There are volunteering possibilities even during the Covid-19 limitations and restrictions. It is best to look on the Internet and social media, in particular for initiatives in one’s own area and neighbourhood.
Some organisations, like the Red Cross, are looking for volunteers. Existing and new volunteer platforms offer information where volunteers are needed and ideas about how to offer help. Most of the websites listed below are in Dutch.
Websites:
The Red Cross needs volunteers in times of Covid-19. You should check in your region whether you can volunteer as an English speaker. In The Hague region, with its large community of internationals, English and other non-Dutch speakers are welcome. The volunteers can spread information about Covid-19, help people in quarantine and perform other tasks.
https://www.rodekruis.nl/wat-kun-jij-doen/steun-met-tijd/ready2help/
Those who would like to volunteer at the Red Cross can register at ready2help.rodekruis.nl/ or send an email in English to: Ready2Help@redcross.
Extra handen voor zorg connects former health professionals with organisations in need:
www.zorgwelzijn.nl/corona-update-heel-nederland-wordt-vrijwilliger/
NL voor elkaar, the biggest Dutch volunteer platform, has a ‘hulp’ initiative:
https://www.nlvoorelkaar.nl/hulpaanbod/.
Gewoon mensen die mensen willen helpen is a smaller platform for volunteering opportunities close to home (by postcode). Those who need help and those offering help come together through posts on the platform: www.gewoonmensen.nl/ik-wil-helpen.
Vereniging Nederlandse Organisaties Vrijwilligerswerk (The Dutch Association of Volunteer Organisations) oversees all voluntary work in the country. It has an overview of all regional volunteer centres (vrijwilligerscentrale) in the Netherlands.
www.nov.nl/default.aspx.
Vrijwilligerswerk.nl enables searches for volunteering by region and on nationwide websites: vrijwilligerswerk.nl/zoekvrijwilligerswerk/default.aspx.
Handjehelpen: (for The Hague) www.handjehelpen.nl/vrijwilligers/helpen-tijdens-corona.
Volunteer The Hague: volunteerthehague.nl/home
For general information on volunteering in The Netherlands:
access-nl.org/dual-careers-netherlands/volunteering-netherlands/.