Betterplaces
Better Places is a Dutch online travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a curated network of local destination experts for fully customized round trips across more than 40 countries, operating primarily in the Netherlands and Germany under a social-enterprise structure.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersLeiden, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Betterplaces does
Better Places International B.V. operates an online travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a curated network of local destination management companies (DMCs) for fully customized round trips. The platform spans destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, Central America, the Middle East, and South America, with the Dutch market as the primary base and a German subsidiary (FairAway) extending the model into the DACH region. The core product is a direct-to-consumer booking flow: travelers submit requests via the website, receive proposals directly from local experts, and pay through Dutch bank accounts (Triodos Bank, iDeal, Bancontact), booking under the financial guarantees of ANVR, SGR, and Calamiteitenfonds.
The business generates revenue through a per-booker reservation fee of €25 per person (capped at €75 per booking) plus commissions from local DMCs, plus ancillary fees for Calamiteitenfonds (€2.50) and SGR (€5 per person). Adjacent revenue streams are provided through partnerships with Unigarant (insurance), VisumCentrale (visa services), Thuisvaccinatie (vaccinations), and The Train Traveller (train ticketing). The company markets via content-led SEO, email newsletters, social media, and a 2025-launched AI-powered Keuzehulp destination recommendation quiz, supported by a small team of 1-10 employees headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands.
Better Places is structured as a social enterprise registered in the Code Sociale Ondernemingen since 2021, holding Travelife certification since January 2017, and holding ANVR, SGR, and Calamiteitenfonds memberships. The company has not disclosed any external funding rounds and appears to be founder or privately financed, with sister entities Better Places Travel, Fairaway, and Better Tourism Academy operating under the parent Better Places International B.V.
Betterplaces firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Betterplaces
- Legal name
- Better Places International B.V.
- Website
- https://betterplaces.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Better Places is a Dutch online travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a curated network of local destination experts for fully customized round trips across more than 40 countries, operating primarily in the Netherlands and Germany under a social-enterprise structure.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Betterplaces industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Travel Marketplace
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520), Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (56159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Destination & Local Services Marketplaces (Transfers, Guides, City Passes) (THALAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fee-Based/Independent Trip Planners (No Booking) (THAKAOAA), Full-Service Destination Management (Ground Handling & Onsite Operations) (THAHADAA)
Keywords
Where Betterplaces is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leiden
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Betterplaces business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Reservation fees: Better Places charges €25 per person as reservation costs, with a maximum of €75 per booking. This covers website costs, selection of travel experts, marketing, administrative organization, payment processing, and guarantees from ANVR, SGR and Calamiteitenfonds.
- Commission from local experts: Better Places receives a commission per booking from the local travel expert. This commission covers the operational costs of the platform and partner network.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Reservation costs per booking |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Betterplaces product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Better Places operates an online sustainable travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a global network of vetted local destination experts (DMCs) to design and book 100% customized round trips. Travelers submit trip requests through betterplaces.nl, local experts respond with personalized itineraries featuring small-scale accommodations and authentic experiences, and bookings are completed digitally with Dutch financial guarantees. The platform supplements its core trip booking with partner-integrated services for travel insurance, visas, vaccinations, and train ticket reservations.
Product overview
Better Places operates as an online travel platform connecting travelers with local destination experts for bespoke round trips. The core product is the Custom Round Trips (Rondreizen op Maat) service where travelers work directly with local specialists to create personalized itineraries featuring 100% customization, special excursions, and small-scale accommodations. Supporting services include the AI-powered Keuzehulp destination quiz, travel and cancellation insurance via Unigarant, visa assistance through VisumCentrale, vaccination services via Thuisvaccinatie, and train ticket booking through The Train Traveller partnership. The platform also offers themed travel collections (hiking, cycling, safari, train travel, nature, family, winter), destination guides, and sustainability tools including the Eerlijke Reiswijzer impact measurement and CO2 reduction commitments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Eerlijke Reiswijzer: A tool that maps the impact of vacations, helping travelers make conscious choices for their destination, excursions, accommodations, and transport.
Products and services
- Custom Round Trips (Rondreizen op Maat) Bespoke, fully customized international round trips assembled in direct collaboration with vetted local travel experts who live at the destination; each itinerary includes personalized excursions, small-scale accommodations, and aims to maximize local economic and social impact.
- Travel and Cancellation Insurance Short-term or annual travel and cancellation insurance products offered in partnership with Unigarant (ANWB insurance specialists), available with basic or extended coverage for travelers booking customized trips through Better Places.
- Visa Assistance Dutch-language visa application support and up-to-date country-specific visa information provided in partnership with VisumCentrale (CIBTvisas) for travelers whose destinations require visas.
- Vaccination Services At-home vaccination and malaria-prophylaxis advisory services delivered by certified doctors through Thuisvaccinatie.nl, including evenings and weekends, for travelers preparing for international trips.
- Train Ticket Booking (via The Train Traveller) Train ticket booking for European and international rail itineraries arranged through The Train Traveller, whose experts compare multiple booking systems to find optimal fares and handle all reservation logistics.
Quantifiable outcome
- Majority of travel budget reaches local destination
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Betterplaces
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Betterplaces technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability2 records
Betterplaces partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Train TravellercorePartnership for train ticket booking within Europe and beyond. The Train Traveller experts know the different booking systems and find the best prices for train tickets, handling all arrangements for customers.
- Unigarant Verzekeringen (ANWB)coreInsurance partner offering travel and cancellation insurance. Better Places offers both short-term and annual travel insurance through Unigarant, part of ANWB insurance specialists.
- Thuisvaccinatie.nlminorHome vaccination service partner providing vaccination advice and at-home vaccinations by certified doctors, including evenings and weekends.
- VisumCentrale (CIBTvisas)coreVisa services partner helping customers with visa applications. Provides up-to-date Dutch-language visa information and expert support throughout the application process.
- Triodos BankcoreDutch bank used for payment processing, providing secure payment handling for customer bookings and ensuring funds stay in Dutch banking system.
- TravelifecoreInternational sustainability certification system. Better Places requires all local partners to work according to Travelife criteria and aims for certification of all DMC partners.
- ANVR (Algemeen Nederlands Verbond van Reisondernemingen)coreDutch travel industry association. Better Places is member under number 05404, adhering to ANVR consumer conditions and quality standards.
- SGR (Stichting Garantiefonds Reisgelden)coreTravel guarantee fund. Better Places is member under number 3688, providing financial protection for prepaid travel if the company cannot fulfill its obligations.
- Calamiteitenfonds (Stichting Calamiteitenfonds Reizen)coreEmergency fund for travel organizations. Covers refund or compensation if trips cannot be executed due to calamities (disaster or riot-related events).
- Impact InstituteminorCollaborated to calculate the true price of travel by train, car, and airplane. First travel organization to show real cost of flying including hidden environmental and social costs.
- True Price OrganizationminorPartnership for true pricing methodology to show the real cost of travel including climate damage and pollution costs not reflected in ticket prices.
- Climate PerksminorRecognition as Climate Perks Employer, offering extra vacation days for employees choosing train travel for holidays.
- Eurocross AssistancecoreEmergency assistance partner for large-scale calamities (natural disasters). Emergency number: +31 (0)71 36 46 200.
- ECPAT NL / Defence for ChildrencorePartnership in combating child sexual exploitation in vacation destinations. Supports ANVR and Defence for Children - ECPAT initiative.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Betterplaces competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TravelLocal: UK-headquartered online marketplace connecting travelers with local destination experts for fully customized, sustainable itineraries — the closest functional and conceptual peer to Better Places, operating across a similar DMC-led model.
- Evaneos: France-based online marketplace that links travelers directly with local travel agents (DMCs) for tailor-made trips, sharing Better Places' DMC marketplace architecture and direct-to-consumer value proposition.
- Manawa: European adventure and outdoor activities booking platform aggregating vetted local providers; overlaps with Better Places' DMC network and adventure/eco segments.
- Responsible Travel: UK-based curated marketplace for holidays from small, locally-run and sustainability-focused operators; directly competes with Better Places on the 'responsible, locally-delivered travel' positioning.
- Riksja Travel: Dutch tour operator offering customized round trips with local specialists and a strong responsible-travel focus; operates in the same Dutch-language, custom-trip category as Better Places with overlapping customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Intrepid Travel: Global B-Corp-certified adventure and sustainable tour operator with extensive small-group and customized itineraries; serves as a large-scale incumbent benchmark for sustainable-travel brand positioning.
- G Adventures: Global small-group adventure travel operator with a large local-supplier network and growing tailor-made offering; comparable as a broad sustainable-travel incumbent.
- Sawadee: One of the largest Dutch tour operators offering group tours, tailor-made trips and adventure itineraries across many global destinations; broad incumbent in Better Places' home market.
Emerging players
- Bamba Travel: Flexible adventure-travel operator offering independent, customisable itineraries across Latin America, Africa and Asia; overlaps with Better Places' custom multi-country round-trip model in emerging-market destinations.
Regional players
- Byway: UK-based slow-travel specialist focused on flight-free, train-based multi-destination holidays; directly comparable to Better Places' emerging train-travel product line and magazine.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Betterplaces social profiles
Digital presenceBetterplaces compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Betterplaces financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Betterplaces leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Betterplaces subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Betterplaces funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Betterplaces M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Betterplaces
What does Betterplaces do?
Better Places operates an online sustainable travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a global network of vetted local destination experts (DMCs) to design and book 100% customized round trips. Travelers submit trip requests through betterplaces.nl, local experts respond with personalized itineraries featuring small-scale accommodations and authentic experiences, and bookings are completed digitally with Dutch financial guarantees. The platform supplements its core trip booking with partner-integrated services for travel insurance, visas, vaccinations, and train ticket reservations.
Is Betterplaces a public or private company?
Betterplaces is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Betterplaces founded?
Betterplaces was founded in 1992. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Betterplaces based?
Betterplaces is headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Betterplaces make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Reservation fees are the primary driver. The others are commission from local experts.
Who are Betterplaces's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TravelLocal, Evaneos, Manawa, Responsible Travel and Riksja Travel. Broad incumbents are Intrepid Travel, G Adventures and Sawadee. Bamba Travel is listed as an emerging player. Byway is listed as a regional player.
Does Betterplaces have an API?
No public API is recorded for Betterplaces.
What industry is Betterplaces in?
Betterplaces's product category is Online Travel Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THALAFAK, Destination & Local Services Marketplaces (Transfers, Guides, City Passes), with a secondary code of THAKAOAA, Fee-Based/Independent Trip Planners (No Booking). Its NAICS code is 561510.