Hands-on Help and Heartwarming Moments at the Uylenburg Farm
At Amsterdam’s oldest children’s farm, surrounded by the smell of hay and friendly goats, Serve The City volunteers rolled up their sleeves to give back to nature, animals, and the community.
Nestled in the lush greenery of Rembrandtpark, Kinderboerderij De Uylenburg holds the title of Amsterdam’s oldest children’s farm. It is the cherished home of goats, sheep, horses, pigs, rabbits, ducks, chickens, and a noticeably lazy cat. Despite its name, curious adults are equally welcome to visit, meet the friendly resident animals, and enjoy coffee and sandwiches on the sunny café terrace.
Because caring for these furry residents keeps the caretakers constantly busy, the helping hands of Serve The City volunteers are always warmly welcomed. On the first Saturday of September, as part of the monthly Action Day events, a dedicated group rolled up their sleeves, put on their work gloves, and got to work. Their tasks ranged from gardening and removing overgrown shrubs to cleaning animal shelters to make them clean, healthy, and cozy once again. Following a tour around the farm—which naturally included cuddling the goats and the farm cat—the tasks were assigned and the meaningful work began.
Stepping into the goat house, the comforting smell of fresh hay and farm life immediately surrounds you. For Anna, who grew up spending time on her grandparents’ farm in Norway, this familiar atmosphere felt like a cozy piece of home right in Amsterdam. Joining her was her boyfriend Mauritz, who had moved back to Munich after finishing his studies in Amsterdam. They decided to volunteer at the farm while he was visiting, drawn by their shared passion for outdoor hands-on volunteering.
Mauritz shares that volunteering is one of the rare experiences where you give your time and energy freely without expecting anything in return, yet end up meeting wonderful people. He always leaves with a sense of fulfillment and a beautiful memory he longs to repeat.
“Volunteering with my daughter enriches our lives; it’s the best way to instill responsibility while spending meaningful quality time together.”
— Melanie
A few meters away, past the duck pond, 11-year-old Indigo and her mother Melanie are busy pulling out weeds in the rabbits’ playpen. The more stubborn weeds they manage to clear, the more curious rabbits emerge into the freshly cleared space—a delightful reward that keeps them going. Melanie frequently volunteers with her young daughter because she sees it as a powerful way to enrich their life experience while giving back to the community.
While they cannot always travel around the world, volunteering locally through STC or other organizations connects them to the world by introducing them to people from all walks of life. Melanie hopes to instill a strong sense of responsibility in Indigo, creating meaningful childhood memories that will stay with her forever. She warmly encourages other parents to volunteer with their children: “What better way to spend quality time together?”
Just as the farm welcomes visitors of all ages, so does STC. Anyone can join in on the volunteering activities and is guaranteed to feel warmly welcomed from day one!
