Hans Anders
Hans Anders is the leading Dutch optical and audiology retail chain (N°1 optical, N°3 hearing in the Netherlands; N°2 optical in Belgium), part of Nexeye's 750-store European network. It sells affordable own-brand and premium prescription eyewear, contact lenses, sunglasses, and hearing aids via omnichannel retail serving mass-market consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersGorinchem, Netherlands
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hans Anders does
Hans Anders is a Dutch optical and audiology retail chain and the lead brand of the Nexeye group, positioned as the N°1 optical retailer and N°3 hearing-device retailer in the Netherlands and the N°2 optical retailer in Belgium. Founded in 1982 (per firmographics; another source cites 1984) and headquartered in Gorinchem, the company operates within a parent network of 750 retail stores across Europe with a stated target of 1,000 stores by 2028. Its core commercial proposition is affordable prescription eyewear and hearing care delivered through an omnichannel model that combines owned physical retail, an e-commerce storefront, and free in-store services (eye measurements and hearing tests). Its headcount band is 1,001-5,000 employees.
The product portfolio spans own-brand prescription eyeglasses (Hans Anders Collection, 503 frame models, complete glasses from €19), the Ciircle sustainable sub-brand (REGRIND ISCC Plus certified bio-circular recycled acetate), the DRIIVE sport-eyewear sub-brand, premium third-party brands (Ray-Ban, Vogue, Calvin Klein, Polaroid, Michael Kors, Gant, Timberland, Nike), sunglasses, contact lenses (daily/monthly, toric, multifocal; brands include Lyra Flatpack and Biofinity), and hearing aids plus hearing protection. The company is also launching the Ray-Ban Meta smart-glasses line from €499, signaling entry into connected eyewear. Underlying technology is concentrated in lens engineering — Blue Filter, Ultra Coating (scratch-resistant/antistatic), Easy Drive Filter (anti-glare for driving), photochromic lenses, and NeXt single-vision lenses for screen work — rather than in software or AI. Service subscriptions (Bril Totaal Plan, Lens Totaal Plan, Bril Garant Plan, Hoor Garant Plan) add a recurring layer to a fundamentally transactional retail model.
Hans Anders makes money primarily through one-time unit-priced retail transactions across glasses, lenses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and accessories, augmented by recurring service-plan subscriptions and a complementary e-commerce channel. Pricing is tiered by brand: own-brand frames €19-€89, premium-brand frames €45-€169, lens upgrades by refractive index, and active promotions (Kids Deal from €69, 30% off first contact lenses, 25% off hearing aids, 3=1 lens bundles). Growth and go-to-market relies on high store density, content marketing/SEO, email newsletters, social media, sports sponsorships (Team Picnic PostNL cycling team, Virgil van Dijk Nike campaign), and a kids-focused brand mascot (Hàn sī). The company is led by CEO Bart Van Den Nieuwenhof and was founded by Rien van der Ent; institutional shareholders include investors from a 2014 round (Alpha Group, Carlyle AlpInvest) and a 2017 round (led by Idinvest Partners).
Hans Anders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hans Anders
- Legal name
- Hans Anders
- Website
- https://hansanders.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Hans Anders is the leading Dutch optical and audiology retail chain (N°1 optical, N°3 hearing in the Netherlands; N°2 optical in Belgium), part of Nexeye's 750-store European network. It sells affordable own-brand and premium prescription eyewear, contact lenses, sunglasses, and hearing aids via omnichannel retail serving mass-market consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hans Anders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Optical and Audiology Retail
- NAICS
- Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Optical Goods Retailers (456130)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical) (CRAAAKAA), Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Luxury & Designer Eyewear (CRAAAKAD)
Keywords
Where Hans Anders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gorinchem
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hans Anders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Eyewear Retail: Sale of prescription glasses, sunglasses, frames and lenses through owned retail stores and e-commerce. Revenue from own-brand Hans Anders collection and third-party premium brands (Ray-Ban, Vogue, Calvin Klein). Includes lens options, coatings, and multifocal lens upgrades.
- Contact Lenses: Sale of daily and monthly contact lenses, lens solutions, and eye drops through retail and e-commerce channels.
- Hearing Aids and Products: Sale of hearing aids, hearing aid batteries, maintenance products, and hearing protection solutions. Includes hearing tests and audiologist services.
- Service Plans: Recurring revenue from service plans including Bril Totaal Plan, Bril Garant Plan, Lens Totaal Plan, and Hoor Garant Plan providing insurance and maintenance coverage.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hans Anders Collection - Budget Frames |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hans Anders Collection - Premium |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Brand Frames |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids Deal |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Contact Lenses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hearing Aids |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lens Upgrades |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hans Anders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hans Anders is an optical and audiology retail chain selling prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and hearing protection through owned physical stores and e-commerce. The company offers own-brand Hans Anders and Ciircle frames alongside premium brands (Ray-Ban, Vogue, Calvin Klein, Polaroid, Michael Kors, Nike), and provides free eye and hearing tests plus recurring service and guarantee plans in-store and online.
Product overview
Hans Anders is a Dutch optical and audiology retail chain offering a comprehensive range of eyewear and hearing products. The core product portfolio includes prescription eyeglasses under the Hans Anders own brand (frames from €19-€69 with standard lenses) and the sustainable Ciircle sub-brand (100% recycled materials), contact lenses (daily and monthly including toric and multifocal), sunglasses with and without prescription, sports eyewear (DRIIVE), hearing aids, and hearing protection. Third-party designer brands include Ray-Ban, Calvin Klein, Vogue, Polaroid, Nike, Michael Kors, Gant, Timberland, and HUGO. The company also offers smart Ray-Ban Meta glasses with integrated camera and audio features. Service plans include Bril Totaal Plan, Lens Totaal Plan, Bril Garant Plan, and Hoor Garant Plan. Free eye tests and hearing tests are provided in-store. The Hàn sī red panda mascot represents the children's eyewear collection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ciircle: A sustainable eyewear brand where all frames are made from recycled materials and old frames. The collection is modern, bold, luxurious, and features refined details.
- Hàn sī
- DRIIVE
- REGRIND
Products and services
- Hans Anders Eyeglasses (Brillen) Prescription eyeglasses and optical frames in single vision and multifocal options. The own-brand Hans Anders collection offers frames from €19 to €69 with standard lenses included, targeting adults and children seeking affordable vision correction.
- Sunglasses (Zonnebrillen) Non-prescription and prescription sunglasses including polarized options, over-sunglasses, pilot styles, and sports glasses, offered under own-brand and premium designer labels.
- Contact Lenses (Lenzen) Daily and monthly contact lenses including toric lenses for astigmatism and multifocal lenses, complemented by lens solutions and eye drops. Brands include Lyra Flatpack and Biofinity.
- Hearing Aids (Hoortoestellen) Hearing aids sold with hearing aid batteries, maintenance products, and hearing accessories. Sale is supported by free in-store hearing tests and hearing care plans.
- Hearing Protection (Gehoorbescherming) Custom-fitted hearing protection including earplugs for sleep and various noise levels, targeted at consumers in noisy environments and those needing sleep protection.
- Ciircle Sustainable Eyewear Sustainable eyewear sub-brand where all frames are made from 100% recycled materials including old frames and production waste, featuring ISCC PLUS patented bio-circular acetate.
- DRIIVE Sport Eyewear Sports eyewear collection designed for athletic activities, sold under the DRIIVE brand and associated with the Team Picnic PostNL cycling team sponsorship.
- Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Smart eyewear combining Ray-Ban's Wayfarer-style design with integrated camera for photos and videos, audio playback for music, and connectivity features. Available with prescription lenses starting from €499.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of 40+ customers choose multifocal glasses for combined near and far vision correction
Companies that use Hans Anders
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Hans Anders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Hans Anders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ray-BancoreHans Anders is an authorized retailer of Ray-Ban eyewear, offering Ray-Ban prescription glasses, sunglasses, and the new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses starting from €499.
- Starkey Hearing FoundationminorPartnership for hearing aid donations and hearing care philanthropy initiatives.
- Team Picnic PostNLminorSports sponsorship of the Team Picnic PostNL cycling team as part of brand marketing and visibility initiatives.
- Virgil van DijkminorFootball star endorsement partnership featuring Virgil van Dijk wearing Nike sunglasses from Hans Anders collection.
- CiirclecoreExclusive sustainable eyewear brand partnership. Ciircle frames are made from 100% recycled materials including old frames and production waste. ISCC Plus certified bio-circular acetate.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hans Anders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fielmann: Fielmann is Europe's largest optical retailer (Germany-headquartered) with broad European footprint; competes with Hans Anders on affordable prescription eyewear, own-brand frames, and vertically integrated supply.
- LensCrafters (EssilorLuxottica): LensCrafters is a major global optical retail chain owned by EssilorLuxottica; broader incumbent with overlapping premium brand assortment and in-store eye-exam model relevant to Hans Anders' premium offering.
Direct peers
- Specsavers: Specsavers is a leading optical and hearing-care retail chain with strong presence across the Netherlands and Belgium, directly competing with Hans Anders on prescription glasses, hearing aids, free eye/hearing tests, and value-tier pricing.
- eyes+more: eyes+more is a sister brand within the Nexeye group, operating a value-positioned optical retail concept across Europe; comparable because of shared ownership, similar store economics, and overlapping customer proposition.
- Mister Spex: Mister Spex is a leading online optical retailer in Europe, headquartered in Germany, with strong Benelux reach; competes with Hans Anders on price transparency, home try-on, and e-commerce-led eyewear sales.
- Pearle (part of EssilorLuxottica): Pearle is a long-standing optical retail brand active in the Netherlands and Belgium, directly competing with Hans Anders on prescription glasses, eye tests, and branded eyewear assortment.
- Direkt Optik: Direkt Optik is a Swedish value-positioned optical chain acquired by Hans Anders/Nexeye in 2013; directly comparable on low-cost prescription eyewear model and Scandinavian/European footprint.
Emerging players
- Ace & Tate: Ace & Tate is an Amsterdam-based DTC eyewear brand offering affordable prescription frames online and via own stores; competes with Hans Anders on younger urban consumers and trend-led positioning.
Regional players
- Apollo-Optik: Apollo-Optik is a large German optical retail chain (part of Bain Capital portfolio); comparable to Hans Anders on store-based optical retail model and own-brand value proposition, though primarily German rather than Benelux.
- Boots Opticians: Boots Opticians is a UK-based optical retail chain with similar store-based prescription-eyewear-plus-hearing model; comparable as a regional incumbent operating in adjacent European geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hans Anders social profiles
Digital presenceHans Anders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hans Anders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Hans Anders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hans Anders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hans Anders
What does Hans Anders do?
Hans Anders is an optical and audiology retail chain selling prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and hearing protection through owned physical stores and e-commerce. The company offers own-brand Hans Anders and Ciircle frames alongside premium brands (Ray-Ban, Vogue, Calvin Klein, Polaroid, Michael Kors, Nike), and provides free eye and hearing tests plus recurring service and guarantee plans in-store and online.
Is Hans Anders a public or private company?
Hans Anders is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Hans Anders founded?
Hans Anders was founded in 1984. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Hans Anders based?
Hans Anders is headquartered in Gorinchem, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Hans Anders make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Eyewear Retail is the primary driver. The others are contact Lenses, hearing Aids and Products and service Plans.
Who are Hans Anders's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fielmann and LensCrafters (EssilorLuxottica). Direct peers are Specsavers, eyes+more, Mister Spex, Pearle (part of EssilorLuxottica) and Direkt Optik. Ace & Tate is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Apollo-Optik and Boots Opticians.
Does Hans Anders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hans Anders.
What industry is Hans Anders in?
Hans Anders's product category is Optical and Audiology Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAKAL, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAA, Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical). Its NAICS code is 45613 and its SIC code is 3851.