Dog Boarding and Daycare in Wassenaar and The Hague: Options, Prices and a Checklist

The five kinds of dog care at a glance

A dog hotel (hondenhotel) isn't a separate category, by the way. It's a marketing name for a (usually more upmarket) kennel, and it usually costs more. Torn between a kennel, a sitter and home boarding? Our blog post Kennel, pet sitter or home boarding? compares them in depth on atmosphere, cost and certainty.

What does dog boarding really cost? Watch the extras

The nightly rate is rarely the whole story. These are the extra costs we came across most often:

• School holiday and high-season surcharge: usually €2–5 extra a day.
• Arrival and departure days both charged: a Friday-to-Sunday weekend can cost three days.
• Afternoon or Sunday pick-up sometimes costs extra.
• Medication, your own food, or a female in heat: sometimes a daily surcharge.
• Deposit: often 30–50% when you book.
• Minimum stay in school holidays: often one week.
• Cancellation fees: 50–100% if you cancel within two to four weeks of the stay.
• Platform service fees: some pet-sitting platforms add about 15% on top of the sitter's price.

So always ask for the total price for your dates.

Which option suits your dog?

• Young, social dog and you work during the day? Daycare or a dog walker. Dogs shouldn't be home alone for long stretches every day. See How long can a dog stay home alone?
• Senior, anxious or shy dog? Choose a calm setting with few other dogs: a house sitter, or home boarding where only one family's dogs stay at a time.
• Two dogs from the same family? Ask about a second-dog discount. It's common, often 20%.
• Dog on medication or a special diet? Ask how it's handled, and whether it costs extra.
• Puppy? Providers only accept fully vaccinated puppies, and some daycares only from about 16 weeks.

What should a good dog boarding provider meet?

Professional kennels and daycares in the Netherlands fall under the Animal Keepers Decree (Besluit houders van dieren). According to the explanatory notes, it applies at least to anyone who cares for more than 20 dogs or cats in 12 months. Such a provider must, among other things:

• be registered with the Dutch government (RVO), with its own registration number (UBN);
• have a manager with a recognised animal-care qualification (vakbekwaamheidsbewijs);
• give dogs time outside their enclosure every day.

The Dutch animal welfare society (Dierenbescherming) and the Sophia-Vereeniging both advise visiting first. When you do, look at:

• Where do the dogs sleep, play and rest?
• Is there supervision, and a quiet place to retreat to?
• How often and for how long do dogs go outside?
• Is a trial day or trial night possible?
• Which vet is called in an emergency?
• How is hygiene handled?

Vaccinations and requirements

Almost every provider asks for:

• Core vaccination (distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis) and the yearly leptospirosis shot.
• Kennel cough vaccination, usually at least two weeks before the stay (sometimes three).
• Deworming and flea treatment shortly before arrival.

You'll also often see:

• Intact males accepted only by arrangement, or up to a certain age.
• Females in heat not accepted for that period.
• Check that your personal liability insurance (AVP) covers your dog.

When should you book? Dutch school holidays 2026–2027

Wassenaar and The Hague fall in region Midden (all municipalities in South Holland). These are the dates when dog care fills up fastest:

Our rules of thumb:

• For regular school holidays, book at least one to two months ahead.
• For Christmas, ideally book in September or October.
• For summer, the earlier the better. Many kennels are full for July and early August months in advance.

Checklist: 10 questions to ask any provider

1. 1How many dogs are there at once, and who's there at night?
2. 2Can I visit first, and is there a trial day or night?
3. 3What's the total price for my dates, including surcharges?
4. 4Which vaccinations are required, and how far in advance?
5. 5What happens if my dog gets sick? Which vet, and when will I be called?
6. 6How often will I get updates, and how (photos, videos, WhatsApp)?
7. 7Can my dog bring their own food, medication and bed?
8. 8How often and where do you walk? Off-leash or on the leash?
9. 9What are the cancellation terms?
10. 10Are you registered, and does the manager hold a recognised qualification?

How boarding and daycare work at LuckyPaw

We're Dom and Evika. We look after dogs in our own home in Wassenaar, a house with a fully fenced garden.

• One family at a time, a maximum of two guest dogs. Your dog is never one of many.
• Lucky lives here too. Lucky is our young Labrador, so your dog needs to get along with another dog. We check that first.
• Daily updates on WhatsApp, with photos and videos. We speak English.
• Boarding: €35 a night. A second dog from the same family gets 20% off, and stays of seven nights or more get 10% off.
• Daycare: €24 a day, including walks and pick-up and drop-off in Wassenaar. There are also 5- and 10-day passes.
• No surcharge for weekends or public holidays.
• Free meet & greet before you book anything.

Frequently asked questions