Discovering hidden gems: volunteer opportunities in the historic city center

On Wednesday, June 17, an enthusiastic group of internationals gathered at the meeting point of the Hortus. Some had only arrived in the city a few hours earlier. Yulia Bachvarova from Dakterras Art Productions, Anouschka Trauschke from Tours that Matter, Dasha from Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam, and several others guided the group through some of the hidden volunteer opportunities in the historic city center. During this Voluntour through the Nieuwmarkt neighborhood, participants discovered inspiring organizations, met local volunteers, and explored the many ways they can contribute to the historic heart of Amsterdam.

From the Hortus Botanicus to the Oude Kerk

We met at the Hortus Botanicus and talked about the volunteer opportunities available there. Not on the route, but certainly an interesting place, is the Luther Museum. This museum is looking for volunteer hosts and hostesses for various events and exhibitions in the beautiful canal house opposite the Hortus.

Our next stop was KunstRUIM, a gallery where one of the artists (and volunteers) told us about the current exhibition and how the organization operates.

Around the corner, we visited another historical gem where volunteers play an important role in the daily operations: the Rembrandt House. This building, where the famous Dutch painter lived in the seventeenth century, is a wonderful place to contribute to the cultural life of Amsterdam. As Sander mentioned, visitors are always happy to be there and often love to share their own stories. Dakterras Art Productions also organizes five evening concerts on the museum’s rooftop terrace.

From there, we took a pleasant walk through the neighborhood towards De Boomsspijker, a community center where many activities are organized by local residents.

We also learned more about Clean Up Your City, a local initiative founded by residents of Amsterdam’s city center aimed at making the city cleaner and more sustainable.

During our walk towards the Nieuwmarkt, we passed one of the most historic squares in the city. On June 27 and 28, this square will also be the heart of the Wallen Festival. Yulia, one of the organizers, told us about the inspiring program that will fill the neighborhood with joy and liveliness. Volunteers play a crucial role in making the festival possible, and there are always opportunities to sign up and help out on one of the festival days.

At Waag Futurelab, volunteers can provide support for various activities, including exhibitions, the Open Fablab, lectures, conferences, and more.

We then continued our route to the Oude Kerk, located in the heart of Amsterdam’s historic city center. As the oldest building in the city and a venue for contemporary art, the Oude Kerk offers many opportunities to get involved. Brecht told us about the current exhibition and the different ways volunteers can contribute to the organization.

We concluded the tour in the community living room at Oudekerksplein, where We Live Here and Residents’ Organization Wallenbuurt organize activities for both residents and visitors.

Looking for more opportunities?

Visit our website to see all current volunteer vacancies to view.

The Voluntour was organized by the Volunteer Center Amsterdam, Fund for the Center, and various neighborhood organizations.