VeBeS

What VeBeS does

VeBeS (Vereniging van Blinden en Slechtzienden Licht en Liefde vzw) is a Belgian non-profit association headquartered in Flanders that serves blind and partially sighted individuals across the Dutch-speaking regions of Belgium. The organization is structured around six regional offices, called vlaamsoogpunten, covering Flanders and Brussels, through which it delivers peer support, recreational activities, and member services to visually impaired constituents. Its core offerings include group vacations (including cross-border trips to destinations such as Châtel, France, and Spain), themed activity lines such as a cooking series, advocacy on accessibility and social policy, and the publication of the quarterly member magazine "Tibsz." The constituency is composed of individual members, ervaringsdeskundigen (peer experts with lived experience of visual impairment), and a base of regional volunteers.

The association's revenue model is anchored in a €22 annual membership fee, supplemented by activity-based fees, voluntary donations, and bequests. There is no commercial product line, no proprietary technology platform, and no disclosed external funding rounds. Strategic positioning is delivered through partnerships rather than vertical integration: the health insurance affiliate Samana (linked to CM) co-organizes vacations; Blindenzorg Licht en Liefde (BLL) provides care-side collaboration within the broader Licht en Liefde network; the Give a Day platform extends volunteer recruitment; and leisure operators Flandria and De Kinkhoorn host maritime and coastal group vacations. Linda Merken serves as chair (Voorzitter). The association operates as a traditional membership organization with no disclosed technology stack and no AI capabilities, with growth and resilience dependent on member engagement, donation flows, and the stability of its partner relationships rather than on scale economics.

Name

VeBeS

Legal name

Vereniging van Blinden en Slechtzienden Licht en Liefde vzw

Website

https://vebes.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VeBeS is a Belgian non-profit association serving blind and partially sighted people across Flanders and Brussels through six regional offices, delivering peer support, group vacations, advocacy, and the quarterly "Tibsz" magazine to its membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Visually impaired association
• Adapted vacation programs
• Peer support groups
• Nonprofit member services

Headquarters

HQ city

Varsenare

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sympathiserend lid (Supporting member): People without a visual impairment can become sympathising members for €22 per year, receiving the members' magazine and access to member-priced activities.
2. Vakanties en activiteiten (Vacations and activities): VeBeS organises paid vacations and regional activities. Pricing varies per activity, with members and companions paying reduced rates (e.g., cruise €25 per person, day trips €3 per person). Non-members pay 25% extra.
3. Giften en schenkingen (Donations and gifts): Financial contributions from individuals and companies; gifts of €40 or more generate a tax certificate.
4. Legaten (Bequests): People can include VeBeS in their will as a legatee, receiving property or financial bequests.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VeBeS is a non-profit association that provides peer support, social and cultural activities, adapted vacation programs, advocacy, and informational services for blind and visually impaired people in Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. The organisation delivers its services through six regional offices (vlaamsoogpunten), a members' magazine (Tibsz-Knipoog) in accessible formats, and a network of volunteers, with financial sustainability through membership fees, donations, bequests, and activity fees.

Product overview

VeBeS (Vereniging van Blinden en Slechtzienden Licht en Liefde) is a non-profit organization providing support services for blind and visually impaired people in Flanders and Brussels. The organization offers a range of programs including the Tibsz member magazine in accessible formats, regional social activities such as chat groups and hobby sessions, and adapted vacation programs. Additionally, VeBeS provides informational resources about eye conditions and connects volunteers with members through its Give a Day partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tibsz Member Magazine The Tibsz-Knipoog members' magazine is a bimonthly publication for blind and visually impaired VeBeS members, available in accessible formats. It provides news, articles, and information on activities, advocacy updates, eye conditions, and volunteer experiences.
• Regional Activities Program Regional activities program offering peer support and social engagement events including Babbelhoek (chat corners), Praatcafé (talk cafés), hobby groups, and social gatherings, delivered across six regions in Flanders and Brussels for visually impaired members and their companions.
• Adapted Vacation Programs (VeBeS Vakanties) VeBeS Vakanties offers adapted holiday programs including Alpenkamps (mountain hiking in Châtel, France), sea vacations in Oostende (De Kinkhoorn), charm vacations in Spain (Rota), and Ardennes trips, designed specifically for blind and visually impaired individuals with guided assistance and accessibility accommodations, organised in partnership with Samana.
• Eye Condition Information Sessions Educational information sessions and materials about specific eye conditions such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (LMD), delivered with expert presentations for visually impaired members and their families.
• Begeleiderstips Guide A printed guide providing practical tips for sighted persons to interact more smoothly with blind and visually impaired people, published by VeBeS and available as illustrated paper version or by mail.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 170 participants attend the annual sea vacation in Oostende.
• +3 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SamanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamana is a Christian health insurance fund (CM) that partners with VeBeS to organise adapted holidays. Samana provides funding and organisational support; VeBeS contributes its expertise on visual impairments and member network. Joint holidays include sea vacations in Oostende, tandem holidays in Diksmuide, and charm holidays in Rota (Spain). VeBeS Vakanties operates under Samana's travel bureau insurance.
• Give a DayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGive a Day is a volunteer matching platform connecting citizens, schools, municipalities, and companies with non-profits. VeBeS is registered on the platform and uses it to recruit volunteers. Give a Day provides tools, a community, and actieplannen (action plans) for companies.
• FlandriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlandria operates boat cruises in Antwerp. VeBeS partnered with Flandria to offer an educational cruise focused on the Oosterweel infrastructure works, providing members with an accessible cultural outing.
• De Kinkhoorn (Oostende)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDe Kinkhoorn is a vacation centre in Oostende that hosts VeBeS's annual sea vacation. It provides accommodation, dining, and facilities; VeBeS coordinates activities, companions, and programme. The centre was fully renovated in 2017.
• Blindenzorg Licht en Liefde vzw (BLL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlindenzorg Licht en Liefde (BLL) is a related Christian-inspired organisation sharing the same mission. Both VeBeS and BLL are part of the broader 'Licht en Liefde' network. BLL focuses on care provision while VeBeS focuses on peer support and advocacy. They share headquarters at Oudenburgweg 40, Varsenare, and cooperate on volunteer management and information.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VeBeSvzw
• Facebookfacebook.com/VeBeSvzw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vebes

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 VeBeS