I amsterdam - Volunteering

 The benefits of volunteering are many, here are just a few:

• You can get satisfaction from helping a good cause and, at the same time, build up your confidence.
• Volunteering can be a chance to improve your Dutch or give you time to learn Dutch.
• It can help you gain insight into the Dutch work culture.
• It can help you acquire new skills or keep your existing skills up to date.
• Volunteering can offer an opportunity to meet people.
• It can be a positive career move, helping you to gain work references, fill gaps in your CV and/or build up work experience. For some, volunteering may even be a direct route to paid employment.

Compensation & Information
Vrijwilligerscentrale Amsterdam (VCA) is the city's main centre for volunteer work in Amsterdam, providing administration, advice, and support for volunteers and voluntary organisations. They have two offices: one in the Centre and one in Nieuw West (New West). Both locations offer a vrijwilligersbank (vacancy bank), handle placements, and offer advice and information on regulations and rights. For example, volunteers are allowed up to €20 a week in compensation, €735 per year. Those receiving benefits under Werkloosheidsuitkering (WW) unemployment due to job loss have to ask special permission from the CWI in order to volunteer while they are conducting their mandatory job searches.

• Main Office & Vacancy Bank
  Hartenstraat 16
  1016 CB Amsterdam
  Tel: 020 530 1220
  amsterdam@vwca.nl
  Openingtimes: Workdays 09.00 – 17.00
  Thursdays 09:00 – 20:00 
• Nieuw West
  Osdorp, Slotervaart, Geuzenveld/Slotermeer
  Jan Tooropstraat 6a
  Tel: 020 408 1040
  vacaturebank@zonnet.nl
  Opening Times: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 13.00 - 17.00

Vacancies
Aside from the VCA, vacatures (vacancies) for vrijwilliger (volunteer) positions at goede doelen (charity) organisations can often be found at institutions such as religious institutions, social communities, charities and non-profit organisations. A few good websites that often post English-language vacancies (both paid and volunteer) in the non-profit sectors are:

One World (NGO's, non-profits)
Fondsen.org (charities & NGO's)
Alle Goede Doelen (mainly in Dutch, but does list most of the charities in the Netherlands)

Organisations
Here are some organisations that can use volunteer help:

NOWHERE
Madurastraat 90
1094 GS Amsterdam
Tel: 020 463 6912
www.nowhere.nl

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH (Milieudefensie)
It is a national organisation with a hundred local groups. Founded in 1971, it has approximately 85,000 members and contributors. A separate, affiliated youth organisation (JMA) has several thousand partners. Its national campaigns concentrate on issues related to the nature of the Netherlands: legal protection of green and open spaces, rules to curb the use of cars and help implement car-free city centres and better public transport. Recycling, saving energy, ecological issues and sustainable energy are ongoing themes. In a 'low' country like the Netherlands, campaigns for climate change are especially important.

Secretariat Box 19199
1000 GD Amsterdam
Tel: 020 622 1369
www.foei.org

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEDERLAND
Keizergracht 177
1016 DR Amsterdam
Tel: 020 626 4436
www.amnesty.nl

DUTCH COUNCIL FOR REFUGEES
Jacques Veltmanstraat 463
1065 DZ Amsterdam
Tel: 020 346 7200
webmaster@vluchtelingenwerk.nl

GREENPEACE NEDERLAND
Otto Heldringstraat 5
1066 AZ Amsterdam
Tel: 020 718 2000
www.greenpeace.com

For more information on working and/or volunteering, or to become a volunteer for ACCESS, please contact

ACCESS
Tel: 020 423 32 17
info@access-nl.org
www.access-nl.org

ACCESS is a non-profit organisation established in 1986 to bridge the gap between the international community and English-speaking services available in the Netherlands. They supply free information from an extensive database, offer publications, courses, events, a professional counselling referral service and run a free helpline.

Updated 25 July 2007