What Helpende Handen does

Helpende Handen is a Dutch membership association (vereniging) founded in 1973 and headquartered at Houttuinlaan 7, Woerden, that supports people with disabilities and their families within the Gereformeerde Gemeenten (Reformed) and adjacent Christian communities. Its core services are organized around a €27 annual, tax-deductible membership that unlocks personal service assistance, client support during care conversations, peer-contact meetings, advocacy across family, education, work, and healthcare, and regional activities such as catechesis, club meetings, church services, and practical home help. A quarterly magazine, 'Samen', is distributed three times per year to members, and the organization operates a webshop selling faith- and disability-related materials including the 'Altijd genoeg' Biblical diary, the 'Bij de Bron' dictionary, 'Boekje Autisme en geloven', and the 'Animato' instrumental CD.

The organization targets a broad spectrum of conditions (intellectual disabilities including Down syndrome and EMB, physical disabilities, autism, ADHD, visual impairment, spina bifida, Turner syndrome, Tourette, dementia, non-congenital brain injury, Parkinson's, and giftedness) but routes all delivery through the lens of Reformed Christian identity, supported by partnerships with Uitgeverij Den Hertog for co-published materials, GGZ Rivierduinen for professional expertise, the Platform Autisme in de kerk initiative, and a hosting relationship with the Centraal Bureau Gereformeerde Gemeenten (CBGG). Technology footprint is limited: there is no native app, no public API, and no AI lab. The website, helpendehanden.nl, runs a third-party AI-powered accessibility layer providing WCAG 2.1 AA-oriented screen-reader and keyboard navigation support, automated ALT-text and OCR for images, and various disability-specific UI modes; the organization is otherwise a service- and community-led non-profit rather than a technology company.

Revenue mechanics rest on three streams: recurring membership fees (€27/year), transactional webshop and event-recording sales (single-digit to ~€18 per item), and donations plus periodic gifts; there are no funding rounds, no PE/VC exposure, and no public financial disclosures. Governance sits with director F.A. Mulder, a small named staff (around five people including personal service consultants and communications), and a supervisory board currently recruiting an additional member, with the 2026 addition of an external policy advisor role signaling an intent to expand systemic advocacy.

Name

Helpende Handen

Legal name

Helpende Handen

Website

https://helpendehanden.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Helpende Handen is a Dutch non-profit association that supports people with disabilities and their families within the Gereformeerde Gemeenten (Reformed Christian) community through a €27 annual membership offering peer support, personal assistance, advocacy, and regional activities, complemented by a niche webshop of faith-based disability resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based disability support and advocacy

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM), Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Faith-based advocacy
• Peer support groups
• Member association services
• Special needs ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Woerden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fee of €27 per year, tax-deductible. Members receive access to peer support meetings, personal service assistance, and the quarterly magazine 'Samen'.
2. Webshop Sales: Sale of books, CDs, catechism materials, and autism resources through the organization's webshop. Products include items like 'Altijd genoeg' biblical diary (€17.90), 'Animato' CD (€7.50), and 'Bij de Bron' biblical dictionary (€9.90).
3. Event and Lecture Fees: Sale of audio recordings from events and lectures, such as the studiedag lecture available for €5.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Helpende Handen is a nonprofit association providing long-term care and specialized support services to people with disabilities and their families within the Reformed Christian (Gereformeerde Gemeenten) community in the Netherlands. Members pay €27/year (tax-deductible) to access personal service assistance, client support during care conversations, peer contact meetings, advocacy, regional activities (catechesis, clubs, church services, practical home help), and the quarterly magazine 'Samen'. A webshop supplements the core offering with Christian educational publications including autism-adapted biblical materials and CDs.

Product overview

Helpende Handen is a reformatorische (Calvinist) advocacy association for people with disabilities and their families, offering a membership-based service model combined with a webshop. The core offerings include membership with access to peer support meetings, personal assistance services, client advocacy support, and regional activities (catechesis, club meetings, church services). The organization also operates a webshop selling religious educational materials including Biblical diaries, books on autism and faith, and audio CDs. The membership (€27/year, tax-deductible) provides access to all services and the quarterly magazine 'Samen'. Target groups include people with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, ADHD, giftedness, dementia, Tourette syndrome, acquired brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and their families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Platform Autisme in de kerk: A platform focused on autism within the church community
• Club Benjamin
• Club Ebed-Melech
• Club FST
• Club Jedid-Jah

Products and services

• Lidmaatschap (Annual Membership)

Quantifiable outcome

• €27 annual membership fee, tax-deductible
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Uitgeverij Den HertogcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Uitgeverij Den Hertog for publishing biblical daybooks and educational materials suitable for children and people with autism. Joint development of resources like 'Altijd genoeg', 'Levend Woord', 'Profetisch Woord', and 'Bij de Bron' biblical dictionary.
• Platform Autisme in de kerkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform initiative organized by Helpende Handen that focuses specifically on autism within church communities. Organizes studiedagen (study days) and creates specialized resources. Has its own newsletter and network of contacts.
• GGZ RivierduinenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with GGZ Rivierduinen for the Platform Autisme studiedag. Jolanda Groenendijk-van Roekel, systeemtherapeut and orthopedagoog at GGZ Rivierduinen, provided expert lecture on autism, brain function, and relationships.
• Zorgboerderij De MauritshofminorOthersZorgboerderij (care farm) De Mauritshof is mentioned in connection with information evenings. Board members Marleen Koppejan and Corinne Zandee shared experiences as mothers of children with severe multiple disabilities.
• Centraal Bureau Gereformeerde Gemeenten (CBGG)minorOthersThe organization is housed in facilities associated with the Centraal Bureau Gereformeerde Gemeenten. CBGG processes address data for members and other stakeholders.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia: Large Dutch care provider supporting people with intellectual disabilities across multiple regions with professional care services. Comparable as a Dutch disability services provider, though Philadelphia operates at much larger scale and offers direct care rather than advocacy-led support.
• 's Heeren Loo: One of the largest Dutch care organizations supporting people with intellectual and other disabilities across the Netherlands. Comparable as a Dutch disability services operator, but at substantially greater scale and with a more clinical/professional care model.

Direct peers

• MEE: Dutch nonprofit network providing information, advice, and support to people with disabilities and chronic conditions. Directly comparable as a Dutch disability advocacy and support organization, though MEE serves a broader secular population rather than a faith-based niche.
• KansPlus: Dutch association for people with intellectual disabilities and their families, providing peer support and advocacy. Comparable in mission and member-based model to Helpende Handen, especially regarding intellectual disability and family support services.
• Ieder(in): Dutch network of disability and chronic illness organizations advocating for inclusive policy and member interests. Comparable as a disability advocacy umbrella operating in the Netherlands, though at a more systemic/policy level rather than community-embedded services.
• Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA): Dutch association for autism that provides peer support, information, and advocacy for autistic individuals and their families — closely comparable to Helpende Handen's Platform Autisme work, though without the religious-community focus.
• LFB (Landelijke Federatie Belangenorganisaties): Dutch advocacy organization representing the interests of people with intellectual disabilities through client councils. Comparable as a Dutch disability advocacy organization focused on amplifying member voices in policy and care decisions.

Regional players

• Enable Scotland: Scottish charity supporting people with learning disabilities and their families through advocacy, information, and peer support. Comparable as a regional disability support and advocacy organization, though geographically Scotland-based and secular.
• AbilityNet: UK charity that helps disabled people use digital technology, with strong focus on web accessibility. Comparable to Helpende Handen's AI-driven WCAG accessibility approach, though operating in the UK market with a tech-focused rather than faith-community angle.
• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): US national disability advocacy organization promoting equal opportunity and political participation. Comparable in advocacy mission, though operating in a very different policy environment, funding structure, and at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/helpende.handen
• Facebookfacebook.com/hh.staatnaastje
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helpende-handen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Helpende Handen