How to volunteer in Amsterdam
Tags:amsterdam study abroad volunteeringIk ben een vrijwilliger.
I recently started volunteering at the Guus Kieft School in Amstelveen. I’ll talk about my so far wonderful experience there another time, but I want to mention how incredibly easy it was to find what may be the best community service project of my life. While walking and shopping in the 9 streets of Amsterdam late one chilly afternoon at the beginning of January, I stopped into the vacancy bank, a central repository of all the volunteer opportunities in Amsterdam. While some may say the Dutch are over-bureaucratized, in this case it’s a good thing.
When I returned for my scheduled appointment a few days later, the employee I had briefly mentioned my background and interests to had compiled a list of seven opportunities of potential interest to me. He then patiently explained each one to me, translating the description on the Dutch website and leveraging the vacancy bank’s resources to give me more information about the organizations. After forty-five minutes, I was on the phone with the head teacher at the school, discussing what I would be doing there. The next day, I started volunteering. This is a far cry from volunteering back home at Virginia Commonwealth University, where one of the only resources is a trifold pamphlet with the names and possibly outdated telephone numbers of Richmond area volunteer organizations.
Haven’t considered volunteering? It’s a great way to get off the VU campus and spend some time in the community. And, yes, it looks great on your resumé. Too many people around the world are living in such interesting places, but never see or do any of the interesting things.
Contact information for the Vrijwilligerscentrale Amsterdam (VCA) taken from their Dutch-only website, http://vca.nu. Call or walk-in to schedule an appointment:
Main Vacancy Bank
Hartenstraat 16 1016 CB Amsterdam
020-530 12 22
amsterdam@vca.nu
Open:
Tuesday: 13.00 – 17.00
Wednesday through Friday: 9.00 - 17.00
Derek’s Guide to the Concertgebouw
Tags:amsterdam city life concerts culture musicI’m hesitant to share this information, because I know you’re all going to go there and make it harder for me to buy tickets for about an eighth of their real price. I’m about to tell you about one of the best secrets in all of Amsterdam, one that so few students take advantage of, but one that everyone under 27 should.
I love the Concertgebouw. An acoustically perfect concert hall with one of the world’s best symphony orchestras? Sign me up! Not only have I witnessed a litany of amazing concerts by the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest with a variety of guest conductors, but I’ve seen the London Symphony Orchestra, jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, and several other once-in-a-lifetime performers. I even went to a concert with some friends where an annual Johann Strauss music festival featured ballet in front of the orchestra, and we were served a free glass of sparkling wine during the intermission. All for €7,50. There is an incredible variety of music, and the Concertgebouw website (concertgebouw.nl) is fantastic.
Not only is the building beautiful and the music breathtaking, but sprint tickets (sprintplaats) can be had for €7,50 for those under 27 years of age. To get one, I just show up at the concert 45 minutes before it starts… and never has a concert I’ve wanted to attend been sold out. In fact, it’s supremely easy to check whether they’ll have tickets available: I just call the Concertgebouw 24-hour information line (listed on this page) at +31 (0)20-5730511 on the day of the concert, press the button for English, and listen.
There are also free lunchtime concerts every Wednesday at 12:30pm — although I always try to show up early to ensure myself a seat. There are also free lunchtime concerts sometimes at Het Muziektheater, but you’ll have to pick up a flier for the exact times. See also this iamsterdam page about lunchtime concerts.
Why does no one go to the Concertgebouw? I really have no idea, but I assume it’s a combination of not knowing it is only €7,50 for a night on the town and thinking that experiencing classical music isn’t worth the time. Au contraire, mes amis, au contraire.
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! De beste wensen voor 2008.
Tags:amsterdam study abroadAmsterdam is just one of those cities — a city where you are guaranteed fun when a million people flood the streets at 11:59PM on the 31st of December to welcome in the new year. Some places, there may not be enough people, or it might just seem like another night of people drinking outside, but Amsterdam has a special something to it on this special evening.
And Dutch people love fireworks. So much so that they had a terrible explosion in a fireworks factory in 2000 (see http://youtube.com/watch?v=S52p2AMISFk … it’s an exciting video in the middle). I’m not just talking about firecrackers, either. People everywhere in the city had some serious fireworks, the likes of I haven’t seen in the US except at sanctioned fireworks shows.
As I gazed upon the unforgettable view of fireworks exploding over a canal, at that moment, I was completely happy and serene. If I hadn’t, in a typical New Year’s moment, left my camera at the first party I went to, I’d have some great photos to show for it, too! I went to a club with some friends around two in the morning, and it wasn’t really worth the 30EUR cover. Although by a happy (intentional) fluke, I didn’t pay to get in. I’m against entry fees in general — why pay money just to hang out with your friends?
Biking home for the first time 2008, I felt astounded at the sheer volume of fireworks paper covering the streets. I had had just enough glasses of abundant cheap but delicious bubbly wine, and I felt amazing.
I felt blissful, joyful, and festive all at once. I highly recommend spending New Year’s in Amsterdam with friends — you’ll never forget it.