Discover Volunteer Opportunities in The Hague

Settling into a new city can be quite a challenge. Join The Hague International Centre's Feel at Home event for an informative and engaging evening on Monday, March 30 2026 ! Volunteer The Hague is one many organizations present at Feel at Home event to inform new and long-term international residents of The Hague about support services. Speak directly with experts and get answers to your questions about housing, childcare, taxes, healthcare, social clubs and more. Connect with others, enjoy some drinks and snacks and the lovely live music performance. Participating organizations include Childcare providers Communities Education Exploring The Hague Healthcare providers Housing services: Language learning and intercultural training Legal and financial services Neighbourhood associations Relocation services Volunteering and Career When? Monday, 30 March 2026 17:00 to 20:00 hrs Where? Madurodam George Maduroplein 1, 2584 RZ The Hague Parking is free at the parking space of Madurodam. The Volunteer The Hague team is excited to meet all visitors at this awesome event at the Madurodam park. Entrance is free but registration is required. Places are getting booked up fast so please register today.

Randy Heuschen, Civil Servant for the Municipality of The Hague, gave a workshop called 'Your Voice Matters: Be Active, Be heard, Belong!' during Volunteer The Hague's 2025 Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair. He would like to inspire you to become an active resident of The City of The Hague by understanding the following three concepts. Your personal story is your strength, it helps bring you firther in life whether your experiences felt good or bad Be social! Join activities, you never know when someone might inspire you or YOU inspire them Even though it might feel scary, allow yourself to be vulnerable. It makes you human and makes it easier for other people to relate to you. Building a Home Away from Home in The Hague Feeling at home in a city is about more than just having an address. It is about being heard, being active, and truly belonging. For many internationals living in The Hague, building that sense of connection can take time, but it is absolutely possible. Randy Heuschen understands this journey firsthand. Having spent 15 years abroad as the son of a diplomat and been educated in the British international system, he experienced what it means to adapt to new cultures. Now 29 and working as a civil servant and district employee for Scheveningen within the Municipality of The Hague, his ambition is clear: bringing internationals and Dutch residents closer together. His guiding belief is simple yet powerful: your story is your strength. The Role of the Municipality The Municipality of The Hague plays a central role in daily life. It maintains the Personal Records Database (BRP), issues passports, identity cards, and driving licences, and provides financial assistance to those in need. It is responsible for implementing key legislation such as the Social Support Act (WMO), the Participation Act, and youth care services. Beyond administration, the municipality shapes the physical and social fabric of the city. It plans residential and green spaces, supervises housing construction, maintains streets and cycle paths, manages waste collection, supports schools, and ensures accessibility to industrial parks. It also funds community facilities such as libraries and swimming pools and issues permits for local businesses and market traders.

Vassia Sarantopoulou, founder of and head psychologist at AntiLoneliness is a mentor and business coach for therapists at The Therapy Business Circle and an international speaker specialised in burnout and perfectionism recovery. She gave an impactful talk at the Volunteer the Hague’s Autumn 2025 Mix and Match Volunteer Job Fair entitled ‘Rethinking Resolutions: Setting Intentions for a Meaningful New Year.’ Her presentation invited people to move away from conventional rigid New Year’s resolutions and instead create meaningful intentions that are rooted in values, instead of self-imposed pressure, perfectionism, or external expectations. Many people aim at losing some weight, finally get a promotion or find a better job this time of the year which makes them experience additional stress. Why does this matter? Traditional resolutions often fail because they focus on outcomes without addressing why these goals matter. For high-achievers and perfectionists, this can reinforce burnout, guilt, and self-criticism. The power of intentions is how they shift the focus from performance to alignment, they make us plan how we want to live, not just what we want to achieve. Photo credit: Michel Heerkens Fotografie Here are some steps that she recommends you follow to set your intentions this year. Zoom out: find your Life Compass Reflect on your key life areas (physical health, mental health, career, relationships, finances, community, etc.) and identify which areas need immediate attention. Choose priorities Instead of changing everything, select two key life areas to focus. Do encourage realism, sustainability, and self-compassion. Clarify your “Why” Explore why this area matters, how it would improve your life and why it deserves time, energy, and resources This will deepen your motivation and lowers your chances of quitting. Understand the difference Goals are specific outcomes whereas resolutions require behavioral intentions and values work as your inner compass. True change happens once goals and habits are anchored in values. Shift from values to intentions Identify your values (personal and professional). Set goals aligned with those values, translate them into meaningful intentions and show how your intentions can be supported by small, realistic habits. What makes intentions different from resolutions Intentions are directional, they are not perfection-based. They focus on how you show up, not just what you accomplish. They allow flexibility, compassion, and course correction which is especially important for people prone to burnout. Do you want to start the new year in a meaningful way? Choose intentions over pressure and let values guide goals, not fear or comparison. Build habits that clearly support what matters most and revisit intentions regularly and reflect, rather than judge.