Hanssen Footcare

What Hanssen Footcare does

Hanssen Footcare is a Dutch family-owned foot care and custom orthopedic footwear company founded in 1931 and headquartered in Heerlen, Netherlands. It manufactures fully custom orthopedic shoes (orthopedische schoenen), semi-orthopedic shoes, custom insoles (steunzolen op maat / maatvoetbedden), orthopedic work shoes, and a range of shoe modifications, standard aids, and walking aids. Production relies on custom-made lasts (leesten) shaped from each patient's foot, increasingly supported by 3D scanning and 3D printing technology alongside traditional orthopedic shoemaking craftsmanship. Beyond footwear, the company delivers medical pedicure and diabetic foot care services through in-house podotherapeuten (podiatrists) and orthopedisch schoentechnologen.

The company operates a direct-to-consumer model through 25+ physical locations across the Netherlands, including co-located facilities inside major hospitals (Maastricht UMC, Sint Maartenskliniek, BovenIJ, Meander Medisch Centrum, Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gelre ziekenhuizen, Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei, St. Jansdal) and rehabilitation centers (Reade, Basalt, Adelante). Patient acquisition is driven by specialist referrals from general practitioners, orthopedists, and rheumatologists, supplemented by a free foot check lead-generation offer and an online self-assessment tool. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; most custom products are partially or fully reimbursed through Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering) under supplementary coverage, with the company handling claims directly with insurers. The acquisition of Smeets Loopcomfort has expanded the orthopedic shoe footprint, and the business is held as a private family enterprise with no external funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Hanssen Footcare

Legal name

Hanssen Footcare

Website

https://footcare.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hanssen Footcare is a Dutch family-owned provider founded in 1931 that designs and manufactures custom orthopedic shoes, custom insoles, and shoe modifications, operating 25+ clinics and hospital locations across the Netherlands to serve patients with diabetic, rheumatism, and other medical foot conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orthopedic Foot Care

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (316210), Shoe Retailers (4582), Offices of Podiatrists (621391), Footwear and Leather Goods Repair (811430)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear (CRAAACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Orthopedic Footwear Manufacturing (Medical/Diabetic/Custom) (IMAOAIAI), Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear Retail (CRAAADAG), Shoe Stretching, Fitting & Orthopedic Modifications (HSAJAIAF), Medical/Clinical Nail Care (e.g., diabetic foot, podiatry-adjacent) (HSALACAJ)

Keywords

• Custom orthopedic footwear
• Medical foot care services
• Orthotic insoles
• Diabetic foot care
• Rehabilitation footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

Heerlen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices27 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Orthopedic Shoes (Orthopedische Schoenen): Sale of fully customized orthopedic shoes made to individual measurements. Typically reimbursed (partially) by Dutch health insurance for customers with medical indications. Requires specialist referral for first pair.
2. Custom Insoles/Maatvoetbedden (Steunzolen op Maat): Sale of custom orthotic insoles for daily use, sports, and safety shoes. Often reimbursed by supplementary health insurance. Not covered by basic insurance.
3. Standard Aids and Assistive Devices: Sale of standard foot aids including shoehorns, shoe lifts, heel cushions, forefoot supports, and walking aids for mobility assistance.
4. Shoe Modifications (Schoenaanpassingen): Custom modifications to customer's existing shoes including orthopaedic provisions on confektion shoes (OVAC). Typically reimbursed when combined with insoles.
5. Foot Care Services: Medical pedicure and diabetic foot care services provided by qualified podotherapeutists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hanssen Footcare designs, manufactures, and dispenses custom orthopedic shoes, semi-orthopedic shoes, orthopedic work shoes, and custom-made insoles (maatvoetbedden) using individual lasts, 3D technology, and foot pressure analysis. It complements these products with foot care services (medical pedicure, diabetic foot care), shoe modifications, rehabilitation footwear, and standard foot aids, delivered through 25+ branches co-located in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and clinics across the Netherlands.

Product overview

Hanssen Footcare is a specialized healthcare services provider offering a comprehensive range of foot care and custom orthopedic footwear solutions. The core portfolio centers on custom orthopedic shoes (orthopedische schoenen) and custom-made insoles/footbeds (maatvoetbedden), complemented by semi-orthopedic shoes, orthopedic work shoes, rehabilitation shoes, and slippers/sandals. Supporting products include shoe modifications (schoenaanpassingen) applied to existing footwear, standard foot aids, shoe donning aids, walking aids, and medical pedicure services. Specialized offerings address diabetic foot care, pediatric foot conditions, and various foot complaints including flat feet, heel pain, forefoot problems, and toe deformities. The company operates numerous clinic locations across the Netherlands and has been serving customers since 1931 as a family business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Orthopedic Shoes (Orthopedische Schoenen) Fully customized orthopedic shoes modeled to each individual foot, addressing severe foot deformities and medical conditions and built on custom-made lasts. First pair requires specialist referral.
• Semi-Orthopedic Shoes (Semi-Orthopedische Schoenen) Pre-fabricated orthopedic shoes available in multiple widths that deliver many benefits of custom shoes with shorter lead times.
• Orthopedic Work Shoes (Orthopedische Werkschoenen) Custom orthopedic work shoes that satisfy safety footwear requirements while delivering orthopedic support for the workplace.
• Custom Insoles / Footbeds (Steunzolen op Maat / Maatvoetbedden) Custom-made orthotic insoles designed using posture, gait, and pressure distribution analysis to correct foot posture, relieve pain, and support conditions such as flat feet, diabetic feet, and rheumatic feet, with variants for daily, sport, and safety shoe use.
• Shoe Modifications (Schoenaanpassingen / OVAC) Custom modifications applied to existing footwear, including heel raises for leg length differences, heel buffers for shock absorption, shoe stretching for bunions, and rocker soles for improved foot roll-off. Typically reimbursed when combined with insoles.
• Standard Foot Aids (Standaardhulpmiddelen) Ready-made foot care accessories including forefoot supports, heel cushions, heel lifts for leg length differences, corn plasters, and protective pads addressing common foot complaints.
• Shoe Donning Aids (Schoenaantrekhulp) Devices that help with putting on and removing shoes, including long-handled shoehorns (15-70 cm), perfitters, boot jacks, and special lace closures for people with reduced hand function.
• Walking Aids (Loophulpmiddelen) Walking aids such as push-in (telescopic) canes to assist mobility for those who are not fully mobile.
• Foot Care / Medical Pedicure (Voetverzorging / Pedicure) Clinical foot care services including medical pedicure treatments and specialized care for diabetic feet, provided by qualified podotherapeutists and pedicure staff.
• Rehabilitation Shoes (Revalidatieschoen / Voorlopig Orthopedisch Schoeisel) Temporary orthopedic footwear for injured feet (provisional orthopedic footwear) for people who cannot or barely walk due to injury.
• Custom Slippers, Slippers and Sandals (Pantoffels, Slippers en Sandalen) Custom orthopedic slippers and sandals for feet that do not fit standard retail footwear.
• Diabetic Foot Care (Diabetische Voet Verzorging) Specialized foot care for diabetic patients including pressure-distributing footbeds and recommendations for protective shoes to prevent wounds and ulcers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Custom insoles typically last about 2 years with annual checkups recommended
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Smeets LoopcomfortminorOthersHanssen Footcare acquired Smeets Loopcomfort, expanding their presence in the orthopedic foot care market.
• NVOS-Orthobanda (Nederlandse Vereniging van Orthopedisch Schoentechnici en Orthopaedisten en Bandagisten)minorOthersProfessional industry association representing orthopedic shoetechnicians and bandagists in the Netherlands. Hanssen Footcare uses their standard delivery terms.
• SEMH (Stichting Erkenningsregeling Medische Hulpmiddelen)minorOthersFoundation for Certification of Medical Aids in the Netherlands. SEMH certification indicates compliance with quality standards for medical devices.
• ProVoetminorOthersDutch professional association for podiatrists (podotherapeutists). Membership indicates professional standards compliance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Superfeet Worldwide: Superfeet is a US-based premium custom and off-the-shelf insole brand with growing European distribution — an emerging competitor targeting the same foot-pain and performance insole use cases as Hanssen's steunzolen.
• Footbalance Medical: Footbalance Medical is a Finnish-origin custom insole specialist using 3D molding and a podiatrist-network model — comparable to Hanssen's custom insole line in customer and technology but lighter on full custom shoe manufacturing.

Broad incumbents

• Bauerfeind: Bauerfeind is a large German medical-device manufacturer of orthopedic braces, compression, and insoles sold across Europe — a broader incumbent whose insole and foot-care portfolio overlaps with Hanssen's steunzolen business but with a much wider product range and scale.
• Schein Orthopädie Service: Schein is a long-established German orthopedic technology group offering custom orthopedic shoes, insoles, and rehabilitation aids across multiple channels — a broader incumbent operating adjacent to Hanssen's niche with overlapping craft and clinical workflows.
• Birkenstock Group: Birkenstock is a global comfort-footwear brand whose contoured footbeds compete for the same foot-pain and lifestyle customer — a broader incumbent that could pull lower-acuity custom insole demand away from specialty providers like Hanssen.

Direct peers

• OIM Orthopedie: OIM Orthopedie is a Dutch orthopedic workshop group producing custom orthopedic shoes and insoles, with multi-site coverage across the Netherlands — directly comparable to Hanssen on craft-based custom footwear, hospital referrals, and reimbursement-driven revenue model.
• Penders Voetzorg: Penders Voetzorg is a Dutch regional foot care and orthopedic footwear specialist offering custom shoes, insoles, and podiatry services — a close direct peer with similar medical-grade positioning and Dutch reimbursement workflows.
• Livit Orthopedie: Livit Orthopedie is one of the largest Dutch providers of custom orthopedic shoes, insoles, and orthopedic aids with a national network of clinics and hospital partnerships — the closest direct competitor to Hanssen in product mix, GTM, and customer base.
• De L'Orthopedist: De L'Orthopedist operates Dutch clinics providing custom orthopedic footwear and aids, comparable to Hanssen in target patient (medical indications), reimbursement model, and clinic-based delivery.

Regional players

• Podotherapie Nederland (e.g., Voetencentrum Wender / Hallux): Large Dutch podiatry clinic networks that prescribe and dispense custom insoles to similar patients in the Netherlands — comparable customer base and reimbursement logic, though they typically refer custom-shoe cases to specialists like Hanssen.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Hanssenfootcare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanssen-footcare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Hanssen Footcare