Hosting and traveling for peace, understanding, and international friendships

Servas is an international network of travelers and hosts. Servas has over 15,000 members in more than 100 countries and continues to grow.

As a Servas traveler, you can meet people worldwide in a personal way by staying as a guest in their homes. You share their lives for one or two days, immersing yourself in the true essence of another country. This allows you to experience much more of the local culture than as an ordinary tourist.

As a Servas host, you introduce travelers to life in the Netherlands. You offer your visitors accommodation for one or two days and invite them to be part of your world.

As a Servas day host, you meet Servas travelers at a station, another public place, or your home. You spend a day or part of a day together, but you do not provide accommodation.

You can also choose to be a traveler, host, and day host all at once.

Become a member

About Servas

Servas is an international network of travelers and (day) hosts who offer hospitality to one another. Through Servas, you have the opportunity to truly get to know and appreciate each other’s worlds. Servas aims to promote global peace in this way.

Under the umbrella of Servas International, more than 100 countries operate with their own national Servas organization.

Servas - Origin and Purpose

Servas International is a non-profit, non-governmental federation of over 100 national groups worldwide. It was founded in 1949 by Bob Luitweiler and was originally called Peacebuilders.

The purpose of Servas is: to create conditions for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and knowledge that promote tolerance and understanding among the people of the world. We aim to achieve this in a way that aligns with our principles and values. The overarching and long-term vision of Servas International is a more peaceful world.

“With every true friendship, we strengthen the foundations on which the peace of the world rests.”
— Mahatma Gandhi

Servas International

Servas Nederland

Servas Netherlands currently has around 230 members.

Each province has a contact person who serves as a point of contact for members and conducts introductory meetings with prospective members. Once a year, the contact person invites members in their region to a gathering.

We organize national and local activities for members.

At the end of March, the annual general assembly (ALV) is held. All members are welcome to participate in discussions and decisions regarding the organization.

The board consists of a chairperson, secretary, treasurer, peace secretary, and youth secretary. Servas Netherlands is run entirely by volunteers.

Servas Online

ServasOnline is the digital platform where every Servas member has an account and can connect with others.

In your account, you describe your interests, work, ideals, etc. In short, you share whatever you want with other Servas members. Only Servas members can view your profile.

You can also indicate whether you want to be a host or day host. You provide a description of your living situation and surroundings.

On ServasOnline, travelers from around the world can reach out to hosts with a request to stay for 1 or 2 days or to spend a day together. It’s entirely up to you whether to accept or decline the request. Servas members respond promptly, so travelers quickly know what to expect.

Conversely, you can use ServasOnline to search for a host where you’d like to stay or a day host to spend time with. You can refine your search by city, region, interests, professions, families with children, wheelchair accessibility, and more. Once you find a (day) host, you send a request and wait for their response.

ServasOnline is exclusively accessible to Servas members.

I Want to Become a Member

Are you interested in becoming a member of Servas? Sign up using the button below.

After registering, we’ll invite you for an introductory meeting with a contact person in your area. During this meeting, we’ll explain what makes Servas special and how it works. Naturally, we expect you to share Servas' goals and values.

Once you become a member, you’ll create a profile on ServasOnline, allowing you to connect with Servas members worldwide and for them to connect with you.

Need help signing up?

Host

As a host, you open your home to Servas travelers from all over the world. You typically host travelers for one or two days. You provide a place to sleep and enjoy spending time together, whether by sharing a meal, doing an activity, or simply exchanging stories. As a Servas host, you bring the world into your home!

When a traveler sends a request, you’ll receive it via email. You can review their profile on ServasOnline. If it works for you, you can arrange the details via email or phone.
If it’s not a good time, let them know quickly. Don’t leave people wondering.

Home While Traveling

★★★★★

“At a restaurant, we started chatting with a couple. They had exchanged their house in Aberdeen with someone in Bruges. It was a pleasant conversation, so we invited them over: ‘If you’d like, you can stay overnight.’

They brought a box of butterscotch as a gift. When they were leaving, they asked us if we had ever heard of Servas. ‘Actually, that is exactly what you’re doing,’ they said. And that’s how we became members.

As hosts, we welcome people from all over the world. It feels like traveling while staying at home.”

Laurens

Become a Host

Day host

As a day host, you enjoy meeting Servas travelers but do not provide accommodation. You can invite people to your home or arrange to meet elsewhere. You might show them interesting sights in your area, share a drink, or even have a meal together. Along the way, there’s plenty of time to exchange stories and experiences.

How Fun It Is to Be a Day Host!

☆☆☆☆☆

“A while ago, I received a request from a couple from Canada. We met at their hotel, and I gave them a tour of the historic center of Amsterdam. Coincidentally, Sinterklaas was set to arrive by boat the next day, passing right under my balcony on the Amstel River. So, I invited them to my home.

It was a colorful parade of hundreds of boats welcoming Sinterklaas. On both sides of the river, thousands of children gathered. My guests had front-row seats in the ‘royal box.’ Later, they wrote to tell me it was the highlight of their vacation.”

Colette

Become a Dayhost

Servas Traveller

Are you filled with questions when you’re in a foreign country? Do you wish you could connect more deeply with the people there? Hear real-life stories? Have doors opened to you? Servas opens doors for those who seek meaningful personal connections and want to truly understand other cultures.

As a traveler, you use ServasOnline to contact hosts you’d like to visit. You can search by country, city, age, family situation, lifestyle, and more. In your profile, you describe your travel plans so hosts can determine if your request suits them. If there’s a match, it’s time to pack your bags—don’t forget to bring a small gift for your host!

Servas hosts open their homes and briefly share their lives with you. Together, you take time to listen to each other’s stories. You might cook and eat together or engage in activities. Be mindful to ensure that what your host does for you is balanced with what you contribute in return. After one or two days, you continue your journey with a wealth of new experiences.

Servas members are eager to explore the differences and similarities between cultures. We are curious, open-minded, and passionate about contributing to world peace by building global friendships.

What Does Traveling Mean to You?

☆☆☆☆☆

“What does traveling mean to us? We love staying in one place long enough to truly get to know the people. Servas is perfect for this.

We will never forget the time we stayed with a Servas host in India, a Hindu housewife. She showed us her private temple and shared her dreams of working in childcare. She let us taste the cake baked for the Diwali festival—a cake blessed by the gods. Surely, it was meant to be.

These are the experiences you never forget. Over the years, we’ve had so many meaningful encounters, and we hope to have many more in the future.”

Tracey and Jim

Become a Traveller