Last week, the 25 finalists for the 2026 The Hague Volunteer Awards were announced. Five organizations, five teams, and fifteen residents have been nominated this year, representing volunteers from Ypenburg to Loosduinen and from the Scheveningen Boulevard, Mariahoeve to Spoorwijk. This year, 12-year-old Sophia de Groot is the youngest contender ever. She has been nominated in the Development and Youth category for her dedication to children with epilepsy.
Every year, the Municipality of The Hague shows its appreciation for volunteers from the city, among other things with a gift card and with this award ceremony. For Alderman Kavish Partiman, it is the first time he will present the award: ‘As the city government, we value our 185,000 volunteers. They demonstrate what we call “looking out for one another” in The Hague dialect. That is why, with the The Hague Volunteer Awards, we literally and figuratively put volunteers and organizations on a pedestal,’ he said on the volunteer radio program Haagse Helden with Jeanne Rutten.
The full list with more information can be found at denhaag.nl/vrijwilligersprijzen . The award ceremony is on Saturday afternoon, November 21, 2026, at ‘De Remise’.
Nominees for the Personal Volunteer Awards
There were 69 unique nominations for the individual awards of the 2026 The Hague Volunteer Awards. The jury selected 15 contenders (3 per category). During the awards ceremony, one winner will be chosen per category.
The Hague Volunteer Award 2026 Animal & Nature
For the past two years, an award has been presented in the Animal and Nature category. This award is for volunteers who dedicate themselves to animals or nature in The Hague. They contribute to a healthy and pleasant living environment in various ways. Examples include volunteers who help at the animal ambulance, a riding school, a petting zoo, or an animal shelter. Volunteers dedicated to bees, butterflies, or other animals and plants are also eligible for this award. Additionally, volunteers who assist with nature management fall under this category, for instance by maintaining parks, forests, and dunes, or by cleaning up litter. The nominees in this category are:
- Rob Koning is active every year for the toad migration. On behalf of the Dutch Animal Protection Society, he manages around 80 volunteers in the Scheveningen district. This ensures that the toads, frogs, and salamanders can move safely.
- Valentin Verheul has been caring for the animals at various city farms for nearly 30 years. He is currently helping out at City Farm De Reigershof. Valentin assists the managers with feeding and the animal enclosures , and interacts with visitors. He also helps with extra activities such as the sheep shearing festival.
- Cathelijne van der Ree takes care of the cats, chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs in the garden of Het Jacobahof. This community farm is located in the Schilderswijk. Cathelijne takes animals to the vet when necessary and supervises other volunteers on the farm.
The Hague Volunteer Award 2026 Development and Youth
The Development and Youth Award is for volunteers who dedicate themselves to the development of residents and to children and young people in The Hague up to the age of 18. For example, they provide language lessons to refugees, supervise youth activities, or help people further develop themselves so that they can actively participate in society. Volunteers who support young people in vulnerable situations are also eligible for this award.
Activities at schools also fall within this category. Think of help with lunchtime supervision, reading aloud, or homework support. Nominated in the Development and Youth category are:
- Sophia de Groot is only 12 years old and dedicates herself to children with epilepsy through the Fietebeth Foundation. Sophia created the children’s book ‘Pinkie has epilepsy’ and devises many campaigns for children with this condition. She also helps out at Epilepsie NL.
- Agnieszka Nieroda is a hostess at the Stichting POLKA location in Laak. They support Polish women to live more independently in the Netherlands. Agnieszka ensures that activities in Laak are well organized, welcomes visitors, and involves volunteers in the organization.
- Huda Al Ammari volunteers for two organizations. At Thrive Lydia Generation, she organizes activities that contribute to the development of female migrants. She also maintains contact with partners from the city. At UNICEF Netherlands, she helps with campaigns for children’s rights.
The Hague Volunteer Award 2026 Neighborhood & Surroundings
The Neighborhood and Surroundings Award is for volunteers who make their neighborhood or district more beautiful, safer, and more pleasant. Think, for example, of volunteers who help with neighborhood watch, organize cleanup campaigns, or maintain a community garden. Through their efforts, they bring neighbors together and contribute to a pleasant living environment. The nominees in the Neighborhood and Surroundings category are:
- Henny Laus has been making the Singels neighborhood in Ypenburg more pleasant, cleaner, and safer for over 20 years. Henny is committed to neighborhood crime prevention and is the chairperson of the residents’ association. In this role, she advises the municipality and organizes campaigns and activities, ranging from CPR courses to clean-up campaigns in the playground. Additionally, Henny is active for Feest in de Vinex, Veteranendag Den Haag, and the Embassy of The Hague.
- Ramazan Odek is active for four organizations in Spoorwijk. He coordinates the Hobbytuinen Schimmelweg, manages the team of volunteers for neighborhood watch, organizes activities in the Community Room, and assists with projects of Duurzaam Den Haag.
- Petra Beeloo is an event organizer in Loosduinen. She manages the Dickens Sewing Club, which creates beautiful costumes for the annual Dickens Festival every year. Petra also handles the administration of the Houtwijk neighborhood council.
The Hague Volunteer Award 2026 Care & Welfare
The Care and Welfare Award is for volunteers who dedicate themselves to people who need extra help. They support, for example, the elderly, people with disabilities, people with mental health issues, or people who struggle to make ends meet.
Volunteers in this category help in many different ways. For example, they provide support in a care home, assist with activities, or prepare meals. They also organize gatherings that reduce loneliness and bring people into contact with one another. Additionally, they dedicate themselves to refugees, people living in poverty, and homeless people. The contenders for the Care and Welfare category are:
- Nirmala Pahladsingh Kamta supports elderly care at three healthcare organizations in The Hague. At the Hospital, HMC, and Florence Jonker Frans, she speaks with many patients to combat loneliness. Nirmala has always worked in healthcare and has continued to do so after her retirement.
- Abdelilah Betar ensures that many families have warmer homes during the winter months and that energy bills remain lower. Through the Winterklaar team of the EnergieGelijk Foundation, he made around 500 curtains for many households in collaboration with the Vadercentrum. He is involved in measuring, sewing, and hanging, and also shares his knowledge with new volunteers.
- Andjenie Autar is an ambassador for young caregivers. Together with PEP Den Haag, she opened a meeting place for young people who care for someone and employees of professional organizations. She is also active for the Longfonds.
The Hague Volunteer Award 2026 Art & Culture
The Art and Culture Prize is for volunteers who make art and culture possible in The Hague. They assist, for example, at a theatre, festival, museum, or cultural event. They welcome visitors, give tours, or work behind the scenes. Volunteers who dedicate themselves to monuments, cultural associations, or joint art and music activities are also eligible for this prize. The nominees in the Art and Culture category are:
- Richard Kanters has been volunteering for The Hague’s nightlife for over 20 years through the Party-Mania Foundation. Richard manages the Stappen in Den Haag website and the Gone Out app, and contributes ideas regarding nighttime safety.
- Simone Timme-Ottevanger has been the connector in the museum shop of the Museon-Omniversum Foundation for 14 years. In the museum, visitors of all ages are inspired for a sustainable future. Simone fosters connection within the volunteer team and with the organization.
- Roger Vermeulen has been a volunteer tram driver for the historic trams of the Hague Public Transport Museum for more than 20 years. He also assists with the maintenance and restoration of the trams.
Nominees for The Hague Volunteer Team Award 2026
33 unique teams were registered for the Hague Volunteer Team Award 2026. The jury has selected 5 contenders. One of these five stands a chance to win the award as Volunteer Team. A team consists of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 20 people. Together they are stronger than alone. By working well together, they achieve a great deal and are different from other teams. The teams vying for the Hague Volunteer Organization Award 2026 are, in random order:
- Stichting Minimaatje helps people in poverty with affordable animal care. A small team of veterinarians and assistants treat pets that are sick or injured.
- The Neighborhood Mothers are active as a group in the Gaarden and Dreven neighborhoods. Through activities such as neighborhood watch, coffee mornings, workshops, and health checks, they connect residents with one another. The Neighborhood Mothers actively collaborate with partners for a
- liveable, safe, and engaged neighborhood.
- Logeerhuis in Laak has been open for 2.5 years as a location for recovering from surgery or illness. The volunteers ensure that people feel at home and prepare meals.
- Stichting De Vriend provides first aid for the homeless at the Koekamp. They do this with healthy meals, clothing, and personal care products.
- The Claude Monet hospice team of the Eykenburg Foundation offers warmth and care to people in the final phase of their lives. They handle the housekeeping, maintain contact with the family, and support the care staff.
Nominees for The Hague Volunteer Organization Award 2026
Five organizations are in the running for the 2026 Hague Volunteer Organization Award. The Volunteer Organization Award is for foundations, associations, and charities that serve The Hague. The organization has at least 20 volunteers and devotes significant attention to recruiting, supporting, and appreciating volunteers. Volunteers feel welcome there and enjoy working there.
Twenty-eight organizations were nominated for the prize. They will receive a sum of money from the municipality that they can use for their volunteers. For example, for new clothing, an outing, or a course. The organizations in the running for the Hague Volunteer Organization of the Year 2026 prize are, in random order:
- The Jacobshospice on Koningin Emmakade has over 100 volunteers who help with the care of people who are dying. They do this in various ways, such as cooking, garden maintenance, and also bedside assistance. There are 7 rooms.
- 3voor12 Den Haag is an online media channel for the Hague music scene. With interviews with emerging and experienced artists, and (photo) reports of concerts and festivals, the 40 volunteers have been active for nearly 25 years.
- Stichting Participatie Keuken organizes weekly meals where everyone is welcome to join. They grow their own vegetables in the vegetable gardens. In this way, people meet each other, and unemployed people work their way back towards a paid job through volunteering.
- Gebakplaats Den Haag is a network of over 70 hobby bakers who bake birthday cakes at home for children living in poverty. The hobby bakers pay for this themselves and deliver it to the birthday child as a surprise.
- Stichting De Ooievaart is a canal cruise company through historic The Hague. More than 100 volunteer skippers and guides sail with tourists through the historic city center.