Volunteers sweep the streets: Over 2,300 cleanup actions kick off nationwide

Tens of thousands of volunteers are hitting the streets, parks, and waterways across the Netherlands on Saturday for the 23rd annual Landelijke Opschoondag (National Cleanup Day), a nationwide effort to tackle litter. More than 2,300 cleanup actions have been registered, with schools, sports clubs, and major companies—including McDonald's and Albert Heijn—joining the initiative.

Participation exceeded last year’s total of 40,000 volunteers, with around 55,000 gathering this year. Roosendaal led the effort with 2,346 registered participants, followed by Amsterdam with 1,754 and The Hague with 1,205.

The event is led by Supporter van Schoon, part of Verpact, the organization responsible for packaging waste collection and recycling on behalf of businesses. The initiative aims to create cleaner public spaces and raise awareness about litter prevention.

New this year is a special recognition for an “inspirational cleanup action.” The selected volunteers will be rewarded after their efforts with a visit from a mobile barista cart serving Italian coffee.