Voluntary work in the Amsterdam Area

Volunteer opportunities in the Amsterdam Area

Volunteering can be an enjoyable way to engage with new people while pursuing your passions and interests. Get involved in community gardening and neighbourhood clean-ups, work with the elderly or those with chronic illness, help walk a dog once a week or spend an afternoon stocking a local food bank. Browse and bookmark these organisations below.

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.

If you visit in person, you can ask for an English-speaking advisor to assist you with any questions regarding placements, regulations and rights. You will be matched with a vacancy relevant to your skills and interests. Via VCA's website you can also search specifically for roles in English or that require just basic Dutch – look for the filters Gewenste taal (‘preferred language’) and Taalniveau (‘language level’).

Other volunteer centres in the Amsterdam Area are Haarlem voor Elkaar and VMCA in Almere (websites in Dutch).

Help ACCESS help newcomers feel at home

For 35 years, the non-profit organisation ACCESS has supported internationals all over the Netherlands in adjusting to local life. They offer a list of English-speaking services for the international community plus a helpdesk at IN Amsterdam. Join their team of 140 volunteers representing over 40 different nationalities to help newcomers access the information they need to feel at home.

Flexible voluntary work via Amsterdam Cares

The mission of Amsterdam Cares is to build a better and more social Amsterdam collaboratively. Part of NL Cares, the organisation specialises in flexible voluntary work, so you can make an impact without a long-term commitment. Via an online calendar, volunteers can choose from over 400 activities, such as cooking for the homeless, walking in the park with the elderly and participating in sustainability activities, such as city clean-ups.

Show kindness in everyday ways: Serve the City

Serve the City coordinates with homeless shelters, refugee centres, orphanages, and other associations to offer support within communities. Alongside on-going everyday tasks like making pancakes for the homeless, helping kids at a crafts workshop and clean-up days in Vondelpark, the organisation hosts a citywide activity day every 5 weeks. Browse listings and sign up on their website. Most opportunities don’t require proficiency in a specific language.

Help out the Amsterdam food bank

By volunteering with the Voedselbank, you can make a big difference for households throughout the Amsterdam Area. From packaging, driving and logistics to secretarial work, hosting and social media management – there is a job to match your skills or interests. Please note that the website is currently only available in Dutch.

Support those with chronic illness and the elderly community

Amstelring is an organisation that works with chronically ill and elderly people. Plenty of positions are available for volunteers who live in Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Aalsmeer or Haarlemmermeer and have a basic understanding of Dutch (A2-B1 level). From cooking together and playing music to simply having a chat about the week, various opportunities exist to make a positive impact on someone’s day. You can search for roles on their website (in Dutch).

Volunteer with animals

Animal lovers know they are good for the soul. Foster kittens, clean kennels or walk dogs for animal shelter Dierenopvang Amsterdam (DOA). Their site is only in Dutch, but speaking Dutch is not a requirement to volunteer. Browse the positions available and sign up via their website.

Stichting Amsterdamse Zwerfkatten rescues stray or lost cats in Amsterdam and finds them a new home or sanctuary. They also have a food bank and vet services that help those in need of support. They have opportunities for non-Dutch speakers, but you must know English (and catspeak). Email the team to sign up.

The more Dutch you learn, the more volunteer opportunities become available. For example, you can answer calls or rescue animals in need for the Dierenambulance (animal ambulance), or sign up as a Dierenbuddy to help keep pets with their guardians notwithstanding difficult life circumstances.   

Social impact

NLvoorelkaar is an online platform accessible to anyone requesting or offering help. Whether it’s doing odd jobs for an elderly neighbour, becoming a kid’s buddy, helping with activities for refugee children (via TeamUp) or serving coffee in a care home, volunteering even just one hour can make a big impact on someone’s life. Search the database of requests to get started.

Corporate volunteering via Business Involved

The mission of Business Involved is to facilitate companies and their employees seeking to donate their time to worthy causes. You can also apply directly as an individual. Project coordinators, designers and other professionals are all welcome here.

City of Amsterdam

The City of Amsterdam site links to voluntary work across various municipal projects as well as opportunities to work with refugees.