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For those of us in the volunteer promotion community, this week is very special: Monday, 5 December is International Volunteer Day and Wednesday 7 December is National Volunteer Day in the Netherlands! These are days of recognition for all of the important work done by thousands of volunteers here and worldwide - and in every imaginable field. Volunteering isn't just an activity that makes a difference in the community and in the lives of others - this act of kindness can also help the one volunteering, whether it be by gaining new skills, a sense of purpose, or simply the satisfaction of having helped others. According to Time Bank, 84% of HR and recruiting professionals agree that volunteering is a great way to help people find work, with an astounding 80% of employers saying that they regard volunteering positively on a potential employee's CV. Whether it's helping to combat depression, learning to engage with new communities, or improving health and fitness, volunteering can also benefit one's physical and mental health and wellbeing. We at Volunteer The Hague understand the important benefits of volunteering - especially for internationals just moving to a new country. No matter the stage in your moving process, volunteering can be a great asset to help you get settled. This is why Volunteer the Hague connects internationals with meaningful volunteer opportunities at local non-profit organizations, free of charge. The Hague is a place where all nationalities come together, forming a multicultural society. Our mission has always been to bridge the gap between internationals who may not know where to start on their volunteering journey in a new country, and nonprofits who are searching for internationals to help aid in their inspiring missions. Together, we can empower people to change the world from the grassroots up, especially when enabled by partnerships between local internationals and local nonprofit organizations. To all of the fantastic volunteers in our community, we want to send a big THANK YOU and hope you continue your volunteer journeys in 2023!

Free webinar 'Work and live in South Holland' on 27 January 2026 This webinar was designed to inform internationals who plan to relocate to the South Holland province of the Netherlands. Learn what to arrange before and after your move, receive all the essential information about immigration and registration procedures. Find out how the International Centres of Leiden, Rotterdam and The Hague can support you in your relocation process. During this webinar, the instructor will dive into many aspects of relocation, such as: Immigration & registration Housing Education and childcare Healthcare and health insurance Banking and finance Jobs & career tips Social life​ At the end of the webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask all your questions during a live Q&A with a THIC account manager. Join a The Hague International Centre's account manager online for in-depth information to prepare you for your move and settling down faster and more efficiently, in Leiden, Delft or The Hague regions. Event Details: 📅 Date:T uesday, January 27, 2026 🕐 Time: 11:00 to 12:00 (CET) 💰 Cost: Free! 📍 Location: Links on Team to be sent to your inbox a few days before the event Please register here !

Tetyana Benzeroual, Project Lead of Volunteer The Hague and Den Haag Doet at PEP Den Haag, was part of an expert panel for Episode #05: Solving the Housing Crisis & How to Survive Dutch Winters of the Expaterience talk show on November 22, 2025. Nuthan Manohar, the Expaterience host for the segment about how to survive Dutch winters, revealed that she joined the Expaterience team after attending a Volunteer The Hague volunteer fair and that she can really attest to the benefits of volunteering. Together with her four guests, she discusses the challenges faced by internationals who are dealing with their first few Dutch winters. Together they share clear and easy to implement recommendations on how to adjust to, and even embrace, Dutch winters with their rainy days with limited daylight. Tetyana talks about how volunteering during the darker months is a great way to feel better, by meeting new people and focusing on tasks and causes that motivate you. Tetyana explains that Volunteer The Hague serves as a bridge between local organizations and internationals in the greater The Hague area. This connection helps internationals find their way in the Netherlands and make it their new home. Volunteer The Hague’s data shows that engagement on their online platform hits a low in the summer and that it is at its highest in September. When volunteers have children and come back from their summer holiday break, they realize that the new academic year is about to start, and they wonder how to occupy their time if they are not employed. Most of international volunteers are internationals looking to fill a gap on their CVs while looking for a job. If they are not looking for a new job, they want to do something to give back to the community. They want to engage more with the local community and practice their language skills. People volunteer for many reasons, but for the majority of volunteers they just want to be useful. When daytime gets shorter, especially in October and November, people want to engage and not only stay at home and only interact with their family. Show host, Nuthan Manohar adds that research demonstrates that people who volunteer are happier, mentally more resilient and even more resilient to diseases, with a sweet spot of 3 hours of volunteering a week. She states that she was impressed by the high variety of showcased organizations and volunteer roles at VTH events. She comments that sometimes at work you don’t get to work on things that you really care about whereas when you volunteer you do. Tetyana illustrates how Volunteer The Hague provides a platform for organizations looking for volunteers, for example when Expaterience was launched and needed volunteers. VTH helped them think about the volunteer vacancies they could create. A number of volunteers applied online and at one of their in-person events they recruited volunteers to make the concept of Expaterience a dream come true. She names another example by saying that recently the international film festival took place in The Hague and all their 20 volunteers were found through the Volunteer The Hague platform. Tetyana encourages internationals to check out the VHT website at www.volunteerthehague as vacancies regularly get filled but get replaced by others. Once people apply, they should follow up and call the organizations, just like for a job search. An interview will take place, as even volunteer roles can be a competitive process. International volunteers are always surprised to be invited to meetings and organization events and that their opinions are listened to. Tetyana announces Volunteer The Hague’s Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair on Saturday, 29 November, 2025 between 11.00 am and 3.30 pm at the Social Hub The Hague. She adds that another guest on the show, psychologist Vassia Sarantopoulou, will be one of the speakers during the event, her presentation will be about making a different kind of new year resolutions. You can register for the event on our website at to mix and mingle with organizations and for up to 4 great presentations at https://www.volunteerthehague.nl/o/Volunteer-The-Hague/opportunities/Mix--Match-Volunteer-Job-Fair/104617 The entire Expaterience talk show episode full of practical tips by housing, mental health, HR, entrepreneurship and volunteer work experts can be watched below.