Name

VLC & Partners

Legal name

Howden Nederland B.V.

Website

https://vlc-partners.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Lines Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employee Benefits Brokerage & Consulting (FSAEADAC)

Keywords

• Insurance brokerage
• Risk management
• Employee benefits
• Pension advisory
• Absence management

Headquarters

HQ city

's-hertogenbosch

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Broking: Core insurance broking services providing risk management and insurance placement solutions. Achieved 14% organic growth in 2024.
2. Reinsurance: Reinsurance intermediary services facilitating risk transfer between insurers. Achieved 30% organic growth in 2024.
3. Managing General Agent (DUAL): Managing General Agent operations under the DUAL brand providing specialty insurance products. Achieved 6% organic growth in 2024.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VLC & Partners is a Dutch insurance intermediary (intermediair) operating in risk management, absence, pensions, and private insurance. It advises businesses and private individuals on placing commercial and personal insurance lines, managing employee benefits, mitigating operational risks, and structuring pension schemes, functioning as a sector-specialized broker within the broader Howden network.

Product overview

Howden (Howden Group Holdings) operates as a global insurance broker and risk advisory firm, not a technology product company. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and risk management services. Key offerings include commercial insurance lines such as property, casualty, marine, and specialty insurance; employee benefits solutions encompassing health insurance, pensions, and HR services; and specialized sector coverage for construction, renewable energy, transportation, healthcare, and professional services. The Netherlands operations (Howden Nederland) provide services through multiple offices across the country (Barneveld, Breda, Den Haag, Ede, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, 's-Hertogenbosch, Tilburg, Utrecht) and serve both commercial enterprises and private individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Insurance Broking Insurance distribution and advisory services for businesses, spanning property, casualty, liability, cyber, marine, transport, and specialty insurance products across multiple Dutch sectors.
• Employee Benefits Integrated HR, health, absence and pension advisory services for Dutch employers, including collective health insurance, case management, absence coaching, WIA/WGA cover, strategic pension planning, and the Howden Werknemersportaal.
• Risk Management Services Risk assessment and mitigation services including business continuity planning, credit management, cyber risk management, claims services, and business impact analysis for Dutch companies.
• Sector-Specific Insurance Solutions Specialized insurance packages tailored to specific industries including construction (CAR, Bouwend Nederland Integraal Polis), ICT (IT pakketpolis), marine (marine- and cargoverzekering), healthcare, manufacturing (metaal pakketpolis), transport, real estate, renewable energy, food & feed, and professional services (beroepsaansprakelijkheid).
• Private Insurance (Personal Lines) Personal insurance products for Dutch private individuals covering personal liability, arbeidsongeschiktheid, overlijdensrisico, and related private damage and protection cover.
• International Insurance Program Services Cross-border insurance and risk advisory for Dutch multinationals and internationally active companies, coordinated through the Howden One Network of partner brokers across 55 countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14% organic growth in insurance broking (2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments19 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Howden One Network Partner BrokerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Howden One Network is a global partnership of independent broker partners who work with Howden to provide coverage in countries where Howden does not have owned offices. The network is positioned as enabling truly global coverage for multinational clients and local coverage for smaller businesses. Partners collaborate under the Howden brand for consistent service delivery.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aon plc: Global insurance and reinsurance brokerage powerhouse with deep presence in the Netherlands, offering the same commercial lines broking, risk advisory, and employee benefits services that VLC & Partners provides — Aon is the benchmark incumbent.
• Marsh McLennan: Largest global insurance broker and risk advisor, with strong Dutch operations providing commercial insurance, reinsurance, and risk consulting directly comparable to VLC & Partners' offering.
• Willis Towers Watson: Global advisory and broking firm with substantial Dutch presence across commercial insurance broking, risk management, and employee benefits — directly overlapping VLC & Partners' service portfolio.
• Sedgwick: Global provider of claims management, loss adjusting, and risk services with Dutch operations, offering adjacent claims and risk management services that overlap with VLC & Partners' risk management and claims services portfolio.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. US-headquartered global insurance brokerage with growing European presence, providing commercial broking, risk management, and employee benefits consulting comparable to VLC & Partners' offerings.
• Brown & Brown, Inc. US-listed insurance brokerage expanding internationally with a focus on mid-market commercial clients and specialty lines, comparable to VLC & Partners' mid-market, multi-sector Dutch positioning.

Direct peers

• Lockton: World's largest independent insurance brokerage with a comparable mid-market and sector-specialist model, positioning itself as a nimble alternative to the big three — closely aligned with Howden's independent positioning relative to VLC & Partners.

Regional players

• MeerRisk / Aon Netherlands (local broker competitors): Local Dutch insurance broker subsidiaries of global firms serving the same Dutch mid-market clients with comparable sector specializations (construction, transport, healthcare, marine).

Others

• Nationale-Nederlanden: Major Dutch insurance carrier that, while primarily an insurer rather than broker, competes for distribution through direct channels and bancassurance, pressuring broker intermediation in the Dutch market.
• Achmea: Largest Dutch insurance group with broad commercial and employee benefits offerings; while primarily an insurer/carrier, its scale and direct distribution capabilities shape the competitive environment for Dutch brokers like VLC & Partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/howden-broking-insurance
• Instagraminstagram.com/howdeninsurance
• Xx.com/uwchabot

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VLC & Partners