Hague and Wassenaar do we cover?
We walk dogs in Wassenaar, The Hague (Benoordenhout and Marlot), Voorschoten, Leidschendam, Voorburg and Valkenburg. Within Wassenaar, pick-up and drop-off are included in the price. If you live in one of the other areas, we agree pick-up at the meet-and-greet.
| Town | Neighbourhoods | Pick-up and drop-off |
|---|---|---|
| Wassenaar | Oostdorp, Maaldrift, Rijksdorp, De Kieviet, Kievietsduin, Oud Wassenaar | Included in the price |
| The Hague | Benoordenhout, Marlot | Agreed at the meet-and-greet |
| Voorschoten | — | Agreed at the meet-and-greet |
| Leidschendam and Voorburg | — | Agreed at the meet-and-greet |
| Valkenburg | — | Agreed at the meet-and-greet |
More on walks near you: dog walker in Benoordenhout and Marlot, Voorschoten and Leidschendam-Voorburg.
How do you book an English-speaking dog walker with us?
Send a WhatsApp to 06 11696237 or fill in the form on our private walks page, in English. We then plan a free meet-and-greet. Only once it feels right for you, your dog and us do you book a single walk or a plan.
- 1Get in touch through the form or WhatsApp. Tell us a little about your dog and when you need help.
- 2Free meet-and-greet. We come over, get to know your dog, and you ask us anything.
- 3Agree the details: days, times, the route, when your dog may go off-leash, and how the key works.
- 4Book: a single private walk costs €20 (30 minutes) or €26 (60 minutes). On a plan you pay from €17.30 per walk. You don't need a plan.
- 5After every walk you get photos and a short update: how it went, and anything we noticed.
We work seven days a week: Monday 08:00–22:00, Tuesday to Saturday 07:00–22:00 and Sunday 08:00–22:00. For what walkers charge in general, see How much does a dog walker cost?
Private walks are one-on-one, 30 or 60 minutes, always with Dominic or Evika.
See private walks →Flying home for the holidays? Your dog can board with us in our own home in Wassenaar, with a fully fenced garden and no more than two guest dogs at a time.
Frequently asked questions about English-speaking dog walkers
Yes. The meet-and-greet, the agreements about your dog and your key, the WhatsApp messages and the update after every walk can all be in English. We moved to the Netherlands ourselves and work in English every day.
No. The Hague repealed its dog tax ordinance with effect from 1 January 2024. Wassenaar does charge dog tax; there you register your dog yourself through BSGR. Other municipalities set their own rules.
In The Hague, in almost the entire city except designated off-leash areas. In Wassenaar, inside the built-up area, again except off-leash areas. In both, you must always clean up and carry something to clean up with.
Yes, Benoordenhout and Marlot are part of our service area. Pick-up and drop-off within Wassenaar are included in the price; for The Hague, we agree pick-up at the free meet-and-greet.
A single private walk costs €20 for 30 minutes or €26 for 60 minutes. On a plan you pay from €17.30 per walk. You can also book single walks without a plan.
Sources
Every source below was opened and read for this article on 26 September 2026:
- Municipality of The Hague — rules for walking dogs and clearing up dog waste (Dutch)
- Municipal Gazette of The Hague 2023, 558715 — repeal of the Dog Tax Ordinance 2021 (Dutch)
- Municipality of Wassenaar — dog policy (Dutch)
- Municipality of Wassenaar — dog tax (Dutch)
- Dutch Civil Code, Book 6, Article 179 (wetten.overheid.nl, Dutch)
- Consumentenbond — pets and your home contents insurance (Dutch)
- LICG (Dutch pet information centre) — off-leash or on the leash (Dutch)
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Meet us first, in English
Book a free meet-and-greet with the form on our private walks page or send a WhatsApp to 06 11696237. We come over, get to know your dog, and agree the days, times, route and key with you.
Book a free meet-and-greet