Youth Organisations
The Netherlands has a number of organisations and structures in place to provide a stepping stone for young people to their adult life...
- The International Centre's website sets out the essentials of the Government's youth policy in English: Click here (PDF)
- There is a National Youth Council (Nationale Jeugdraad) which oversees all the youth organisations which exist in the Netherlands - many of them voluntary
- Many schools and universities have clubs and organisations running outside normal hours
- Scouting is also very popular with both boys and girls in the Netherlands
- For further information: Click here
Youth Information Points
It is common for larger towns and cities to have a Youth Information Point (YIP). This is a central place for 12 to 25 year olds to go for information, advice, mediation, and even practical help with writing letters and completing forms for jobs or housing. Open hours vary but young people are free to drop in at any time. The service is free of charge and always confidential.
The YIP also has a library of brochures and leaflets covering everything from housing and health to addiction and body piercing. Again these are free of charge. They also sell cut-price condoms and offer the use of computers for constructive purposes such as Internet research. Many also have a job bank with details of work experience placements, part-time and full-time posts for young people.
The YIP (along with the local Tourist Information Point, TIP) also has details about local clubs and organisations for young people.
Concessions for young people
All students are entitled to special prices on public transport via a pass (ov-jaarkaart).
There are also concessions for full-time students at many museums, cinemas and other places of interest.
School Holidays
For newcomers to Holland, there are programmes of integration and study which can be undertaken in school holidays. The local municipality (stadhuis) will have details of what's available.
Voluntary work is also popular and often allows young people to gain work experience. Most local authorities finance and organise youth work and participation is often based around a community or youth centre under professional supervision. The local Town Hall (stadhuis) has information.