Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam

What Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam does

Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam (VCA) is a non-profit foundation (Stichting) registered in the Netherlands that operates as Amsterdam's centralized expertise center for volunteer work. The organization connects approximately 280,000 volunteers annually with social and community organizations, facilitating over 7,000 matches per year through a hybrid model combining a self-service online vacancy bank (vacaturebank.vca.nu) with over 1,001 volunteer positions, in-person personal matching consultations across 17 locations throughout the city, and a one-minute volunteer-type personality assessment. VCA serves three primary segments: individual volunteers (including refugees, expats, people with distance to the labor market, and those seeking social integration), social/community organizations seeking volunteer recruitment and management support, and Amsterdam-based companies pursuing corporate social responsibility programs through its Business Involved initiative.

The organization's product portfolio extends beyond matching to include free advisory services for organizations on volunteer policy and management, training and workshops via the dedicated VCA Traint platform, dedicated support for referral partners (social workers and reintegration counselors), volunteer guidance services, and a formal complaints procedure. Technology infrastructure consists of the online vacancy bank, GDPR-compliant CRM and ERP systems, and web hosting certified to ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 standards. Distribution combines self-service digital channels (website, vacaturebank, newsletter, social media), community events (including Voluntour 2026), a professional referral network from social services and civic integration providers, and physical consultations at the 17 neighborhood locations.

VCA's business model is non-commercial: all core services are provided free of charge to both volunteers and organizations, with the organization funded through municipal government grants and subsidies. There is no disclosed revenue, no parent company, no private equity backing, and no external ownership structure. Leadership consists of directeur/bestuurder Henriette van der Meij as executive director, supported by a team of named operational staff covering mediation, referrals, corporate programs, and complaints handling. Geographic operations are confined to the Amsterdam metropolitan area.

Name

Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam

Legal name

Stichting Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam

Website

https://vca.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam is a non-profit foundation that connects Amsterdam residents with volunteer opportunities across 17 consultation locations and an online vacancy bank, serving 280,000 volunteers and facilitating 7,000+ matches annually through free services funded by municipal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and subsidies: As a nonprofit expertise center, VCA appears to be funded through municipal government grants and subsidies to support Amsterdam's volunteer ecosystem. The organization provides services free of charge to both volunteers and organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam (VCA) is Amsterdam's nonprofit expertise center for volunteer work. It connects individual volunteers with social and community organizations through an online vacancy bank with over 1,001 positions, personal matching consultations at 17 city-wide locations, and supplementary services including training, organizational advisory, and corporate volunteering programs.

Product overview

Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam (VCA) operates as a volunteer coordination center offering a platform of interconnected services. The core offering consists of an online vacancy bank (Vacaturebank) for volunteer matching, personal mediation services through scheduled consultations at 17 locations across Amsterdam, and a volunteer type assessment test. The organization supplements these core services with training and workshop programs through the VCA Traint platform, advisory services for organizations seeking to strengthen their volunteer management, and dedicated support for referrers working with clients who have barriers to traditional employment. Corporate engagement is addressed through Business Involved programs facilitating group volunteer activities. All services are coordinated with a privacy-compliant CRM and ERP infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Vacaturebank (Vacancy Bank) Self-service online vacancy bank platform accessible at vacaturebank.vca.nu that allows volunteers to browse and apply for over 1,001 meaningful volunteer positions listed by third-party social organizations in Amsterdam.
• Bemiddelingsafspraak (Personal Matching Service) Personal mediation service that matches volunteers with suitable social organizations through one-on-one consultations at one of 17 locations in Amsterdam or by phone, tailored to individual skills, interests, and circumstances.
• Vrijwilligerstest (Volunteer Type Test) A short personality assessment tool that helps prospective volunteers discover what type of volunteer they are and which volunteer work suits them best, completable within one minute.
• Spreekuren Vrijwilligerswerk (Volunteer Consultation Hours) In-person consultation sessions held at 17 locations across Amsterdam, providing personalized advice on volunteer opportunities and tailored matching support for prospective volunteers.
• Trainingen & Workshops (Training and Workshops) Training and online workshops on various topics related to volunteer work, offered both online and in-person through the VCA Traint platform, aimed at upskilling volunteers and volunteer coordinators.
• Organisatie Advies (Organization Advisory Services) Free personalized advisory services for social organizations on volunteer management, policy strengthening, volunteer recruitment, and organizational development.
• Verwijzers Ondersteuning (Referrer Support) Support services for referrers such as social workers, reintegration coaches, and civic integration providers to help clients with distance to the labor market, psychosocial problems, or limited Dutch language skills find appropriate volunteer work.
• Vrijwilligersbegeleiding (Volunteer Guidance) Services helping social organizations effectively guide and support their volunteers, including policy development, volunteer management best practices, and coordination tools.
• Business Involved (Corporate Volunteer Programs) Corporate volunteer program connecting Amsterdam-based businesses with group volunteer opportunities and corporate social responsibility initiatives, including structured group volunteering activities.
• Groepsvrijwilligerswerk (Group Volunteer Activities) Coordination of group volunteer activities for businesses and organizations, enabling team-based community engagement and corporate volunteering initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ volunteer placements per year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Points of Light: Global volunteer infrastructure organization supporting corporate and individual volunteering programs. Comparable to VCA's Business Involved program and broader role in convening volunteer stakeholders.
• Oranje Fonds: Major Dutch social fund supporting volunteer initiatives and community projects nationwide. Comparable in supporting and amplifying the volunteer ecosystem, with grantmaking capacity that parallels VCA's municipal funding model.
• Humanitas: Large Dutch volunteer-driven organization operating multiple programs across social services, refugee support, and community integration. Comparable to VCA in mobilizing volunteers for community-serving activities in Amsterdam and beyond.
• VluchtelingenWerk Nederland: National Dutch organization supporting refugees through volunteer-led integration programs. Comparable to VCA's work with statushouders and civic integration pathways, though operating at a national scale.
• Leger des Heils Nederland: Dutch arm of the Salvation Army, operating social programs and mobilizing volunteers across the Netherlands. Comparable in coordinating volunteers for community service and reintegration programs.

Emerging players

• Idealist: Global nonprofit and volunteer opportunity platform. Comparable to VCA's online vacancy bank and listing approach for matching volunteers with social-purpose organizations.
• VolunteerMatch: Leading US volunteer matching platform connecting individuals with nonprofit opportunities. Conceptually comparable to VCA's online vacancy bank for digital-first self-service volunteer matching.

Direct peers

• Stichting Present: Dutch nonprofit coordinating volunteer placements and group volunteering activities with social organizations. Comparable to VCA's intermediation role with a similar mix of individual and corporate volunteer engagement.
• NLvoorelkaar: National Dutch volunteer matching platform that connects volunteers with organizations across the Netherlands, including Amsterdam. Directly comparable to VCA's online vacancy bank and matching service, but operates at a national scale.

Regional players

• Amsterdam Impact: Amsterdam-based municipal program supporting social enterprises and impact organizations. Comparable in operating as Amsterdam civic-infrastructure supporting the social sector in which VCA operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vrijwilligerscentrale-amsterdam

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam