Volunteer work is work you do without getting paid for it.
Volunteer work is work you do on a voluntary basis. You help other people or society by working at a sports club or animal shelter, for example. There are rules you need to be aware of if you do volunteer work.
If you are not sure your volunteer work complies with all of these rules, contact Het Juridisch Loket.
If you receive unemployment benefit you can still do volunteer work. However, you still have to apply for paid jobs. If your volunteer work help you find a paid job faster, for example because you are learning something new, you are not always required to apply for paid jobs.
If you are a volunteer you do not receive any salary, but you can get a volunteer allowance. This depends on the volunteer work you do. In 2025, the maximum amount is €210 a month, or €2,100 a year.
You can also agree with the organisation that you will receive an expense allowance for your volunteer work. This covers the costs you pay in order to do the voluntary work. These costs might include travel costs.
Volunteers who work with vulnerable people, such as the elderly or children, need a Certificate of Conduct (VOG). If you do volunteer work with children or the elderly, you can apply for a VOG for free through the organisation where you do this work.
If you care for a sick partner, family member or friend, this is called informal care. It is not volunteer work. Always ask your employer what its rules are for informal care. If you are covered by a CAO, check what arrangements it contains.
Volunteer work is work you do to help other people or society. It is not a paid job. Examples include helping out at a sports club, reading to children at the library and running errands for someone who lives nearby. You can do this work through an organisation, a municipality or a foundation.
If you work as a volunteer, you do not receive a salary. You might get a volunteer allowance or expense allowance, but this is not compulsory. You can also do the work completely for free. If you get a volunteer allowance, this must not be more than €210 a month, and €2,100 for the whole year, in 2025.
Yes. You can do volunteer work even if you receive unemployment benefit. You still have to look for a paid job. This is sometimes not necessary if you do volunteer work, for example if your volunteer work teaches you skills you will be able to use in future.
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