De Drie Notenboomen

What De Drie Notenboomen does

De Drie Notenboomen BV is the largest franchise organization in the Dutch healthcare sector, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Amsterdam. It develops and licenses four proprietary small-scale residential care concepts — Thomashuis (homes for 9 adults with intellectual disabilities), Herbergier (homes for 16-24 people with dementia), Zorgbutler (independent apartments for elderly with light-to-moderate care needs), and Thomas Op Kamers (supported independent living for young adults with mild intellectual disabilities) — across a network of 180+ locations in the Netherlands, with cross-border expansion into Belgium (Thomashuis), Germany and Norway (Herbergier). Each location is operated by an independent "zorgondernemer" (care entrepreneur) couple who live on-site, supported by a central head office of approximately 35-40 colleagues in Amsterdam that provides training, coaching, marketing, quality assurance, and real estate services.

The business model is licensing-driven. DDN licenses its formulas, brand identities, and quality frameworks to franchisees under five-year agreements, generates franchise fees, and runs a real estate administration function through Stichting Onroerend Goed DDN (operational since 1 January 2020), which centralizes rental agreements with approximately 35 partner housing corporations under 10-20 year commitments. DDN does not operate proprietary technology platforms; instead it provides standardized bookkeeping and HR administration packages to franchisees and supplements this with a curated partner ecosystem covering architecture (Arco Architecten, B+O Architecten), accounting (Borrie, Beuk), banking (ABN AMRO, Rabobank), and ISO 9001 audits (Bureau Veritas). Underlying technical differentiation is operational rather than digital: a proprietary Herbergier quality framework based on the Generiek Kompas and biennial audits, the ISO 9001-certified quality system in place since 2006, and the Groene Airco energy-efficient cooling innovation that uses 80% less energy than traditional air-conditioning.

Customer segments span four verticals — intellectual disability care, dementia care, elderly independent living, and supported youth living — with end customers (residents and families) highly distributed across the network and no single franchisee representing material revenue concentration. Recent strategic priorities include international expansion of Herbergier into Germany and Norway, formalization of the 2026 strategic cooperation with Sociale Benadering (Anne-Mei The) around socially-oriented dementia care, and continued recruitment of new care entrepreneurs through Whello-managed paid acquisition and information meetings. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is wholly owned by founder Loek Winter with no external investors indicated.

Name

De Drie Notenboomen

Legal name

De Drie Notenboomen BV

Website

https://dedrienotenboomen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

De Drie Notenboomen BV is the largest franchise organization in the Dutch healthcare sector, licensing four small-scale residential care concepts (Thomashuis, Herbergier, Zorgbutler, Thomas Op Kamers) to 180+ independent care-entrepreneur locations across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Norway.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small-Scale Residential Care (Healthcare Franchise)

NAICS

Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Assisted Living with Memory Care (Mixed Campus) (HLADABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Living Real Estate Owners/Operators (REITs & Management Companies) (HLADAAAG), Benefits, Insurance & Long-Term Care Planning Navigation (Medicare/Medicaid/LTC) (HLADALAI)

Keywords

• Small-scale residential care
• Healthcare franchise services
• Dementia care homes
• Intellectual disability care
• Independent living elderly

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise fees and licensing: De Drie Notenboomen generates revenue as a franchisor by licensing its four care concepts (Thomashuis, Herbergier, Zorgbutler, Thomas Op Kamers) to independent franchisees. Franchisees pay fees in exchange for the right to use the concept name, receive support services, training, coaching, and access to the formula handbook, quality frameworks, and a network of peer franchisees.
2. Real estate management (Stichting Onroerend Goed DDN): Since January 2020, all rental agreements and financial flows related to real estate are administered through Stichting Onroerend Goed DDN. This foundation safeguards the continuity of real estate and the financial position of residential care concepts, offering affordable accommodation to franchisees. Partnerships with housing corporations are long-term (10 to 20 years) and formalized by rental agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

De Drie Notenboomen operates as a healthcare franchisor, developing and licensing four proprietary small-scale residential care concepts — Thomashuis (intellectual disabilities), Herbergier (dementia), Zorgbutler (elderly independent living), and Thomas Op Kamers (young adults with mild intellectual disabilities). Independent zorgondernemers (care entrepreneurs) run each location under five-year franchise agreements, with DDN providing formula handbooks, onboarding, coaching, real estate support via Stichting Onroerend Goed DDN, and quality assurance. Approximately 180 locations are active across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Norway.

Product overview

De Drie Notenboomen is a franchise organization that develops four distinct small-scale residential care concepts: Thomashuis (for 9 adults with intellectual disabilities), Herbergier (for 16-24 people with dementia/memory problems), Zorgbutler (independent apartments for elderly with light to moderate care needs), and Thomas Op Kamers (for 15 young adults with minor intellectual disabilities). All 180+ locations across the Netherlands are operated by independent healthcare entrepreneurs who live on-premises, ensuring personalized care, short communication lines, and family-like environments. The organization serves approximately 180 locations total: 119 Thomashuis locations (plus 3 in Belgium), 59 Herbergier locations, 3 Zorgbutler locations in Rotterdam, and 1 Thomas Op Kamers location in Rotterdam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thomashuis: A loving home for 9 people with intellectual disabilities. Small-scale residential care facilities run by independent healthcare entrepreneurs.
• Herbergier
• Zorgbutler
• Thomas Op Kamers

Products and services

• Thomashuis (franchise concept) A small-scale residential care franchise concept serving 9 adults with a (non-congenital) intellectual disability per location, run by two live-in care entrepreneur couples who form a household together with the residents. The Thomashuis formula emphasizes a genuine family environment, personal attention, flexibility, and individual ability rather than disability. ISO 9001 certified since 2006.
• Herbergier (franchise concept) A warm, loving small-scale residential care franchise concept for 16–24 people with dementia/memory problems per location, providing 24-hour care in an informal, homely atmosphere focused on safety, attention, warmth, and security. Doors are not locked and residents can move freely. Audited biennially against the proprietary Herbergier Quality Framework (Herbergier 2025 satisfaction score: 9.0 per Newcom).
• Zorgbutler (franchise concept) Independent living franchise concept for elderly people with light to moderate care needs, who reside in their own apartments within a building managed by care entrepreneurs. Professional care is always nearby while residents retain autonomy and community connection. Currently 3 locations in Rotterdam (Zorgbutler 2025 satisfaction score: 8.2 per Newcom).
• Thomas Op Kamers (franchise concept) A small-scale supported living franchise concept for 15 young adults with a mild intellectual disability. Residents have their own apartments within a building with shared communal spaces and on-site support, enabling them to live self-directed lives, pursue personal goals (e.g., becoming an ervaringsdeskundige LVB), and develop autonomy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Herbergier customer satisfaction score of 9.0 in 2025 (general rating)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sociale Benadering (Anne-Mei The)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026On 1 June 2026, a strategic cooperation was officially formalized between Sociale Benadering and De Herbergier with a signing ceremony between bestuurder Loek Winter and Anne-Mei The, professor of Long-term Care and Social Approach to Dementia. Both movements share the principle that people with dementia are primarily human beings with their own history, identity, relationships, and desires, and that good care begins with ordinary life.
• Dutch Climate Systems (Arthur van de Lee)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Dutch Climate Systems supplied and installed the Groene Airco (Green Air Conditioning) system at Herbergier Olst, an energy-efficient cooling solution that uses 80% less energy than traditional systems. This innovation won the sustainability prize at VGZ's Zorgvernieuwer van het Jaar 2025.
• VGZ (healthcare insurer)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025VGZ organized the Zorgvernieuwer van het Jaar (Healthcare Innovator of the Year) awards, where the Herbergier's Groene Airco initiative won the sustainability category prize of €5,000. VGZ provides a platform for recognizing innovation in healthcare.
• Arco ArchitectencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArco Architecten of Oudewater is one of two leading firms of architects relied upon by De Drie Notenboomen to design Thomashuis and Herbergier locations. They create buildings that provide a pleasant living environment rather than focusing solely on care process efficiency.
• B+O ArchitectencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB+O Architecten of Meppel is one of two leading firms of architects relied upon by De Drie Notenboomen to design Thomashuis and Herbergier locations, alongside Arco Architecten.
• Borrie AccountantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBorrie Accountants is the appointed accountancy firm for the Thomashuis franchise formula, providing financial administration support to franchisees.
• Beuk Accountants & BelastingadviseurscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeuk Accountants & Belastingadviseurs is the appointed accountancy firm for the Herbergier franchise formula, providing financial administration support to franchisees.
• Bureau VeritascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBureau Veritas conducts ISO accreditation audits for Thomashuizen and the DDN office. The firm is an internationally recognized leader in quality, health and safety, environmental management, and CSR certification. ISO certification demonstrates full compliance with current legislation.
• WhellominorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhello is a digital marketing agency engaged by De Drie Notenboomen to find candidate healthcare entrepreneurs through targeted advertising via search engines and social media. Cookies are used to optimize search campaigns and bring candidates to DDN.
• Per SaldocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPer Saldo is the association representing people with a personal healthcare budget (pgb). Despite representing the opposite side of the relationship (residents vs. operators), both organizations share the goal of ensuring free choice and access to desired care. They form a close partnership to represent the interests of all residents and uphold the principles of the personal healthcare budget scheme.
• SOR (Stadsrad Rotterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOR (Stadsrad Rotterdam) is the largest elderly housing provider in the Rotterdam metropolitan region. SOR and De Drie Notenboomen developed the first Zorgbutler and Thomas Op Kamers locations in Rotterdam-Ommoord in 2017, transforming a former care home. SOR owns the buildings and De Drie Notenboomen operates the care concepts.
• Beter WonencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeter Wonen is a housing corporation partnered with De Drie Notenboomen for real estate. The Almelo locations (Herbergier and Thomashuis) are housed in a building rented from Beter Wonen, a former school building at Acaciaplein.
• Multiple housing corporations (approximately 35 listed)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Drie Notenboomen partners with approximately 35 housing corporations across the Netherlands including Alwel, De Woningraat, Domesta, Hof Wonen, Maasdelta, Mozaiek Wonen, Pré Wonen, SOR, Woonborg, Woonwaarts, and others. These long-term partnerships (10-20 years) provide buildings for conversion into small-scale residential care facilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ASVZ: Dutch care organization serving people with intellectual disabilities and other care needs across multiple small-scale locations. Closely comparable to Thomashuis on population served and small-scale, neighborhood-integrated care philosophy.
• Stichting De Wever: Dutch regional provider of elderly and dementia care in North Brabant, with multiple small-scale residential homes. Comparable to Herbergier and Zorgbutler concepts on elderly and dementia care delivery.
• Stichting 's Heeren Loo: Major Dutch care provider for people with intellectual disabilities, operating numerous small-scale residential locations nationwide. Comparable to Thomashuis in target population and small-scale residential delivery model.
• Stichting tanteLouise: Large Dutch regional care provider focused on dementia and elderly care, including small-scale living arrangements. Directly comparable to Herbergier's dementia care model and the small-scale, homely care philosophy of DDN.
• Home Instead: Largest global home care franchise organization with 1,200+ territories, operating a franchise model that licenses brand, training, and operations to independent operators. Closely comparable to DDN in franchise structure and central concept development, though Home Instead focuses on in-home rather than residential care.
• Espria: Dutch healthcare group offering elderly care, mental health, and disability services with a network of small-scale residential facilities. Comparable in target segments (elderly, ID) and small-scale woonvormen approach to DDN's franchise formulas.

Broad incumbents

• Korian: Major European listed care group operating nursing homes, assisted living, and home care services across France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and other countries. Overlaps with DDN's Herbergier, Zorgbutler, and Thomas Op Kamers concepts in elderly and residential care.
• DomusVi: One of the largest European residential care operators with a broad portfolio of nursing homes, assisted living, and home care services across multiple countries. Comparable as a broad incumbent in residential elderly care competing for the same customer base as DDN's formulas.
• Orpea: Large international residential and long-term care provider with operations across Europe including the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Competes in the same elderly residential and memory care markets targeted by DDN's Herbergier and Zorgbutler formulas.

Regional players

• Zorgpartners Midden-Holland: Regional Dutch care organization providing elderly care, nursing home care, and home care in the Midden-Holland region. Comparable to DDN's concepts in elderly and dementia care delivery, though focused on a narrower geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/notenboomen

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 De Drie Notenboomen