You can do something for refugees in many ways. By participating in an activity, organizing something yourself or facilitating something. You can do this yourself, or with your family, your group of friends or student association, your organization or your company. Participating is not only enriching for the newcomers, but just as much for yourself! There are many possibilities, see below. Do you have another idea? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We will see if we can work on it together.

Information about refugees

Would you first like to know more about refugees? Where they come from, how and where they are received and how their procedure works once they arrive in the Netherlands? Then read our information sheet.

Organize something

Of course, you can also organize an activity yourself. Think of (creative) workshops, tours of the city, game nights or field days, cooking and eating together. Always choose something that excites you. You can read the experiences of others here.

Help with activities

There are weekly activities you can join. For example workshops, soccer nights, women’s groups or children’s clubs. Check out our agenda to get an idea of our ongoing activities. We also visit different cultural institutions every month and there are city walks and other active outings you can participate in. If you would like to join or would like more information, please send an email to info@welkominutrecht.nu.

Join a language café

If you live in the Netherlands, it is of course very important and nice to be able to speak and read Dutch. There are formal language classes for that, but not every refugee can use them (yet) and moreover, it is nice to practice. This can be done at a language café. At a language café volunteers practice the Dutch language with refugees. Would you like to volunteer at a language café? You can! We work together with the WelnU language cafes and coordinate several language cafes ourselves.

Language cafe ofWelnU:
Monday 19.30 – 21.30 h | Restaurant De Bierkantine | Ravellaan 96

Language cafes of Welkom in Utrecht at Plan Einstein Joseph Haydnlaan:
Wednesday 17.00 – 18.30 h | Cafeteria PKN-building
Friday 10.00 – 11.30 h | Attention: this language cafe is for women only

Language cafes of Welkom in Utrecht at Emergency Shelter Star Lodge:
Monday 12.00 – 13.00 h | Attention: this language cafe is for women only
Monday 19.30 – 21.00 h
Tuesday 19.30 – 21.00 h
Thursday 19.30 – 21.30 h
Friday 12.00 – 13.30 h

Language cafes of Welkom in Utrecht at Plan Einstein Pahud:
Monday 14.00 – 16.00 h
Wednesday 11.00 – 14.00 h | In cooperation with Huis van Licht
Wednesday 19.00 – 21.00 h
Thursday 11.00 – 14.30 h

Language cafes of Welkom in Utrecht for Ukrainians:
Monday 19.30 – 21.00 h | Boat Danubia | Keulsekade 394
Thursday 19.30 – 21.00 h | Vital’nya ANNE | Kanaalweg 86

Take a look at this report that RTL made in 2017 about our language cafés (in Dutch).

Help with children’s activities

Children’s activities are organised at various shelter facilities. Would you like to help out on a regular basis? Or would you like to set something up yourself? We would like to hear from you via info@welkominutrecht.nu.

Become a buddy(family)

Many refugees (families and individuals) want contact with Dutch people. To improve their Dutch, to find their way in their new city, to expand their network, simply to do something fun together, or to help them orientate towards work. For example, they go for a coffee together, take a walk or visit an event. A lot of special friendships have come into being this way.

We have already brought many people together: an Eritrean and a Dutch family who, for example, go to the playground together and eat together; a retired lady who helps a young man practise the Dutch language; the English Hanna to the Syrian Hamza who wants to improve his English for his studies. Here you can read about experiences of people who are already buddies.

For more information or to sign up, please get in touch with Eline via eline@welkominutrecht.nu.

Goods and clothing

In general, Welkom in Utrecht does not accept goods and clothing. We have no space for storage and it is impossible for us to distribute these fairly among the hundreds of people. Sometimes we make an exception. For example when there is a demand for something very specific (in that case we make an appeal) or when the offer is very special. We only accept strollers and maxi-cosi’s for people who are in need.