Volunteer Spotlight: Volendam Museum Volunteers Building Winter Exhibitions

Every autumn, the galleries at the Volendam Museum begin a quiet transformation. By November, a team of dedicated Volendam Museum volunteers is hard at work building the sets and decoration that shape a completely new temporary exhibition for the coming season. If you enjoy hands-on creative work, solving technical challenges, and being part of a close-knit team, this is your chance to help bring Volendam’s stories to life.

In this behind-the-scenes spotlight, you’ll discover what the winter build involves, who makes it happen, and how you can join in. You’ll also find quick answers to common questions and practical tips to get started.

At a glance: key facts

• A completely new temporary exhibition is constructed every autumn.
• Set-building and decoration begin in November and continue through the winter months.
• The museum is almost entirely run by volunteers and welcomes more than 20,000 visitors each year.
• Volunteer roles include exhibition set-building and decoration, host/hostess, and collection management.
• Daily coordination of volunteers is led by director Regina Schilder; the museum is recognized under the national Museum Standard and has ANBI status.

How winter exhibitions are built

Each year, the museum’s decorator team constructs brand-new sets for the annual temporary exhibition. This intensive build starts in November, when footfall in the galleries is quieter and spaces can be reimagined. Volunteers collaborate to:

• Build and dress sets that match the new exhibition’s theme.
• Work with different building materials to achieve robust, accurate results.
• Devise creative technical solutions so installations are safe, durable, and visitor-friendly.

Because the display is refreshed annually, the work combines craftsmanship with ingenuity. Volunteers who are accurate, comfortable using various materials, and able to contribute ideas thrive in this environment. The result is a polished, immersive exhibition ready for visitors in the new season.

Who makes it happen

The Volendam Museum is a cultural history museum recognized by the Dutch Museum Association and run daily by a committed volunteer community. Volunteers support the museum across many tasks, including:

• Exhibition set-building and decoration during autumn and winter.
• Welcoming visitors as host or hostess—ideal if you’d like to practice your languages and enjoy working with people, even for one or more half-days.
• Collection management, including registering new acquisitions and donations in a database and digitising the photo and film collection.

Oversight and coordination are led by director Regina Schilder, who also advises prospective volunteers about roles and fit.

Why these winter exhibitions matter for visitors

Annual renewal keeps the museum experience fresh and engaging for returning and first-time visitors alike. Alongside its permanent highlights—such as the Cigar Band House with mosaics made from roughly 11 million cigar bands—the museum presents new thematic exhibitions each year. Topics have included the Flood Disaster of 1916, Volendam as an artists’ village, and life events like birth, wedding, and mourning.

Recent exhibition programming has showcased:

• Interrupted Time — marking the 25th anniversary of the New Year’s fire at Café ’t Hemeltje (2001) as a heritage project.
• Volendam, a musical journey through the century — an expansive look at 100 years of Volendam’s music history.
• Oe Vrauwe Kêike — a unique perspective on Volendam through the art of female artists over the years.

For families, the museum adds a playful touch with handheld Magic Wands that children can wave at specific points to trigger real-time surprises and interactive effects. And beyond the galleries, a guided walking tour departs from the museum, leading visitors through Volendam’s historical centre and along the Dijk.

A tradition of community building

Community effort is woven into the museum’s history. After a major expansion, the new Volendam Museum premises were officially opened on 16 March 1991 by the mayor of Edam-Volendam. Since 1995, the museum has housed the extraordinary Cigar Band House—mosaics crafted from about 11 million cigar bands—further cementing its reputation for distinctive cultural storytelling. These milestones underscore how volunteers, local partners, and supporters have long helped the museum grow and renew itself.

How to get involved

You can apply for a role that matches your interests and availability. The museum invites prospective volunteers to complete the contact form; after you submit your details, a staff member will call you to discuss your interests.

Roles at a glance

1. Exhibition set-building and decoration (autumn–winter)

   • Contribute to building and finishing new sets from November onward.
   • Work well in a team, be accurate, and comfortable with different building materials.
   • Enjoy devising creative technical solutions.

2. Host/Hostess (year-round)

   • Welcome guests and help create a warm, informative first impression.
   • Great if you’d like to practice languages and work one or more half-days.

3. Collection management employee (year-round)

   • Register new acquisitions and donations in the collection database.
   • Help capture and digitise the photo and film collection.
   • Accuracy and confidence with computers are important.

For details on exhibition set-building and collection management, you can also contact Regina Schilder at the museum.

FAQs

When are the winter exhibitions built and installed?

A completely new temporary exhibition is constructed every autumn. The decorator team begins building the sets in November so the refreshed display is ready for visitors in the following season.

Who coordinates volunteers?

A director, Regina Schilder, has been appointed for the daily management of the museum and the coordination of volunteers.

What volunteer roles are currently sought?

The museum is looking for volunteers to welcome guests as host/hostess and to help register new acquisitions and digitise the photo and film collection as a collection-management employee. It also invites versatile volunteers for exhibition set-building and decoration during autumn and winter.

Is the museum officially recognized?

Yes. The Volendam Museum is recognized under the national Museum Standard and has ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status.

What family-friendly experiences are available?

The museum provides handheld Magic Wands for children that trigger real-time surprises at marked points—adding a playful, hands-on element to a visit. The museum also organises a guided historical walking tour through Volendam.

Where can I learn more about current exhibitions?

The museum stages a new thematic exhibition every year and offers regularly changing shows on topics such as the Flood Disaster of 1916, Volendam as an artists’ village, and life events in the village. You can also download the museum brochure online in multiple languages.

Practical tips for prospective volunteers

• Choose your season: If you love building and making, the exhibition set-build begins in November and continues through the winter months.
• Highlight relevant skills: Emphasise teamwork, accuracy, and comfort with different building materials when you apply for the set-building team.
• Mention language and people skills: For host/hostess roles, note any languages you speak and your availability for one or more half-days.
• Note digital experience: If you’re interested in collection management, mention any experience with databases or digitisation and your attention to detail.
• Start the conversation early: Use the museum’s contact form to register your interest; a staff member will call you to discuss the best fit. You can also ask for Regina Schilder if you have questions about specific roles.

Conclusion

Each winter, Volendam Museum volunteers turn empty gallery spaces into evocative, story-rich exhibitions that welcome more than 20,000 visitors a year. If you’re practical, precise, and creative—or if you simply enjoy helping people feel at home—there’s a role for you here.

Ready to help build the next exhibition or support visitors on the gallery floor? Complete the contact form today and ask for Regina Schilder to discuss the volunteer role that suits you best.