Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap

What Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap does

Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) founded on 12 July 1934 and headquartered in Delft. It is dedicated to acquiring, restoring, and managing natural areas in the province of South Holland and parts of Utrecht, addressing the acute shortage of green space in the Netherlands' most densely populated province. The foundation currently stewards 5,000+ hectares of protected nature, including dune forests, estates, and coastal sites such as Staelduinse Bos, Landgoed Nieuw Leeuwenhorst, and the Bonnenpolder development area adjacent to National Park Hollandse Duinen. It is supported by approximately 50,000 recurring donor-members ('Beschermers'), around 400 active volunteers, and corporate 'Groene Partner' companies.

The foundation's operating model is donation-driven and community-led. Core revenue streams are tiered Beschermer subscriptions (€3/€5/€10 per month or €25/€35/€50 per year), one-time and legacy gifts, corporate partnerships, project-specific grants from municipalities, provinces, water boards, and foundations, and an institutional grant channeled through the Nationale Postcode Loterij via the LandschappenNL umbrella (which also funds initiatives such as the Wilde Bijenlinie, Het Groene Strand, and vleermuis habitat restoration). 'Products' take the form of freely accessible nature areas, paid guided excursions (booked via iDEAL), downloadable walking and cycling routes, visitor centers, overnight stays in a converted WWII bunker via partner Cocondo, and natural burial grounds operated jointly with Natuurbegraven Nederland. Distribution runs through the foundation's website, a 100,000+ subscriber newsletter, an active social media presence, and annual events such as Natuurwerkdag.

Governance is a two-tier supervisory board model led by chair Linda van Driel (as of August 2025), with directeur-bestuurder Jos Bisschops in operational leadership since April 2023. The foundation holds ANBI status (enabling tax-deductible donations) and CBF Erkend Goed Doel certification. Its largest active initiative is the Bonnenpolder project, a 154-hectare nature restoration in cooperation with Natuurmonumenten and Natuurbegraven Nederland, whose zoning was finalized by the Raad van State in August 2024 and whose on-the-ground implementation began in 2025.

Name

Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap

Legal name

Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap

Website

https://zuidhollandslandschap.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap is a Dutch non-profit foundation founded in 1934 that conserves and manages 5,000+ hectares of nature in South Holland and Utrecht, funded primarily by 50,000+ recurring Beschermer donors, corporate partners, and the Nationale Postcode Loterij via LandschappenNL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Nature conservation
• Landscape management
• Protected area management
• Biodiversity preservation
• Heritage site stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Delft

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. Donations and Membership ('Beschermers'): Primary revenue stream from recurring monthly donors (Beschermers) and one-time gift-givers. Members pay monthly (€3/€5/€10) or annual contributions and receive benefits including a magazine, excursion discounts, and partner discounts. The organization has over 50,000 Beschermers.
2. Corporate Partnerships ('Groene Partner'): Businesses become 'Partners' (Groene Partner) of the organization, contributing financially in exchange for association with the brand and employee engagement opportunities.
3. Nationale Postcode Loterij Funding: Receives annual contributions from the Nationale Postcode Loterij via LandschappenNL national umbrella. The lottery donates minimum 40% of ticket sales to 146 charitable causes annually.
4. Project-based Grants: Funding for specific projects such as the Bonnenpolder (154 ha nature development), vleermuis (bat) habitat restoration, Het Groene Strand, and the Wilde Bijenlinie, sourced from government bodies and foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap is a Dutch non-profit foundation that acquires, develops, and manages natural areas, landscapes, and cultural heritage sites across the South Holland province. It grants public access to its 5,000+ hectares of managed land through walking and cycling routes, visitor centres, and guided excursions, and sustains operations through a large donor (Beschermer) membership programme and volunteer network.

Product overview

Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap is a nature conservation foundation offering a portfolio of outdoor recreation and conservation services. The core offerings include guided excursions, self-guided walking routes (wandelroutes), and cycling routes (fietsrondjes) through nature areas across South Holland province. The organization operates several significant nature areas including Staelduinse Bos, Landgoed Nieuw Leeuwenhorst, and the developing Bonnenpolder project. A major membership program called 'Beschermer' (Guardian) provides donor benefits including a magazine and partner discounts. The foundation also manages visitor centers and is developing natural burial services (natuurbegraven). The Bonnenpolder represents a major current project—a 124-hectare nature restoration initiative transforming agricultural land into diverse habitats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beschermer membership programme Recurring-donation membership programme for individuals who financially support the foundation's conservation work; donors at higher tiers receive benefits such as access to guided excursions. It is targeted at residents of South Holland who want to contribute to local nature, landscape and heritage protection.
• Symbolic nature-square-metre adoption (Eigen stukje natuur) Per-square-metre donation product that lets individuals symbolically adopt and name a parcel of foundation-managed nature, priced at €7.50 per m². It is targeted at individual supporters seeking a tangible, giftable contribution to local conservation.
• Walking and cycling routes on managed estates Free-to-access recreational walking and cycling routes through the foundation's protected estates and natural areas in South Holland. Targeted at families, hikers, cyclists and school groups seeking outdoor recreation.
• Guided excursions and educational programmes Staff- and volunteer-led guided excursions, school programmes and educational events on the foundation's nature areas. Targeted at Beschermers, schools, families and the general public interested in learning about regional nature and heritage.
• Visitor centres (incl. Landgoed Nieuw Leeuwenhorst) On-site visitor centres that provide information, exhibitions, and the starting point for walks and excursions across the foundation's estates, including Landgoed Nieuw Leeuwenhorst. Targeted at the general public and recreational visitors in South Holland.
• Nature-area acquisition and development projects (e.g. Bonnenpolder) Major land acquisition and ecological-development projects that convert agricultural or degraded land into protected nature, exemplified by the Bonnenpolder nature-development project. Targeted at conservation outcomes rather than direct customers; financed via donations, grants and lottery funds.
• Natural burial grounds (Natuurbegraven) Natural burial services provided within the foundation's protected nature areas, combining end-of-life services with landscape and habitat conservation funding. Targeted at individuals seeking an environmentally conscious burial option in South Holland.
• Corporate "Groene Partner" sponsorship programme Sponsorship and partnership product for Dutch companies seeking regional CSR and ESG positioning via association with the foundation's conservation work. Targeted at corporate CSR/sustainability leads in South Holland and beyond.
• Volunteer programme (400+ vrijwilligers) Structured volunteering programme engaging 400+ active volunteers who support estate management, guided excursions, and public events. Targeted at residents of South Holland who want hands-on involvement in local nature conservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ hectares of nature protected across South Holland and Utrecht
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Natuurbegraven NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint developers of the Bonnenpolder project. Natuurbegraven Nederland develops and manages a 30-hectare natural cemetery within the 154-hectare Bonnenpolder nature area. On term, Zuid-Hollands Landschap will take over management of this area.
• NatuurmonumentencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-initiator of the Bonnenpolder project alongside Zuid-Hollands Landschap and Natuurbegraven Nederland. Their vision and involvement formed the basis of the plan. Anneklaar Wijnants of Natuurmonumenten participated in the co-design process with local residents.
• Gemeente RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner in the Bonnenpolder project. Approved the Oranjebonnen bestemmingsplan and granted permits for nature development. Also partnered on the National Postcode Lottery projects.
• Provincie Zuid-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government partner that supports nature development and added the Bonnenpolder expansion to the Natuurnetwerk Nederland (National Nature Network). Provinciale gedeputeerde Berend Potjer expressed support for the initiative.
• Hoogheemraadschap DelflandsupportingOthersWater management board (waterschap) partner in the Bonnenpolder project, contributing to water management and nature development aspects.
• LandschappenNLcoreOthersNational umbrella organization of provincial landscape organizations. Coordinates national initiatives such as the Wilde Bijenlinie (€1.7 million awarded at Goed Geld Gala) and receives Nationale Postcode Loterij funding on behalf of all provincial landscape organizations.
• Cocondo (Bunker accommodation)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner managing bookings for the converted WWII bunker accommodation in Vinetaduin (Hoek van Holland). Zuid-Hollands Landschap Beschermers receive 10% discount on bookings.
• Groene Partner bedrijven (Corporate Partners)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies that become partners of the organization, associating their brand with local nature conservation. Their employees and families can enjoy nature areas, and the partnership provides CSR and employee engagement value.
• DuinbehoudsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Het Groene Strand project, contributing to beach biodiversity and sustainable strand management.
• IVN (Instituut voor Natuur- en MilieuEducatie)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Het Groene Strand project, contributing environmental education expertise.
• Vogelbescherming NederlandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Het Groene Strand project, contributing to beach bird protection and monitoring.
• ANEMOON (Stichting Anemoon)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Het Groene Strand project, contributing marine and coastal species monitoring (citizen science).
• Vrienden van het Staelduinse BossupportingOthersVolunteer association that manages bezoekerscentrum d'Oude Koestal, providing information about the nature and history of Staelduinse Bos.
• DuneaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWater company offering 50% discount on day passes to Solleveld and Kijfhoorn & Bierlap for Beschermers. Manages sensitive dune areas.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen: Sister provincial landscape foundation under LandschappenNL managing nature estates and castles in Gelderland. Closely comparable donor-funded conservation and recreation model.
• Het Drentse Landschap: Sister provincial landscape foundation under LandschappenNL. Same operating model: acquiring, managing and opening nature areas to the public, funded by Beschermers and partners.
• Natuurmonumenten: Largest Dutch nature conservation NGO managing ~36,000+ hectares of nature areas. Direct peer: same mission of acquiring and managing natural areas, co-initiator and co-developer of the Bonnenpolder project with ZHL.
• Brabants Landschap: Sister provincial landscape foundation and member of LandschappenNL. Same Beschermer-style membership and land-acquisition model, focused on North Brabant province.
• Utrechts Landschap: Sister provincial landscape foundation operating under the LandschappenNL umbrella, with overlap in Utrecht province where ZHL also manages areas. Same organizational model, donor-driven funding, and nature-area stewardship mission.
• Noord-Hollands Landschap: Sister provincial landscape foundation managing nature in North Holland. Same model of Beschermer membership, volunteer networks, and land conservation in a densely populated Dutch province.

Broad incumbents

• LandschappenNL: National umbrella organization of 19+ provincial landscape foundations including ZHL. Coordinates national campaigns (Wilde Bijenlinie) and channels Nationale Postcode Loterij funding to its members.
• Staatsbosbeheer: Dutch government agency managing state-owned nature areas (~270,000 hectares). Direct overlap in nature management mandate across the same geographies, but government-funded rather than donor-funded.

Others

• Vogelbescherming Nederland: Dutch bird protection NGO and Het Groene Strand partner. Thematically adjacent conservation organization, focused on species (birds) rather than landscape management.

Emerging players

• Natuurbegraven Nederland: Specialized natural burial site operator and Bonnenpolder partner managing 30 hectares of cemetery within the shared nature area. Adjacent monetization model that overlaps ZHL's natural cemetery service line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZHLandschap
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCp6gcnJAEW8o6xX6eQle9sg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZHLandschap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-het-zuid-hollands-landschap
• Instagraminstagram.com/zhlandschap

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap