Volunteers, Diplomats, and Diaspora Unite in Netherlands to Aid Ukraine
In the Dutch city of Haarlem, a Forum of the Ukrainian community was held, bringing together volunteers, diplomats, and diaspora representatives to strengthen support for Ukraine during the war.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Ukrinform.
Ukrainian volunteers, diaspora members, diplomats, local authorities, and partner organizations from the Netherlands took part in the forum, all of whom support Ukraine through humanitarian, cultural, and informational initiatives.
The event opened with a moment of silence for the fallen, followed by speeches from Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Andriy Kostin and Haarlem Mayor Jos Wienen. They emphasized that the volunteer movement has become a crucial pillar of Ukrainian resilience during the war.
“The volunteer movement of Ukrainians, both at home and abroad, was born under difficult circumstances, but it has become a symbol of our strength and unity,” the diplomat said.
At the same time, the Mayor of Haarlem highlighted the scale of support provided by the Netherlands for more than two years. During this period, over 6,000 tons of food, 785 tons of hygiene products, 1,800 tons of medical supplies, more than 1,800 tons of clothing, and over 4,000 units of transport were delivered to Ukraine.
Jos Wienen also noted the symbolic importance of the venue — the historic “Koepel” building, which transformed from a former prison into a space of freedom and a refuge for refugees.
“This is a special place in Haarlem — a building with a history that reminds us how precious freedom is and that it should never be taken for granted,” he said.
The mayor stressed how the city welcomed Ukrainians after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and thanked volunteers for supporting displaced people and preserving Ukrainian identity abroad.
Participants discussed the role of volunteerism in uniting Ukrainians abroad and strengthening humanitarian, cultural, and informational support for Ukraine. The event also showcased new initiatives aimed at assisting the military, internally displaced persons, and preserving Ukrainian culture.
The Forum also featured a “Volunteer Initiatives Fair,” which brought together 16 organizations with the aim of creating even more impactful projects in the future.
The volunteer community has become one of the key pillars of Ukraine’s resilience during the full-scale war, providing vital support that the state cannot always deliver on time.
Across Europe, volunteer initiatives continue to prove how practical, community-driven support can strengthen Ukraine’s resilience during the ongoing war. In Brittany, French fishers have transformed hundreds of kilometers of discarded fishing nets into protective barriers that help stop Russian drones above trenches, roads, and medical points. The humanitarian group Kernic Solidarités organized the deliveries, with similar contributions coming from fishers in Sweden and Denmark.
British volunteers are providing equally vital assistance. Through the long-running Pickups for Peace initiative, they recently delivered 38 more off-road vehicles packed with humanitarian supplies for Ukrainian defenders. The project, founded by farmer Mark Laird, has already supplied more than 700 vehicles that support evacuations, medical aid, reconnaissance, and logistics on difficult terrain.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Dutch volunteers donated a Yak-52 training aircraft to Ukraine, which should be used to combat Russian drones.