Volunteers and clubs in the news
What is being written about club life, gathered in one place: 10 pieces from CBS, NOS, NOC*NSF, the Mulier Institute and EenVandaag on volunteers, board members and the pressure on clubs. All from the past two years, and every one links through to the source itself.
What clubs are actually dealing with.
Not our own press releases, but research and journalism by others. Every item links to the original, with the publisher and the publication date, so you can read it for yourself.
Vrijwilligerswerk blijft op niveau van voor de coronapandemie
In 2025, 47 per cent of people in the Netherlands did voluntary work, the same share as in 2019. Of all organisations, sports clubs attract the most volunteers.
NOC*NSFPosition · 1 juni 2026Bezuinigen op sport juist nu desastreus
Clubs gained another 47,000 members in 2025. The national sports body warns that the announced cuts will end up costing society more than they save.
CBSFigures · 20 mei 2026Nederlanders rijk en tevreden maar minder met elkaar verbonden
The share of volunteers fell from 49.5 to 47 per cent, and informal help and social contact declined as well. The drop runs through almost every group.
Mulier InstituutResearch · 12 december 202512 procent sportverenigingen heeft wachtlijst of ledenstop
Lack of space is the main reason, but too few volunteers comes second: without people to coach and supervise, you cannot take on new members.
NOC*NSFResearch · 25 oktober 2025Ruimtegebrek dwingt sportclubs tot ledenstop
In densely urban areas one in five clubs has a waiting list or has closed for new members. After lack of space, a shortage of volunteers and board members is the reason cited most.
EenVandaagReport · 2 juni 2025Sportclubs hebben steeds meer moeite met vinden van vrijwilligers: ‘Je moet ook wel sterk in je schoenen staan’
Half of all adults volunteer, and still clubs are short of hands. Board members say volunteers face more criticism than they used to.
NOSFigures · 7 mei 2025Helft van Nederland doet vrijwilligerswerk, sportverenigingen populairst
Sports clubs attract more volunteers than any other kind of organisation. Not every club manages to find them: board work in particular is unpopular.
NOC*NSFBackground · 30 april 2025Vrijwillige bestuurders onder druk: steun en oplossingen voor sportverenigingen
Some 90,000 volunteer board members are getting stuck on rules and paperwork. The national sports body wants new legislation tested for the burden it puts on volunteers.
NOS NieuwsuurReport · 29 april 2025Bestuurders sportclubs haken af: financiële risico’s te groot
More than 130 regulations apply to a sports club, and board members can be personally liable for its debts. That risk puts volunteers off.
Mulier InstituutResearch · 16 december 2024Vrijwilligerswerk in de sport: minder animo voor structurele taken, meer voor incidentele
Coaching and board work are declining; bar shifts are not. People still want to help, but for one occasion rather than a whole season.
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