Month: March 2018

If you get a small fee for your volunteer work, it is tax free only if you receive a maximum. Should you receive more, then you have to pay income tax. In order to be able to take advantage of this tax break , the organisation with which you volunteer must have a so-called ANBI status and must provide you with the required documentation for your tax return. Please keep in mind that figures  change annually.

Citizens of non-EU/EAA countries require a valid working permit. Be sure to inform the organisation you want to volunteer for whether or not you have a work permit.

Please note:  holders of a tourist visa are not allowed to do voluntary work. Also, if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you may not be allowed to volunteer without prior consent from UWV WERKbedrijf (Public Employment Service).

There are also many volunteering opportunities that require a short-term commitment, such as the ‘NLdoet days’ www.nldoet.nl (in Dutch only) and one-off festivals, such as the International Film Festival in Rotterdam (IFFR). The above-mentioned sites will also have information about such opportunities.
You can also check if there is a Vrijwilligers Centrale – VC (volunteers’ centre) located in your area. They are usually stichtings (foundations) subsidised by the government that offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities.

Volunteering was generally considered an activity to improve the well-being of others without any remuneration. It used to be thought of as being rooted in a positive attitude: working because you want to and not because you have to. It has now been expanded to a process of learning and developing. It takes many forms, and can be performed by a wide range of people in many areas, while giving the feeling of satisfaction that comes from giving back to a community, being helpful, being busy, meeting new people and developing skills. There are many interesting volunteering positions you can apply for in the Netherlands through different organisations.

The main popular volunteering areas are:

Community development

This encompasses volunteer work that aims to improve infrastructure and services like sanitation, water, permanent shelter, electricity, schools, gardening, reliable roads, and more.

Environment & wildlife

These are the services directed towards environmental and wildlife management. They can involve environmental monitoring, re-vegetation, weed removal and several other ecological restoration related processes. Raising awareness about the environment also falls under the same category.

Schools or education

Volunteering in schools may involve helping underprivileged children and adults to develop life-changing skills (like learning English, which can significantly improve the prospects of people living in developing countries), being a classroom helper, helping with fundraising efforts, etc. You can also participate in fun activities like drama productions, one-off events and chaperoning on field trips.

There are other areas where volunteers are utilised:

• Community theatres, museums and monuments
• Libraries or senior help centres
• Clubs and organisations like school clubs, youth organisations, rotary clubs, sports clubs
• Restoration activities for parks, and other public spaces
• Places of worship

Volunteering can be done within an organisation, out in the field and from home, with tasks such as writing, graphic designing, emailing and social media.

There are many organisations across the Netherlands suitable for volunteers from the international community. ACCESS was specifically set up to provide support to the English-speaking international/expat community, but there are many more organisations throughout the Netherlands which are looking for and value the contribution of your time/expertise.

Several local organisations are increasingly providing volunteering opportunities, for which little to no Dutch is required, and which are available to the international community.  Here you have some examples:

• In The Hague:  www.volunteerthehague.nl  and www.xpatarchive.com
• In Amsterdam:  www.vca.nu/english  and www.stcamsterdam.nl/volunteering
• In Utrecht:  volunteering.nl/home/volunteer-work-in-utrecht/
• In Leiden:  www.leideninternationalcentre.nl/work-study/volunteering-internships
• In Rotterdam:  volunteering.nl/home/volunteer-work-in-rotterdam/

For general information on volunteering in Netherlands, you can contact the national Dutch volunteer office on (085) 4000 338 and check the daily papers for ads regarding volunteering opportunities.

There are many social clubs who focus on internationals. In these clubs volunteering is also possible: they are all about volunteering together. An overview of groups and clubs is available on the website of I am Expat 

The major cities also have a wide range of clubs and societies covering a diverse range of activities and cultural interests. Information can be obtained from ACCESS or via internet sites and Facebook aimed at the international community. For groups located in your area, you can also contact the ACCESS Helpdesk.