Donate foreign currency at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Charity Donation Stations at Schiphol

Travelers often return from their vacations or business trips with foreign currency in their pockets. Sometimes these are coins or banknotes that can no longer be used in the Netherlands, but which still represent value. For many, this currency ends up unused in a drawer, where it is forgotten.

Schiphol offers a partial solution: donation stations are located at various locations throughout the airport after passport control where travelers can donate their remaining foreign currency. These stations seem at first glance to be a simple and convenient way to dispose of excess foreign coins and banknotes while simultaneously supporting a good cause, but they are of no use to a traveler in the arrivals hall if they only then discover that they still have foreign currency left over from their trip.

However, there are also alternatives, such as the Cambio Foundation, which offers a better and more effective way to donate foreign currency to charities through its platform, buitenlandsgelddoneren.nl.

How do the donation stations at Schiphol work?

Donation stations can be found at Schiphol where travelers can donate their remaining foreign currency. These kiosks are operated by various charities or by airport partners. The idea is simple: instead of going home with unusable currency, travelers can deposit their money in these kiosks, and it will be collected for charity.

While seemingly an easy way to do something good, these donation kiosks have several drawbacks. Below, we discuss the main issues:

1. Limited Transparency

One of the biggest problems with the donation kiosks at Schiphol is the lack of transparency. It is often unclear which charity benefits from the donations, how much money is actually raised, and how the foreign currency is converted into euros. Because various parties are involved, including the airport itself, it is difficult to determine what percentage of the donations actually goes to the charity.

2. Operational Costs

Collecting, sorting, and exchanging foreign currency incurs costs. These costs are often deducted from the total proceeds, meaning that some of the donated currency does not go directly to the charity. This is especially true for small amounts or currencies that are difficult to exchange. In some cases, operational costs can even consume a large portion of the donation.

3. Limited Accessibility

Although Schiphol is the largest airport in the Netherlands and welcomes thousands of travelers daily, the number of people who actually use the donation kiosks is relatively limited. Many travelers are in a hurry, don’t think about it, or simply don’t know they exist. Moreover, the kiosks are mainly accessible to people who have already cleared customs, further limiting accessibility for a wider audience.

There are no donation kiosks at Schiphol Plaza or in the arrivals and departures halls. Therefore, people picking up or dropping off passengers cannot donate. And travelers who only realize in the arrivals hall that they still have foreign currency left and want to donate are not allowed to go back through passport control to donate the money.

Banknotes of the most commonly traded currencies, such as the US dollar, Swiss franc, and British pound, can still be obtained at the Travelex counter in the arrivals hall. Here, the foreign currency is collected and exchanged for euros for a hefty commission (sometimes as much as 50%). However, Travelex only accepts banknotes, not coins.

4. Environmental Impact

Finally, there’s the environmental impact of processing and transporting these small quantities of foreign currency. Collecting, sorting, and transporting the coins and banknotes has a carbon footprint, especially when it comes to heavy, metal coins that need to be shipped worldwide. Although this happens on a small scale, the cumulative effect can be significant.

An easier alternative to Schiphol: Charity Cambio

Our advantages:

1. Easy Donation

Donors can easily send their remaining foreign currency to Stichting Cambio through the website. The platform allows donations of virtually any type of foreign currency, from coins to banknotes. Moreover, donors don’t have to distinguish between different currencies; everything can be sent in one go.

The donation process is simple and easily accessible. There’s no need to fill out a form on the website. Simply sending it by mail is all the traveler needs to do.

2. Transparency

One of Stichting Cambio’s greatest advantages is its transparency. Donors can see at any time how their donation is being used and which charity benefits from it. The money is carefully counted and exchanged, and the proceeds go directly to selected charities. This process is fully transparent, and Stichting Cambio regularly reports on the results and how much money has been raised.

In addition, donors can indicate their preference (but not a guarantee) for which charity their donation will go. This gives them more control over the impact of their donation, something that’s lacking at the donation kiosks at Schiphol.

3. Efficiency and Sustainability

Because the Cambio Foundation specifically focuses on collecting foreign currency, they have developed processes that are more efficient and sustainable than the ad-hoc solutions at Schiphol. The money is collected at a central location, which reduces transport movements. They also have agreements with exchange offices and banks, allowing them to exchange currencies into euros at favorable rates. This means more money remains for the charities.

Another contributing factor to efficiency is Cambio’s specialization in processing foreign currency. This means they can also exchange less common coins and banknotes, something other organizations often lack the capacity for. This ensures that every donation, no matter how small, counts.

4. Improved Accessibility

While the donation kiosks at Schiphol are only accessible to travelers currently at the airport, the Cambio Foundation platform is available to everyone in the Netherlands. This means that not only travelers, but also people who still have foreign currency lying around at home, can contribute. This increases accessibility and makes it possible to raise much more currency.

Furthermore, Cambio offers the option for both individuals and companies to make donations. Companies can donate their remaining currency from international business trips, allowing them to contribute to social causes while efficiently disposing of their surplus currency.

The Impact of Donating Foreign Currency

Donating foreign currency can have a huge impact on charities. Much of the currency that no longer has any value in the Netherlands can still be converted into euros through exchange transactions. This money can then be used for projects worldwide. The Cambio Foundation has already supported numerous projects, from education initiatives to disaster relief.

1. Education Projects

A portion of the proceeds from foreign currency donations goes to education projects in developing countries. These can range from building schools to providing school supplies to underprivileged children. Every little bit helps, and because Cambio specializes in exchanging foreign currency, even the smallest donation can make a big difference.

2. Emergency Aid and Disaster Relief

Donations are also used for emergency relief during natural disasters and other crises. Whether it’s providing food, water, and shelter, or medical aid to people in need, every little bit helps save lives and support communities in times of crisis.

Conclusion

While the donation kiosks at Schiphol Airport are a convenient tool for travelers to donate their surplus foreign currency, the Cambio Foundation offers an easier alternative. With greater transparency, efficiency, and accessibility, Cambio ensures that every donation is used optimally and that the impact for the charities is greater. But more importantly, unlike the kiosks at Schiphol, the Cambio Foundation is not located behind passport control.

If you have any foreign coins or banknotes that you no longer need, consider donating them using the instructions below.

How to donate to Charity Cambio?

• We accept all types of foreign currency, both coins and banknotes.
• This also includes currency that is generally no longer exchangeable.
• You can drop off your donation yourself at the reception desk at the address below. Opening hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM.
• You can also mail your donation. Please be sure to cover the shipping costs yourself. Please include your information (IBAN and email address) in a note inside the envelope, and we will reimburse the shipping costs.
• If you provide an email address, you will always receive a response. Please be patient, as we are volunteers and process received currency quarterly.
• Send your foreign currency to the address below:

Locations of donation boxes for donating foreign money