How volunteering can help internationals beat the Dutch winter slump

Here is an inspirational abecedary of volunteering to help you identify what kind of volunteer work would suite your values A – Advocacy Are you passionate about protecting the environment or democracy? You could volunteer for one of the many organizations that shape policy internationally. B – Buddy Want to make a difference, one person at a time? Many people experience loneliness and want to informally connect, be heard and get inspired. You could become their buddy! C – Community The government and businesses can’t solve every single issue that people face. Citizen initiatives collaborate to make The Hague healthier, cleaner and more beautiful. D – Donations Non-profits can only help their clients when there are enough resources to keep them running. You can help them raise funds or collect in natura donations. E – Equality Many volunteers strive to address inequalities, intolerance and poverty. Look for organizations that have equality as their main goal, you can help F – Fundraising If you are into grant writing, event planning and online fundraising, join forces with local organizations whose mission aligns with your values. G – Gratitude Volunteers experience gratitude from the people that non-profits serve, but also from the organization staff who spent months planning activities they could not run with you. H – Human rights Living in the International City of Peace and Justice, you will see many ways to support non-profits who protect human rights locally and abroad. I – Inspiration As an international you may know of initiatives or policies from other countries that worked well and could be implemented in the Netherlands. Inspire local organizations! J – Join! Volunteering is all about taking action, to belong and connect with others. You are the key to social change by choosing to get involved and by recruiting your friends to join you. K – Kindness Language and cultural barriers feel less unsurmountable when kindness is involved. You lifting up vulnerable people, patience and kindness make a world of difference to them. L – Leadership Non-profits constantly need new leaders with a wide range of life experiences, expertise, ages, and perspectives. Consider joining a board of directors or an advisory committee! M – Mentor – If you have ever had a mentor yourself, you know all about the powerful bond between mentor and mentee. Become a volunteer coordinator and mentor new recruits! N – Neighbourhood No need to go far to volunteer. Your own neighbourhood needs your time and energy to be a safe, caring and engaging place to live! O – Outreach Invite others to events to inventorize people’s concerns and ideas for improvements and solutions. Be the one who reaches out, facilitates and empowers! P – Paying it forward Can you remember a time when you or your family received support from a non-profit? Pay it forward and volunteer to help senior citizens, youth or refugees. Q – Quality of life When you volunteer for a food bank or a community center which offers free meals or children’s activities, you have a concrete impact on the quality of life of people in your city. R – Respect A key concept for people who want to make a difference, it is not about what you think would be good for others. Listen to their needs, respect their boundaries and find solutions together. S – Service There are many service clubs in The Hague, they raise funds to support small non-profits. They are a great place to network and make a genuine difference. T – Time Becoming a financial donor is not the only way to help the community. Giving some of your spare time to volunteer whether for a simple or complex task makes a huge difference! U – Unity Volunteers come together to run events and programmes. All goes smoothly when there is a clear vision and task distribution. Grow by being part of something bigger than yourself. V – Voice If you have the gift of storytelling and communication, you can help vulnerable people have a voice to bring in better policy and improve systems that exclude some citizens of The Hague. W – Wellbeing There is a major need for volunteers within organizations that help improve people’s wellbeing through access to sport, healthy food and quality time with someone who feels lonely. X – eXchange Volunteering is a great way of sharing skills and knowledge. Clients, volunteers and non-profit staff all learn by exchanging ideas and stories. Y – Youth Early intervention can change at risk child or teenager’s life for the better. You can volunteer to help them with their homework, or run activities which boost their confidence. Z – Zeal Many volunteers are idealists and throw themselves into their volunteer roles with their heart and soul! Find a good balance between your community time and your self-care time to thrive.

Nervous About Volunteering? When speaking with potential volunteers at our recruitment events, we sometimes hear a few common concerns about signing up. That’s completely normal! Let’s take a look at these worries—and how easy they can be to overcome. “But I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks” Many volunteer roles don’t require any special knowledge of local culture. If you can find your way to the organization’s location by public transport or car and arrive on time, you’re ready to get started! A great way to begin is with a one-time opportunity, such as helping out at an event. It’s a simple, low-commitment way to see how volunteering feels. You’ll meet other volunteers and local non-profit staff, which can quickly help you feel more connected to your new community. “I’m too old / too young” Volunteers come from all age groups, and every generation brings something valuable to the table. In fact, many volunteers in the Netherlands are aged 50+. One project that welcomed around 100 international volunteers each year, The World in Your Classroom, had a star volunteer who joined at age 70 and continued until the project ended four years later. Teachers and high school students loved his guest lectures, and many students eagerly lined up to chat with him or take a photo together. For him, inspiring young people was incredibly rewarding. At the same time, international university students also volunteer with us in large numbers. They often shine in roles involving IT or digital communication. With such a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available, there is almost certainly a role that fits you perfectly, whatever your age. “I don’t have special skills” You might be surprised by how simple some volunteer tasks are. For example, you could greet visitors at an event, hand out promotional material, or check names on an RSVP list. Food banks are always grateful for volunteers who help pack food parcels for clients. Prefer something more active? You could help set up and dismantle stands and podiums at festivals and fairs. Or you might assist in preparing vegetables and cleaning up in a kitchen for a meal for senior citizens at a local community centre. No task is too small: every volunteer contributes to making these projects possible. “I’m nervous about joining alone” Starting something new can feel a little daunting, but that initial discomfort usually fades quickly. Volunteer coordinators are experienced at welcoming newcomers and making them feel part of the team. Remember: every volunteer started as a newcomer once. People keep returning because they find the experience meaningful and enjoyable. If it helps, you can also team up with someone you meet at a volunteer recruitment fair and sign up together, especially for roles where many volunteers are needed. “I don’t have much time” Busy schedules are very common, and volunteer organizations understand that. Flexible volunteering has become increasingly popular, and many non-profits now offer short-term or one-off opportunities. When browsing the Volunteer The Hague vacancy page, simply select the “one-off” option in the left-hand column to see opportunities that only require a single commitment. Some roles take place in the evenings or on weekends, making them easy to combine with work or studies. Others are during office hours and can be ideal if you’re looking for project experience, professional references, or simply the joy of contributing alongside other kind-hearted people. “My Dutch isn’t perfect” Good news! Volunteer The Hague only offers opportunities that do not require fluency in Dutch. Organizations on our platform value your English and other language skills. If you would like to practice Dutch while volunteering, you can contact our sister organization Den Haag Doet. They offer volunteer roles where Dutch is required. They can guide you about which roles involve conversations about simple everyday topics, and organizations whose staff are used to speaking clearly with non-native speakers. “I don’t know where to start” With so many possibilities, choosing a role can feel overwhelming. That’s why Volunteer The Hague created the Talent Scan tool. This short quiz helps identify volunteer roles that match your lifestyle, skills, and interests. After completing the quiz, simply scroll down past the recommended categories to see current vacancies that fit your volunteer profile. From there, you can apply directly and start your volunteering journey. Volunteering doesn’t require perfection, just a willingness to show up and contribute. You might be surprised by how quickly it becomes one of the most rewarding parts of your week.

Your City, Your Voice: Can Internationals Vote in The Hague City Council Elections? Living in an international city like The Hague means people from all over the world contribute to its vibrant communities. But did you know that many internationals can also help shape the city’s future by casting a vote during the 2026 local elections? Voting is one of the most meaningful ways to feel at home and to influence the place where you live, study, work, and build your life. Why Your Vote Matters Local elections determine who sits on the city council and makes decisions that affect daily life in your neighbourhood. The councillors you elect will help shape policies on issues such as: ✓ Public safety ✓ Housing and infrastructure ✓ Social and healthcare services ✓ Sports and community facilities ✓ Language education and libraries ✓ Local taxes ✓ Waste collection ✓ Business support and permits ✓ Economic development ✓ Culture and events ✓ Support with income and employment These practical matters range from the quality of parks and libraries to how waste is collected or how new housing is planned. However, it’s good to know that local elections do not decide national policies. Issues such as immigration policy or the national systems for education, healthcare, and social security are handled at the national level. Who Can Vote? The Netherlands has one of the most inclusive local voting systems in Europe. You may be eligible to vote in the 2026 municipal elections if you: ✓ Are 18 years or older ✓ Were registered with your municipality by 2 February 2026 ✓ Belong to one of the following groups: Dutch citizens EU nationals Non-EU nationals who have lived in the Netherlands for at least five years continuously and hold a valid residence permit Many internationals working with international organisations in the region are also eligible. However, staff of embassies and consulates generally cannot vote unless they also hold Dutch nationality. When Are the Elections Held? Municipal elections in the Netherlands are held every four years. The next round will take place in 2026, giving residents across the country the chance to choose their local representatives. How to Vote If you are eligible and registered, you will receive a voting pass (stempas) by mail before election day and a list of all candidates for all parties. You will vote an individual candidate by marking the circle before their name with a red pencil. On the day itself, you can simply: This article is based on a presentation given by Work in South Holland given during the The Hague Local Election Night on 10 March 2026 co-organised by ACCESS, PEP Den Haag, Volunteer The Hague and HPM. Volunteer The Hague is a project of PEP Den Haag, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to fostering civic engagement and strengthening the social fabric of The Hague. Initiated in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague, Volunteer The Hague site hosts hundreds of volunteer activities for every age, skill-set, and availability. Importantly, the volunteer listings on Volunteer The Hague’s website do not require Dutch language skills. You can browse these vacancies or use our Talent Scan tool through which you can find individualized listings after answering a series of questions about your skills and interests. All listings will provide you with information about the tasks expected, preferred availability in days and number of hours, and perks offered.