We are a responsible, tidy and proactive Dutch couple (40 & 42), happy to look after your place and animals as if they were our own.
A bit about us: We are both quite handy, creative, social and outdoorsy. Tom had his own successful business making sustainable products from local wood. Hiljanne develops activities and exhibitions for science museums. We love hiking, cycling and campervan life. And although we don’t have our own, we grew up surrounded by pets (cats, dogs, rats, guinea pigs, lizards) and have enjoyed looking after them while housesitting in the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia over the last few years.
While the Netherlands is still our base, we have lived in New Zealand for a few years and have taken a few long trips around Europe and Oceania. In 2018 we explored Eastern Europe in our campervan. In 2021 we returned to New Zealand to walk Te Araroa, a through hike from the top till the bottom of the country. In the summer of 2022 we swapped our hiking boots for push bikes and cycled around NZ. After that we travelled through South and Western Australia with a car and rooftop tent.
Housesitting is a great way for us to ‘slow travel’ and explore places while making ourselves useful by taking care of your house, garden and pets. We have housesitting experience in the Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia, and are happy to provide references.
Currently we are back in the Netherland for a few months to visit family and friends, before hitting the road again and starting our next adventure.
REVIEWS:
These two stars took great care of our home in Utrecht. Tom did us a great favour by putting a compostbin together from scrap wood. Upon our return our house was neat and clean and they left us some yummy homemade granola as a present. And not unimportant: Toms & Hils are very nice people, with humour and great communication skills. Highly recommended.
Karen & Lot
The Netherlands – Utrecht , Aug 2023 – 2 weeks – no pets
We were very happy with Tom & Hiljanne as our housesitters the past few weeks. Because of them our dear pets got the love and care they deserve in our absence. They left our house very nice and clean after their stay, so we felt very welcome when we came back home. Because of good communicatie with them – up front and during their stay – expectation were were very clear om both sides. We were also very happy with period update pics of our pets. Tom & Hiljanne are welcome any time for more housesitting.
Couldn’t more highly recommend Tom and Hils, they are so delightful! Respectful of our home, beautiful sitters for our dog, and so easy to communicate with. We would love to have them housesit for us again in the future
Monique
Australia – Perth, Jul 2023 – 8 days – 1 dog; Source: Aussie House Sitters
Tom & Hiljanne were awesome house guests. I was away in a no reception zone and they were able to take care of everything with a breeze. Thanks again you two!
Riley
Australia – Adelaide, Mar 2023 – 4 days – 1 dog; Source: Aussie House Sitters
Tom and Hiljanne were excellent house-sitters. They looked after our dog, birds and garden with attention to detail and left the house very clean and tidy. They were extremely good communicators and kept us up to date with texts and photos of our dog. They are respectful and absolutely trustworthy and we are happy to recommend them for other housesits.
Wendy
Australia – Adelaide, Mar 2023 – 3 days – 1 dog, birds; Source: Aussie House Sitters
I can not fault Tom and Hiljanne. After a quick meet and greet we headed off and left our house and our 2 cats in their capable hands. We arrived home to a house that was Spick and span, some baking and other bits and bobs. These crazy guys are biking up and down NZ so if you come upon them then 100% I recommend giving them a roof and a bed for a night or so, Lovely people who I look forward to keeping in touch with how their adventures are going. Thanks team, bike safe
Anijka
New Zealand – Tauranga, Dec 2022 – 6 days – 2 cats; Source: Kiwi House Sitters
Tom and Hils were absolutely incredible. Not only did they look after our property and two cats, they handled a couple of problems that came up with no hassle. We came home to an immaculately clean house. They even had washed and cleaned my car and left some homemade treats for us. It has been a pleasure getting know them and they are very welcome at our house anytime. Cheers Hugh
Hugh
New Zealand – Queenstown, Apr 2022 – 7 weeks – 2 cats; Source: Kiwi House Sitters
