What Het Vergeten Kind does

Het Vergeten Kind ("The Forgotten Child") is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting) founded in 2007 and headquartered in Utrecht that serves children growing up in difficult home situations across the Netherlands. The foundation's core offering consists of positive recreational experiences — organized vacation weeks, holiday events, and stays at its Hotel Heppie locations — delivered to children referred through a network of youth care institutions and municipalities. Following a 2016 merger with Stichting Heppie, the organization operates at a scale that reaches tens of thousands of vulnerable children annually with a staff of 11–50 employees.

The foundation's business model is donation-driven and explicitly independent of government subsidies. Revenue is generated through three primary channels: individual giving (one-time and recurring monthly donations), institutional lottery funding (VriendenLoterij since 2012, contributing more than €12 million cumulatively, and Postcode Loterij since 2021), and corporate partnerships such as the multi-year agreement with Feyenoord running through 2028. The organization holds CBF Erkend status — becoming the 500th charity to receive this Dutch regulatory certification — and operates under ANBI tax designation, both of which lower donor friction and qualify it for lottery distributions. A second Hotel Heppie (Veluwe) opened in 2024, indicating ongoing physical-capacity expansion alongside the foundation's broadening programmatic agenda.

Name

Het Vergeten Kind

Legal name

Stichting Het Vergeten Kind

Website

https://hetvergetenkind.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Het Vergeten Kind is a Dutch non-profit foundation that provides vacations, events, and holiday hotels to vulnerable children in difficult home situations across the Netherlands, funded by individual donors, lottery partners, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monthly donations from private individuals. The foundation offers various giving options including direct donations, testamentary gifts (nalaten), and large donations. No government subsidy is received, making private donations financially vital for operations.
2. Lottery Revenue - VriendenLoterij: Since 2012, the VriendenLoterij (Friends Lottery) has supported the foundation. A minimum of 40% of each lottery ticket goes directly to supported charities. Since the partnership began, Het Vergeten Kind has received over 12 million euros from the VriendenLoterij.
3. Lottery Revenue - Postcode Loterij: Since 2021, the foundation also receives annual contributions from the Postcode Loterij, which allocates at least 40% of lottery ticket prices to good causes.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Business partnerships including sponsorship of events, donations in kind, and strategic partnerships such as with Feyenoord (social partnership until 2028). Companies can engage as partners, sponsors, or through cause marketing campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stichting Het Vergeten Kind is a Dutch charitable foundation that provides positive experiences, vacation programs, events, and advocacy for vulnerable children (ages 0-18) growing up in difficult home situations in the Netherlands. Its core offerings under the Heppie sub-brand include vacation hotels (Hotel Heppie Veluwe), weekend programs, mobile tours, activity boxes, welcome bags, a teen festival (Triple F), a sports coaching program (SuperCoaches), and a small-scale residential facility (Heppie (t)Huis). The foundation complements direct services with policy advocacy for attentive youth care and societal awareness campaigns.

Product overview

Het Vergeten Kind is a charitable foundation offering a portfolio of programs focused on providing positive attention and support to vulnerable children in the Netherlands. The core offerings include Hotel Heppie Veluwe (vacation hotel), Heppie Vakanties & Weekenden (vacation programs), Triple F (teen festival), and SuperCoaches (sports coaching program). The Heppie sub-brand encompasses Tour, Box, Evenementen, and Welkom Tas for various activity delivery formats. Heppie (t)Huis provides small-scale residential care, while The Unforgettables is a youth council driving policy advocacy. The organization also runs awareness campaigns including the Week van Het Vergeten Kind and Hartenhuis Awards, with strategic focus areas in attentive youth care and building an attentive society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heppie: Sub-brand covering holiday programs including Heppie Vakanties & Weekenden, Heppie Tour, Heppie Box, Heppie Evenementen, Heppie Welkom Tas, and Heppie (t)Huis
• The Unforgettables
• Triple F
• SuperCoaches
• Hartenhuis Awards

Products and services

• Hotel Heppie Veluwe A vacation hotel in the Veluwe region providing vulnerable children (ages 0-18) from difficult home situations or shelter locations with unforgettable multi-day holiday experiences where they can experience positive attention and be children.
• Heppie Vakanties & Weekenden Vacation and weekend programs providing positive experiences for children from difficult home situations or shelter locations, offering supervised holiday activities and attention-filled stays.
• Heppie Tour Mobile tour program bringing activities and positive experiences directly to children at shelter locations and other venues across the Netherlands.
• Heppie Box Box program delivering curated activities and positive experiences directly to vulnerable children, including special summer box campaigns such as the Onvergetelijke Zomer(box).
• Heppie Evenementen Event programs creating memorable experiences for children through organized gatherings, celebrations, and outings.
• Heppie Welkom Tas Welcome bag program providing essential items and positive experiences to children entering new care situations.
• Triple F (Fun, Food & Festival) Two-day mini-vacation festival for teenagers aged 12-18 from shelter locations and multi-problem families, featuring adventure activities, food, and music.
• SuperCoaches Program developing pedagogical skills among youth coaches and trainers at sports clubs, creating environments where children receive positive attention and feel safe to develop resilience and self-confidence.
• Heppie (t)Huis Small-scale, home-like residential facility in Geldrop-Mierlo providing vulnerable children with personalized attention in a stable environment with fixed care teams focused on warmth and domesticity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34,000+ children reached with positive experiences in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FeyenoordflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Stichting Het Vergeten Kind and Feyenoord entered an intensive three-year cooperation (until mid-2028) as Maatschappelijk Samenwerkingspartner (Social Partner). The partnership integrates the SuperCoaches program into Feyenoord's social initiatives, with community coaches supported through the program. Together they aim to ensure children in difficult home situations receive the attention and support they deserve.
• KNZB (Royal Dutch Swimming Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHet Vergeten Kind and KNZB (Koninklijke Nederlandse Zwembond) entered a collaboration to provide swimming-related activities and positive attention to children through the KNZB network.
• Attractiepark ToverlandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAttractiepark Toverland in Sevenum participated in the Zomertour (Summer Tour), providing a free day out for 250 children from care facilities. The park believes everyone needs a bit of magic and opened its doors free of charge for forgotten children.
• Attractieparken (Zomertour Network)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of 10+ attraction and animal parks including DierenPark Amersfoort, Duinrell, Oud Valkeveen, Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen, Walibi Holland, Familiepark DippieDoe, and Familiepark Drievliet that participate in the annual Zomertour, opening their doors free of charge for children in care.
• Vereniging van Erkende PannenkoekenrestaurantsminorGTM or Marketing Partner37 pancake restaurants across the Netherlands participated in National Pancake Day, donating €1.50 per pancake sold to Het Vergeten Kind during April.
• Leo Clubs (Leo Europa Forum)minorGTM or Marketing Partner230 international Leo Club members from across Europe participated in the Zomertour, accompanying 300 children from care facilities during their day at DierenPark Amersfoort. Leo Clubs are service clubs for young people aged 18-30.
• Goede Doelen NederlandminorOthersBranch association for charities in the Netherlands. Het Vergeten Kind is a member of this organization.
• DDMAminorOthersDutch Direct Marketing Association. Het Vergeten Kind is a member of DDMA and adheres to their codes for commercial use of direct marketing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stichting Kinderpostzegels: Dutch children's welfare foundation that funds projects for vulnerable children in the Netherlands, including those in difficult home situations. Closest direct peer by mission, donor base, and Dutch non-profit operating model.
• Stichting Jantje Beton: Dutch foundation focused on enabling children to play and be active outdoors, often partnering with municipalities. Comparable by activity-based program model for Dutch children and lottery-funded revenue structure (VriendenLoterij beneficiary).
• SOS Kinderdorpen Nederland: Dutch arm of SOS Children's Villages providing family-based alternative care for children who cannot live with their own families. Highly comparable by target population (vulnerable children in care) and residential-care component (Heppie (t)Huis).
• Stichting Kinderhulp: Dutch foundation providing direct material aid and support to children in poverty across the Netherlands. Comparable by focus on vulnerable children in difficult circumstances and reliance on individual/corporate donations.
• Stichting Leergeld: National Dutch foundation helping children from low-income families participate in school, sports, and cultural activities. Comparable target population (disadvantaged Dutch children) and analogous donation-funded operating model.
• Stichting Jarige Job: Dutch foundation providing birthday packages for children growing up in poverty. Comparable target population (children in difficult home situations) and similar donation-driven Dutch non-profit structure.

Broad incumbents

• UNICEF Nederland: Dutch national committee of UNICEF, working on children's rights globally and domestically. Comparable mission on child welfare, but with a broader portfolio and global scope rather than the foundation's domestic-only focus.
• Save the Children Nederland: Dutch arm of Save the Children, focused on children's rights and welfare. Overlaps with the foundation's mission on vulnerable children but operates with a broader international program portfolio.
• Plan International Nederland: Dutch arm of Plan International, focused on children's rights and gender equality. Comparable children's-welfare mission and donation-driven Dutch fundraising model, though with a broader international footprint.

Emerging players

• Jeugdstem: Dutch youth advocacy organization amplifying young voices in youth care policy. Comparable advocacy focus (youth care improvement) and lived-experience engagement, though smaller and less service-delivery oriented than Het Vergeten Kind.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hetvergetenkind.
• Facebookfacebook.com/hetvergetenkind
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/het-vergeten-kind
• Instagraminstagram.com/hetvergetenkind
• TikToktiktok.com/@stichtinghetvergetenkind
• Xx.com/hetvergetenkind

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Het Vergeten Kind