VCA Nieuw-West

Where warmth brings people together: the floating sauna of Warm Hearts

7 Apr 2026

On the Sloterplas floats a sauna that does more than just warm up. Warm Hearts brings together local residents, volunteers, and newcomers around one simple idea: connection.

Vacation in your own neighborhood

30 Mar 2026

Three days of camping in your own neighborhood, food, games, and fun with your neighbors: that is the Neighborhood Camping. In Amsterdam, at the Sloterplas, volunteer Martin makes sure everything runs smoothly.

“Mini vacation every Wednesday”

6 Nov 2025

In the midst of a career switch, Sophie finds a challenging volunteer job in the cooking team of Buurtwerkplaats Noorderhof..

“Her eyes sparkle when I explain something”

9 May 2015

Souad (24) is a volunteer at the White Tulip Foundation where she gives children language and math tutoring every Sunday. “The children are very eager to learn, I find the interaction with them interesting.”

onderwijs

“I am happy to build something together”

12 May 2015

Martin ten Brinke started Stadsboerderij Osdorp in 2014, a place in the neighborhood where vegetables are grown, where residents can work on a piece of land, where people can meet each other, and learn about nature.

“I now know what ‘stoep’ means”

25 Feb 2016

Juliet has been living in the Netherlands since May 2014 and would like to improve her language skills through volunteering. She meets with Mrs. Van De Voort (91) once a week to go for a walk together. Juliet always refers to Mrs. Van De Voort as “mevrouw.”

maatje taalcoach

“I want to move forward!”

3 Aug 2016

“To learn more than you learn at school. To speak the language better. Practice.” Majd (23) looks determined in his answer to why he was looking for volunteer work. “In Syria, I was studying to become a gym teacher. But then the war came. Now I have been here for a year and a half. I don’t want to sit at home, not take money for doing nothing.”

vluchtelingen vrijwilligers

“I have learned that you just have to give it a try”

11 Apr 2017

Cecilia Aguirre talks a lot. Despite her Spanish accent, she is easy to understand. We are in a small office at the Community Center de Buurtzaak.

Where warmth brings people together: the floating sauna of Warm Hearts

Vacation in your own neighborhood

“Mini vacation every Wednesday”

“Her eyes sparkle when I explain something”

“I am happy to build something together”

“I now know what ‘stoep’ means”

“I want to move forward!”

“I have learned that you just have to give it a try”

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