Discover Amsterdam
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Live, Work and Study
Live, work and study
Discover Amsterdam
Meetings and Conventions
Business
Live, Work and Study
Family picking fruit at Fruittuin van West
Image from Amie Galbraith

Voluntary work in the Amsterdam Area

Whether you’re looking for a new challenge, want to develop your skills or learn more about local culture, volunteering in the Amsterdam Area is a great way to make it happen. You can actively engage with your local community while giving something back. If you’re interested in making a difference and are an English or non-Dutch speaker, this is the guide for you.

Volunteer in the Amsterdam Area

Volunteering can be a great way to pursue your passions and interests. If you like football, for instance, you could help out at a sports association. Culture fans might enjoy getting involved with a museum or festival, while outdoorsy types could consider working with nature and animals. Helping young people, assisting the disabled and guiding newcomers to Amsterdam as they find their way in the city are also popular options. Last but not least, if you like urban design and are conscious of the world around you, you might consider environment-oriented volunteering that helps build a more sustainable and green Amsterdam and the region.

Amsterdam’s VCA volunteer centre

The VCA (Vrijwilligerscentrale Amsterdam)is the main hub for volunteer work in the city, providing administration, advice and support for non-Dutch speakers and voluntary organisations. Volunteers can access over 2,000 different volunteering opportunitiesvia the online vrijwilligersbank (vacancy listings). If you visit in person, you can ask for an English-speaking advisor who will assist you with any questions regarding placements, regulations and rights. You will be matched with an interesting vacancy based on your skills and interests. Via their website you can also search specifically for roles in English or with 'just a little Dutch' – look for the filters 'Gewenste taal' (preferred language) and 'Taalniveau' (language level). Delve in deeper on the VCA's website.

And of course you can find other volunteer centres in the Amsterdam Area, such as Haarlem voor Elkaar and VMCA in Almere (in Dutch).

ACCESS

ACCESS is a non-profit organisation that lists English-speaking services for the international community, including news of events, courses and a helpdesk at IN Amsterdam. It has 35 years of history helping internationals all over the Netherlands to adjust to local life. ACCESS helps with relocating, housing, counselling, healthcare and much more. 

Amsterdam Cares

Amsterdam Cares is an Amsterdam-based branch specialising in flexible voluntary work which is part of NL Cares. Make a social impact by volunteering in an organization where you can try different types of volunteering work thanks to a managed calendar. Volunteers can choose from over 400 activities such as working with the elderly, doing social work for people with disabilities, educating children, participating in climate and sustainability movements such as city cleanup and gardening, and much more.

Voedselbank Amsterdam

Help this food bank make a major difference to households throughout the region. You will be one of 12,000 volunteers at the Voedselbank, lending your talents and strength in one of the many available roles, from packaging, driving and logistics management, to sourcing food, doing seecretarial work, lawyering, hosting, social media and much more. Please note that at the moment the website is only available in Dutch.

Deedmob

Deedmob is an Amsterdam-based startup that connects volunteers and charities across a wide range of causes such as helping the enviroment, tackling health issues, reducing poverty and homelessness, assisting refugees, working with disabilities, educating youth and helping animals in need. Discover over 3,000 opportunities that will make a difference in someone's life.

Business Involved

Business Involved has a mission to help companies and employees to volunteer together and donate their time to worthy causes. However, individuals can also apply to various opportunities. Coordinators, facilitators, designers and other professionals are all welcome here.

City of Amsterdam

City of Amsterdam offers volunteer opportunities for City projects and work with refugees, as well as links to other organisations that require volunteers.