De Spiegel

What De Spiegel does

De Spiegel VZW is a Belgian non-profit (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) addiction treatment organization founded in 1980 in Kessel-Lo, operating an integrated care continuum for adults with drug and medication dependence. Its service portfolio spans a 6-week residential detoxification program, a long-term therapeutic community (9 months in living group plus 6 months in a transition house), and outpatient drug care delivered through ambulatory centers in Asse, Dilbeek, and Halle. Specialized programs include IRIS (gender-sensitive care for women), a cocaine treatment project using the Community Reinforcement Approach with voucher-based incentives, first-line psychological care (ELP) for alcohol and family members, outpatient substitution therapy (Methadone/Suboxone), hepatitis C screening, and a needle exchange harm reduction service.

The organization's underlying technology consists of evidence-based clinical methodologies rather than software platforms: structured therapeutic community living, CRA with contingency voucher reinforcement verified by saliva and urine drug testing, medication-assisted opioid treatment, and intersectoral outreach protocols for youth at risk of homelessness. An interdisciplinary team of approximately 45 staff — including psychologists, group living workers, orthopedagogues, social workers, nurses, experiential experts, doctors, and psychiatrists — delivers the care model, with services also extended into Leuven Central Prison via a multi-disciplinary team and into the Halle-Vilvoorde region through the EU-funded LiFT local partnership and the 4YOU(th) youth outreach program.

De Spiegel is recognized as an ambulatory rehabilitation center (erkend door de mutualiteit) and generates revenue primarily through health insurance reimbursement, with patients paying only the statutory co-payment (€2.33/day for ambulatory sessions, €19.04/day residential co-payment for regular patients, lower for those entitled to increased reimbursement). Additional revenue streams include government funding for justice-referred clients (VOV, VI, electronic monitoring, NGJ with Justitiehuis Brussel), the LiFT EU grant (€1,047,237 over six years), and donations. The go-to-market is relationship- and referral-led, with patients sourced through GPs, social services, justice partners, and self-referral; the organization reports top-quartile patient satisfaction (9.04/10 in 2024) and is governed by representatives of the Socialist and Christian health insurance mutualities.

Name

De Spiegel

Legal name

De Spiegel VZW

Website

https://despiegel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Spiegel VZW is a Belgian non-profit founded in 1980 that provides residential and outpatient addiction treatment — detoxification, therapeutic community, ambulatory counseling, harm reduction, and youth outreach — to adults with drug or medication dependence in the Vlaams-Brabant region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Treatment Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (622210), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFACAF

Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Programs (IOP/PHP/OP)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYHLAFACAE

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYHLAFACAD

Substance Use Detoxification Centers (Medical Detox)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYBPAGACAE

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAEAO

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Addiction treatment services
• Drug rehabilitation center
• Therapeutic community care
• Outpatient drug counseling
• Harm reduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Leuven

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Reimbursement: De Spiegel is a recognized ambulatory rehabilitation center. The majority of treatment costs are reimbursed directly by health insurance funds (mutualiteit). Patients pay only the statutory co-payment.
2. Patient Co-payments (Remgeld): Patients pay co-payment fees for residential and ambulatory treatment. Residential costs range from €150-500/month for co-payment. Ambulatory costs are €2.33 per session for regular clients, with exemptions for those entitled to increased reimbursement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

De Spiegel is a drug-free therapeutic community (therapeutische gemeenschap) registered as a Belgian nonprofit (vzw), offering a continuum of addiction treatment services for adults and young people with drug and medication dependencies. Its offering combines a six-week residential detoxification program (uptake 365 days a year), a long-term drug-free therapeutic community program (average stay of 12 months) for up to 16 residents, a broad ambulatory drug-care front, gender-sensitive care (IRIS), family support (ELP Familie), harm reduction (needle exchange, Hepatitis C screening), and substitution therapy.

Product overview

De Spiegel is a Belgian addiction treatment center offering a comprehensive, multi-level treatment system. The organization operates three main programs: (1) Ambulante drugszorg - outpatient counseling in Asse, Halle, and Dilbeek; (2) Ontwenningsprogramma - a 6-week residential detox program in Kessel-Lo; and (3) Therapeutische gemeenschap - a long-term residential therapeutic community (9+6 months) in Kessel-Lo. Specialized sub-programs include IRIS (gender-sensitive care for women), the Cocaïneproject (CRA+voucher-based cocaine treatment), ELP Alcohol and ELP Familie (first-line psychological care), substitution therapy, hepatitis C screening, and needle exchange for harm reduction. Social support programs include the LiFT project and 4YOU(th) for at-risk youth. The center is recognized by health insurance and conventioned with the Flemish government.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IRIS: Gender-sensitive care program for women within the residential programs, addressing specific female needs in addiction treatment.
• 4YOU(th)
• LiFT Project Zuidwestrand

Products and services

• Ontwenningsprogramma (Detoxification program) Medically assisted drug and medication detoxification delivered at the Kessel-Lo residential site for adults with substance use disorders requiring withdrawal support before longer rehabilitation; recognized by mutualities and eligible for statutorily regulated daily rates and patient co-payments.
• Therapeutische gemeenschap (Therapeutic Community) Long-term drug-free, community-based residential rehabilitation for up to 16 residents at a time at the Kessel-Lo site, with average length of stay ≈12 months; the cornerstone of De Spiegel's therapeutic-community offering and paired with a fixed statutory daily co-payment.
• Ambulante drugszorg (Outpatient Drug Care) Ambulatory drug counseling and case management delivered from De Spiegel's centers in Asse, Dilbeek, and Halle, accessible after intake by phone or on site and directed at adults and young people with drug or medication dependencies who do not require residential care.
• IRIS: gender-sensitive care path Specialized treatment stream for women with addiction, focused on shame-reduction and gender-sensitive therapeutic work; delivers consultations within De Spiegel's ambulatory drug-care services.
• Cocaïneproject (Cocaine project) Ambulatory treatment program for cocaine dependence using Community Reinforcement Approach combined with voucher-based incentives and urine screening; delivered through the ambulatory drug-care front.
• ELP Alcohol Ambulatory alcohol-treatment program delivered within the Elpendoku structure, providing the first intake conversation free of charge so prospective patients can try the program before formal commitment.
• ELP Familie (Family support) Support program for spouses, partners, parents and other relatives of patients in De Spiegel's addiction programs, delivered alongside the patient's treatment to provide peer support, psycho-education, and relapse-prevention reinforcement.
• Ambulante substitutietherapie (Ambulatory substitution therapy) Medication-assisted outpatient treatment for opioid dependence using substitution medication (methadone, Suboxone or similar), billed per consultation with a statutory co-payment.
• Hepatitis C screening Free of charge Hepatitis C screening offered by De Spiegel as part of its harm-reduction services, available to patients and other drug users without any cost to the individual.
• Spuitenruil (Needle/syringe exchange) Harm-reduction service exchanging sterile injecting equipment for used materials, delivered as a public-health intervention rather than a recovery-oriented treatment.
• LiFT project Zuidwestrand Stigma-reduction project operating in the Zuidwestrand region with European Union funding, complementing De Spiegel's core residential and ambulatory offerings.
• 4YOU(th) Long-term outreach and engagement program aimed at vulnerable young people aged 16–24 facing intertwined problems including addiction, housing, mental health, schooling, and isolated social networks, typically delivered via the 4YOU(th) teams outside traditional clinical settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.04/10 average patient satisfaction score on VIKZ survey (2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VAD - Vereniging voor Alcohol- en andere DrugproblemencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Flemish expertise center for alcohol and other drugs, contributing to sector knowledge and policy development.
• BFTC/EFTC - Belgische/Europese Federatie van Therapeutische GemeenschappencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Belgian and European Federations of Therapeutic Communities, participating in international knowledge exchange and conferences.
• Justitiehuis BrusselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for NGJ (Niet-Gedetineerde Justitiabelen) project providing alcohol addiction treatment for non-detained justice clients. Project accounts for 60% of clinical psychologist position.
• Tonuso, CAW, Yuneco, Beschut wonen, ProvidentiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntersectoral collaboration for 4YOU(th) project serving at-risk youth. Multi-organization partnership addressing housing instability among 16-24 year olds.
• LiFT Local Partnership - Lokale Besturen Beersel, Halle, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, VDAB, Arktos, Emino, LIGO, AIF+, VVSGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project (€1,047,237.15 for 6 years) supporting people with complex multiproblems in the Halle-Vilvoorde region toward labor market participation.
• TANDEMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeam of professionals that can refer inmates to De Spiegel treatment. Inmates contact TANDEM via PSD, JWW, medical service, or CGG in prison.
• Netwerk Geestelijke Gezondheid volwassenen (Diletti, SaVaH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with adult mental health networks in the region for coordinated care.
• Netwerk Geestelijke gezondheid kinderen en jongeren Vlaams-Brabant (Yuneco)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with youth mental health network for specialized youth referrals and joint initiatives.
• Netwerk SaVHA?!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health network co-organizing symposiums and knowledge sharing events with De Spiegel. Events bring together professionals from primary care zones in Halle-Vilvoorde region.
• MSOC Vlaams-BrabantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-disciplinary team collaboration in prison setting (Leuven Central). De Spiegel staff work alongside MSOC and CGG professionals.
• Belgi Netwerk Armoedebestrijding (BAPN), VAD, Fédération wallonne des institutions pour toxicomanes (Fédito wallonne), Fédération bruxelloise des institutions spécialisées (Féda BXL), Coalitie humaan OCMWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for humane addiction policy, opposing conditional welfare benefits tied to treatment participation.
• Eerstelijnszones (Pajottenland, BraViO, Zennevallei, Grimbergen, AMALO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with primary care zones for regional healthcare coordination and joint symposia on addiction.
• OCMW/CAWminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial services referrals for clients needing support with income, housing, and administrative matters.
• VDABminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for employment-related support and reintegration services for clients.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• De Kiem: Flemish addiction treatment center providing residential and ambulatory drug treatment, mirroring De Spiegel's therapeutic community and ambulatory offerings with overlapping target population.
• Stichting De Hoop: Dutch Christian-based addiction treatment organization offering residential and ambulatory programs; comparable to De Spiegel in combining a values-driven therapeutic community approach with ambulatory drug care and family support.
• Katarina (Sint-Norbertus): Belgian residential addiction treatment and therapeutic community provider in Flanders, comparable to De Spiegel's therapeutic community program in terms of residential model, length of stay, and target clientele.
• Tremora: Belgian addiction care organization offering ambulatory drug care and therapeutic programs, directly comparable to De Spiegel's ambulatory drug care centers in scope and service model.
• CGG Vlaams-Brabant: Regional center for mental health and addiction care in Flemish Brabant; provides ambulatory addiction and mental health services in the same geography as De Spiegel, often serving as an alternative or complementary referral destination.

Broad incumbents

• Phoenix House: Long-established therapeutic community and addiction treatment network in the US/UK, directly comparable to De Spiegel's drug-free therapeutic community model and CRA-based behavioral interventions.
• Jellinek: Largest addiction care provider in the Netherlands offering prevention, outpatient, residential, and harm reduction services; a broader incumbent whose integrated care model is directly comparable to De Spiegel's continuum.
• Eigen Kracht (VNN): Dutch addiction care organization (Verslavingszorg Noord-Nederland) providing residential and ambulatory addiction services; comparable in scale and service breadth to De Spiegel's integrated treatment offering.

Regional players

• CGG Zuid-Oost-Vlaanderen (CGG Aalst-Dendermonde): Mental health and addiction provider in the Zuid-Oost-Vlaanderen region, one of De Spiegel's stated service areas, representing both an indirect competitor and a potential referral partner for ambulatory addiction cases.
• MSOC Vlaams-Brabant: Medisch Sociaal Opvangcentrum for Flemish Brabant; provides opioid substitution and medical-social support to substance users and partners with De Spiegel in prison services, competing for the same justice-involved and high-risk populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/despiegelvzw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-spiegel
• Instagramdespiegel.org/instagram

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Spiegel