The Salvation Army’s Ontmoetingswinkel on Lambertus Zijlplein in Geuzenveld has been open since 2024 and is a secondhand shop that doubles as a place to meet neighbours.
Visitors can browse clothes, cuddly toys, kitchenware and puzzles, or simply sit down with a coffee or tea without having to buy anything.
Location coordinator Elise Knoop says that feeling part of a community helps a great deal at a time when loneliness affects young people as well as older residents.
Those who want to get involved are matched with something that suits them, from creative projects to chatting with customers or organising events.
Activities and local support
The shop sits alongside other community spaces on the square, including the Pleinkamer clothing swap, Het Pluspunt and a public library.
About 50 people joined a workshop on painting tableware, and one resident has offered to teach Dutch.
Sales and donated goods pay for the Salvation Army’s support for people in need, and the shop always welcomes new ideas and volunteers.
The shop, at Lambertus Zijlplein 27, is currently open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:00 to 16:00.
If you would like to help out, check out our guide to volunteering in Amsterdam.