Volunteering

Volunteering time, efforts, and attention to an organisation or cause is an admirable way of assimilating into a community. In the Netherlands, there are numerous opportunities, but information on where to volunteer and what is needed is often only available by word of mouth. Also, frequently, a little knowledge of the Dutch language is needed but not always required. All in all, volunteering is a good way to meet people, to learning the language, to learn about the organisation, and to contribute to the community.

There are some rules to volunteering depending on the type of residence permit:

• A work permit might be required (check for “TWV vereist” on the back of your residence permit card). Study permits are exempt from this rule. For asylum seekers and refugees rules vary depending on the type of ID.
• The organisation you volunteer for needs to have a permit for every type of volunteering position they offer.
• The organisation must be non-profit.
• The position must provide services that benefit society, does not replace a paid employee and does not impact the Dutch labour market negatively.
• The maximum monthly compensation one can receive in 2024 is: € 210 or € 5,50/hour ( € 3,35 for 21 and younger).
• If you receive a compensation you need to take out Dutch basic health insurance.

Find different volunteering opportunities in the links below!

All provinces:

• Vrijwilligerswerk.nl
• NL voor elkaar
• Humanitas
• De Nieuwe Gevers
• NLDoet
• Nationale Vacaturebank

Groningen:

• Vrijwilligers Groningen
• Link050
• Make it in the North (Shares the vacancies form Link050 suitable for non-Dutch speakers)
• Mamamini
• IWCN Connect
• Forum Groningen

Drenthe:

• Vrijwilligerswerk Drenthe
• Zorggroep Drenthe
• Servicepunt vrijwilligerswerk
• Dierenbescherming Noord & Midden Drenthe & Zuidoost Drenthe

Friesland:

• Vrijwilligerspunt
• Stipepunt
• Stjoer
• Solidair Friesland
• Samen Leeuwarden
• CultuurVrijwilligers