Dienstencheques
The 'service voucher' or 'dienstencheque' is a means of payment, subsidised by the government, which allows a private person to pay an employee of a recognised company for household work. This household work may include cleaning (also window cleaning), laundry and ironing, clothing repair, doing groceries and preparing meals. Each service voucher is valid for one hour's work.
Starting from December 2025, the 'dienstencheques' are available to buy through "Mijn Burgerprofiel" or your banking app. Up until then, they were available through Pluxee (formerly known as Sodexo); so you may also hear them referred to as Pluxee or Sodexo cheques.
Mijn Burgerprofiel does not provide household help; it only provides payment vouchers. Many commercial companies provide household help and accept Dienstencheques as payment. The work or services performed can only be used for private needs.
The minimal order is 10 service vouchers, the maximum order is 500 service vouchers per year. The service vouchers are valid for 12 months. The first 400 vouchers cost 10 EUR each, and any above that will cost 11 EUR (the price may increase in line with the Belgian indexation).
Until 2025 there was a tax incentive for the service vouchers, making them very economically efficient, but this tax benefit was abolished as of 1 Jan 2025. Nevertheless, it remains an advantageous system.
How do I find a cleaner?
In order to find a regular cleaner you simply need to search for a cleaning service near you and ask for their availability. Some companies will have a minimum number of hours in a given timeframe (e.g. X hours per month) - so make sure you know how much help you need. Besides your favourite online search tool, you can also use this database to search for household help companies in your area.
Another common way to find help around the house is asking your network. The Facebook group "Expats in Leuven" is a great place to ask for a recommendation for example.
Be aware, unlike some countries, you are usually expected to provide your own materials for your household help to use - the company will provide you with the details.
AttentionTo find a one-time cleaner, search for a company that specializes in one-time cleanings.
Helpful Dutch Vocabulary
dienstencheque - service voucher
huishoudhulp - household help
poetshulp - cleaning help
poetsen - cleaning
strijken - ironing
maaltijden bereiden - preparing meals
boodschappen doen - grocery shopping
