A ready-to-use volunteer agreement (vrijwilligersovereenkomst) under Dutch law. It records that the relationship is voluntary — no employment contract, no contract for services — and covers expenses, tax risk, confidentiality, intellectual property, insurance, and termination. Replace the highlighted fields and delete what does not apply.
- This template reimburses only actual, documented expenses. If you want to pay a volunteer allowance (vrijwilligersvergoeding), amend Article 3. The untaxed maximums in 2026: €5.75 per hour (€3.40 under 21), €220 per month, €2,200 per year. A flat allowance and expense reimbursements count together toward the month and year caps; reimbursing only actual documented costs has no cap. Check the current Belastingdienst amounts each January.
- only matters for volunteers who need a residence or work permit. Delete it for volunteers who already have the right to reside in the country where they volunteer.
- protects the organization if the tax authority later argues the relationship was really employment. Keep it.
- leaves intellectual property with the Volunteer and gives the organization a perpetual free licence. That is the fair default when nobody is paid. If your organization must own the IP outright, change it to a transfer and have a lawyer check it.
- : many Dutch municipalities run a collective volunteer insurance (vrijwilligersverzekering) that covers all volunteers in the municipality automatically — check yours before buying a separate policy.
- , located at , the Netherlands, with the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce under number , represented by , hereinafter referred to as 'Organization'; and
- , born on , residing at , hereinafter referred to as 'Volunteer',
- The Organization is a nonprofit organization that works on ;
- The Volunteer wishes to contribute to the Organization's work on a voluntary basis;
- The Parties expressly do not intend to enter into an employment relationship, nor a contract for services (overeenkomst van opdracht). This is a volunteer arrangement (vrijwilligersovereenkomst);
- The Parties wish to record the terms of the Volunteer's contribution in this agreement ('Agreement').
This Agreement is a volunteer arrangement. It is not, and shall not be construed as, an employment contract (arbeidsovereenkomst) within the meaning of Article 7:610 of the Dutch Civil Code, nor a contract for services within the meaning of Article 7:400 et seq. of the Dutch Civil Code.
The Parties have entered into this Agreement under the condition precedent that the Volunteer has obtained the residence and work permits, including visa, required to volunteer in (the 'Condition Precedent'). The Agreement shall not take effect if the Volunteer has not obtained the required permits. If any permit expires, is withdrawn, or becomes invalid during the term, (i) the Volunteer shall immediately inform the Organization in writing, (ii) the Agreement ends automatically, and (iii) the Volunteer shall indemnify the Organization against any costs, fines, claims, or other obligations arising from that expiration, withdrawal, or invalidity.
No wage, salary, fee, allowance, or remuneration in money or in kind is payable by the Organization to the Volunteer for the activities performed under this Agreement, other than the expense reimbursements described in Article 3.
The Volunteer participates voluntarily, is free to decline tasks, and does not act under the authority (gezag) of the Organization. Day-to-day coordination is for planning purposes only and does not constitute an employer's right of instruction.
The Volunteer will perform the following activities: (the 'Activities'), for on average hours per week.
Start date: . End date: .
Any training the Organization provides is offered exclusively in support of the Activities and not as remuneration for work performed.
The Organization shall reimburse only actual, reasonable, work-related out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Volunteer in connection with the Activities, against submission of proof of payment (receipts).
No flat-rate, hourly, or per-diem allowance is payable. Reimbursements shall in no event exceed the amounts actually incurred and documented.
The Volunteer is solely responsible for assessing and meeting any personal tax, social security, or other fiscal obligations that may arise in connection with the Activities, including in respect of any training and reimbursed expenses.
The Volunteer indemnifies and holds harmless the Organization against any wage tax, income tax, social security contributions, contributions under the Medical Care Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet) or its local equivalent, fines, interest, and related claims that may be imposed on the Organization in connection with the Volunteer's participation under this Agreement, to the extent permitted by Dutch law.
If any tax or social security authority should hold that an employment relationship exists between the Organization and the Volunteer, the Volunteer shall fully cooperate with the Organization and provide all information reasonably required.
The Volunteer shall comply with the Organization's and internal policies during the term of this Agreement.
The Volunteer shall keep confidential all non-public information of the Organization, during the term of this Agreement and after its termination.
Intellectual property in work product created by the Volunteer under this Agreement vests in the Volunteer, who hereby grants the Organization a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use such work product for purposes related to its mission. Public communications referencing the Organization or the work product require its prior written approval, not to be unreasonably withheld.
The Organization shall ensure that the Volunteer is covered under appropriate volunteer liability and accident insurance during the term of this Agreement. The Volunteer remains responsible for personal health insurance.
This Agreement commences on the start date stated in Article 2 and ends automatically on the end date stated there, if any.
Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time by written notice, with a notice period of fourteen (14) days.
The Organization may terminate this Agreement with immediate effect in case of (i) a material breach by the Volunteer, (ii) serious misconduct, (iii) breach of the Code of Conduct, or (iv) unexplained absence for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days.
This Agreement is governed by Dutch law.
Any disputes shall be submitted to the competent court in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes all prior arrangements on the subject matter.
Invalidity of any provision shall not affect the remaining provisions; the Parties shall replace any invalid provision with a valid provision that best reflects the original intent.
Provisions which by their nature survive termination (including confidentiality, intellectual property, tax indemnity, and governing law) remain in full force after termination.
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NAMEJOB TITLE(signature)