Become a volunteer

The Chaplaincy needs new volunteers

We are currently looking for committed people to help in the Meditation Centre. The centre is opened 24 hours a day for passengers and airport staff who wish a moment of quiet or retreat. The task of the volunteers is to ensure that the Meditation Centre is a pleasant place for passengers to spend time in silence. This means that, as a volunteer, you will be openminded and respectful for the variety of people who enter the centre during your shift. They may have questions or needs you will attend to.

You will often let the visitors do their own thing. Sometimes you can offer a cup of tea or coffee. An important task is to pay attention to the passengers of different faiths and thereby ensure the correct use of the Meditation Centre. Sometimes a visitor wants to tell his or her story and you can lend him or her an ear. On average, there are 120 visitors per day. However, there may also be times when it is quiet.

Volunteers are present during office hours on weekdays. On weekends or on public holidays, a volunteer is present between 10:00 and 14:00. Every volunteer is expected to participate fully in the schedule that is filled seven days a week and is scheduled to be present for one half-day every two weeks. The volunteers are reimbursed for their travel expenses up to a maximum of €13.50 per shift. It is therefore important that you live near Schiphol. A training program is offered on six to seven occasions per year. Your participation is mandatory.

We ask from you an open and ecumenical attitude towards church and spirituality, a good command of modern languages, and strong social skills.
The airport chaplains train new volunteers and guide them as a group and individually. The training period takes time and energy, both for you and for us. That is why we ask you to be able to contribute as a volunteer for at least two years.

If you are attracted to this challenging task, you can express your interest by filling in the application form on our website. We will then contact you. As a rule, joining the group of volunteers takes place after a number of interviews and after working shifts under supervision for a few times. The procedure also includes a check by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, because you will be working in the protected area (air side). For more information you can also contact us by filling in the contact form.

Kind regards,
on behalf of the Airport Chaplaincy,
Marieke Meiring-Snijder, Gerard Timmermans, and Mark Hafkenscheid