Introduction to volunteering in the Netherlands
If you have volunteered prior to coming to the Netherlands or would like to become involved in some way, there are many avenues and organisations in the Netherlands to explore. If there are groups not mentioned here that you think should be, then please contact us.
Dutch volunteer organisations
MOVISIE is the national umbrella organisation for volunteering in the Netherlands, their head office is in Utrecht. MOVISIE oversees seven different programmes including giving aid and support to improve living standards and assist victims of sexual and physical abuse. The Netherlands Centre for Social Development (CIVIQ) is now part of MOVISIE but are an organisation within the structure.
Migrant organisations / Council for Refugees
There are a number of official agencies actively involved with the settlement of refugees in the Netherlands. The Dutch Council for Refugees supports refugees by helping them through the asylum process, assisting them to establish a new life, to find work and housing, establish their own businesses or access training programmes.
Make a Difference Day (MADD)
MADD is an group that organises an event once per year where volunteers help in a variety of different ways. The next day is in 2008, from 31st October - 1st November. It is a chance for anyone not directly or formally involved in volunteer organisations, to help to individuals and groups and work on a variety of projects around the country. It is a network with some 43,000 members taking part in more than 1,900 projects.
Goodwill & the Salvation Army
Yes, the Army of Salvation is represented in the Netherlands carrying out their valuable community work. The Salvation Army have a social centre in Rotterdam, but do not have goodwill stores for second hand goods. They do however, collect unwanted items (inzamelen) if you phone them, the collection and distribution centre for Zuid Holland is in Dordrecht. There is a goodwill store in Den Haag.
Donating blood
It is possible to give blood in Rotterdam at the Sanquin Blood Bank. If you are a regular donor, then you will be aware of the checking and precautions. If it is your first time, you will need to register with Sanquin and complete their medical questionnaire, a physical examination and submit blood tests. Blood is given on a voluntary basis.
Links to organisations
Netherlands Red Cross / Nederlands Rode Kruis
website - www.rodekruis.nl
MOVISIE
website - www.movisie.nl (in Dutch)
Civiq (now part of MOVISIE organisation)
website - www.cev.be/civiq.htm (in English)
Make a Difference Day (MADD)
website - www.makeadifferenceday.nl (in Dutch)
Institute of Race Relations (IRR, UK)
website - www.irr.org.uk/europebulletin/netherlands/ (Information for Netherlands)
Dutch council for Refugees
website - www.emplooi.net (in Dutch)
website - www.vluchtelingenwerk.nl/46-English.html (in English)
Foundation of Refugee Students
website - www.uaf.nl (in Dutch)
European Volunteer Centre (links to other networks)
website - http://www.cev.be/links.htm (in English)
Netherlands database of volunteer organisations
website - http://vrijwilligerswerk.startpagina.nl/ (in Dutch)
Salvation Army
website - www.legerdesheils.nl/ (in Dutch)
Rotterdam Blood Bank
website - www.sanquin.nl/sanquin-eng/sqn_home_eng.nsf (in English)
Landschapsberheer - Caring for the Dutch countryside (in Dutch, limited pages in English)
website - www.landschapsbeheer.nl
