What Houterman does

Houterman Autosleepdienst is a Netherlands-based, family-owned vehicle towing, recovery, and transport company founded in 1966 by Nol Houterman in Lent. Now in its second generation of family ownership (Paul and Frank Houterman took over in 1993), the company operates 5 branches across the Wijchen, Nijmegen, Arnhem, and Veenendaal regions with a 27-vehicle fleet and 45 employees providing 24/7/365 service. It serves alarm centers, insurance companies (including RoadGuard/Achmea), leasing and rental companies, automotive dealers, a broad set of government institutions (police, justice, tax authority, customs, municipalities, Royal Military Police, and bailiffs), and individual motorists on a pay-per-service basis without subscription requirements.

The company's core services are organized into three lines: Sleepdienst en Berging (towing and recovery for cars, motorcycles, vans, trucks, trailers, tractors, and special vehicles), Pechhulp (roadside assistance including on-site repair via OBD diagnostic computers), and Autotransport (vehicle transport including semi-lowloader and climate-controlled transport). Add-on services include replacement vehicle provision via integrated rental platforms (DriveOn, ANV, Logicx, Rentrunner), vehicle storage under General Storage Conditions 2017, international repatriation, and specialized Truckberging for heavy vehicles over 3,500 kg using lifting cushion technology. The underlying technology stack is built around the Promatie Takel & Berging dispatch system (RDC/Bovemij/BOVAG), which digitally receives orders from all Dutch alarm centers and assigns drivers; Mobi-ID provides secure single sign-on for RDC applications. Supporting integrations include Nmbrs (payroll), Verzuimsignaal (absence tracking), iZettle (payments), Factuurarchief.nl (invoice archiving), Vrachtbrief.nl (CMR waybills), and Inzendportaal.nl (sector registrations).

Houterman generates revenue entirely through transaction fees on individual service events — towing, recovery, roadside repair, transport, storage, replacement vehicles, and repatriation. The primary go-to-market is B2B dispatch volume through alarm centers connected via Promatie Takel & Berging, supplemented by direct phone (085-7608787) and website inquiries for B2C and ad-hoc B2B work, plus direct service agreements with insurance, leasing, and government clients. The company complies with Stichting IMN quality standards (SIMN 2019-2022) and is registered with the KvK under number 09060370. The company describes itself as "internationally operating" while maintaining Netherlands-only branches; recent strategic activity centers on partnership extensions (Stimva truck recovery, RoadGuard/Achmea) and ecosystem integrations rather than geographic or product diversification.

Name

Houterman

Legal name

Houterman Autosleepdienst

Website

https://houterman.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Houterman Autosleepdienst is a family-owned Dutch vehicle towing, recovery, and transport company founded in 1966, operating 5 branches with a 27-vehicle fleet to serve alarm centers, insurance companies, leasing firms, government agencies, and individual motorists on a 24/7/365 basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Towing and Recovery Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Towing (48841), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Towing, Recovery & Vehicle Removal Services (TLAJAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accident Recovery, Winch-Out & Towing Services (Light/Heavy) (TLAKAFAH), Inoperable / Non-Running Vehicle Transport (HSAKAFAI), Classic, Exotic & High-Value Vehicle Transport (HSAKAFAG)

Keywords

• Vehicle towing services
• Roadside assistance
• Vehicle recovery
• Vehicle transport
• Heavy vehicle recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Wijchen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Roadside Assistance (Pechhulp): On-demand roadside assistance services provided 24/7, 365 days per year. Serves both B2B clients (alarm centers, insurance companies) and individual consumers. No subscription required for consumers - pay-per-service model.
2. Towing and Recovery Services: Recovery and towing of vehicles including cars, motorcycles, vans, trucks, trailers, tractors, agricultural vehicles, and special vehicles. Services include securing vehicles, cleanup of accident scenes, and transport to designated locations (garages, repair shops, depots).
3. Vehicle Transport: Transport of vehicles including damaged vehicles, new cars, classic cars, exclusive cars (enclosed transport), motorcycles, trucks, trailers, tractors, agricultural vehicles, machines, campers, caravans, and construction site cabins. Services include semi-lowloader transport and climate-controlled (dry and dust-free) transport.
4. Vehicle Storage: Storage of recovered/impounded vehicles at company depots in accordance with General Storage Conditions 2017.
5. Replacement Vehicle Services: Provision of replacement vehicles for customers entitled through their leasing company or insurer. Vehicles in various classes are available at each branch location.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Houterman Autosleepdienst delivers 24/7 vehicle towing, recovery, and transport services across the Netherlands for cars, motorcycles, vans, trucks, trailers, agricultural vehicles, and special vehicles. The company operates a 27-vehicle fleet with specialized capabilities including heavy vehicle recovery (>3,500 kg) using lifting cushions, semi-lowloader transport, and climate-controlled (dry, dust-free) enclosed transport. Services are coordinated digitally through the Promatie Takel & Berging dispatch system integrated with all Dutch alarm centers, serving insurance companies, leasing firms, government agencies, and individual motorists.

Product overview

Houterman Autosleepdienst operates as a breakdown, recovery, and vehicle transport service company with a unified service platform organized around three core offerings: Sleepdienst en Berging (towing and recovery), Pechhulp (roadside assistance), and Autotransport (vehicle transport). These core services are supported by add-on services including replacement vehicle provision, vehicle storage, and international repatriation. The company provides 24/7 availability 365 days per year across 5 locations in the Netherlands, serving alarm centrales, insurance companies, lease companies, government agencies, and individual clients. Service coordination is managed through Promatie Takel & Berging dispatch system connected to alarm centrales, and replacement vehicles are arranged through integration with rental platforms (DriveOn, ANV, Logicx, Rentrunner).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sleepdienst en Berging (Towing and Recovery)

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 employees and 27-vehicle fleet operating 365/24/7
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RDC (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer)coreTechnology or IntegrationRDC provides Promatie Takel & Berging software used by Houterman for digital dispatch and order management. The system is connected to all alarm centers. RDC is owned by Bovemij (mobility sector insurer) and is a 100% subsidiary of BOVAG. Login to RDC Promatie uses Mobi-ID authentication.
• RoadGuard (Achmea Services N.V.)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRoadGuard is a brand of Achmea Services N.V. (Centraal Beheer and alarmcentrale Eurocross Assistance) for roadside assistance without subscription. Houterman is engaged by RoadGuard to provide assistance services.
• Centraal Meldpunt Vrachtwagenberging (Stimva)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStimva operates the Central Dispatch Center for Truck Recovery. Houterman is regularly engaged by Stimva's dispatch center for heavy vehicle recovery services (>3,500 kg) including trucks, touring cars, trailers, and large trailers.
• Stichting IMNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStichting IMN sets quality standards for the recovery industry. Houterman complies with IMN quality standards (SIMN 2019-2022) which govern the qualification requirements for recovery services. Compliance with these standards affects liability terms in service agreements.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ADAC: Germany's largest roadside assistance and mobility club operator. Comparable to Houterman in service mix (towing, recovery, roadside assistance) and customer segments (members, insurance, fleet), though operating at national scale and with a subscription-based model.
• AAA (American Automobile Association): North America's largest membership-based roadside assistance and towing organization. Comparable to Houterman in core service categories, 24/7 dispatch model, and integration with insurance and fleet customers, though at vastly greater scale and brand maturity.
• Centraal Beheer (Achmea): Major Dutch insurance company operating the RoadGuard roadside assistance brand that Houterman services. Comparable as a large-scale incumbent buyer and bundler of towing/recovery services, with the ability to internalize or re-route work away from operators like Houterman.
• RAC: UK roadside assistance, towing, and recovery operator. Comparable to Houterman in service categories and customer mix (insurers, fleets, individual motorists), though operating at national UK scale with stronger consumer brand.

Direct peers

• Multraship Towage & Salvage: Netherlands-based towage, salvage, and recovery operator. Comparable to Houterman in the recovery and towing service category with overlap on heavy recovery work and B2B customer segments including ports, government, and commercial clients.
• Wegenwacht.nl: Dutch consumer roadside assistance subscription service operating in competition with pay-per-use operators like Houterman. Comparable as a direct alternative for individual motorists seeking roadside help, competing for the same B2C wallet in the Dutch market.
• ANWB Wegenwacht: The Netherlands' largest roadside assistance and towing provider. Directly comparable to Houterman as a 24/7 towing, recovery, and roadside service operator serving insurance, leasing, and individual customers across the Netherlands, but at vastly greater national scale and brand reach.
• Bergingsbedrijf Rottger: Dutch regional towing and recovery company operating in the eastern Netherlands. Directly comparable to Houterman as a similarly sized regional recovery specialist with comparable light- and heavy-duty recovery capabilities and B2B / B2C mix.
• Stimva (Stichting Stimva): Dutch central dispatch and coordination body for truck recovery, with which Houterman is closely integrated. Comparable in that Stimva's network contractors perform the same >3,500 kg heavy recovery work that is a core Houterman specialization, and competes for the same Stimva-dispatched jobs.

Others

• Eurocross Assistance: Major Dutch alarm center that dispatches towing and roadside assistance jobs to operators including Houterman. Comparable as part of the same value chain and overlapping on dispatch, claims handling, and roadside coordination for insurance clients, though Eurocross is a coordinator rather than a tow operator itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HoutermanAutosleepdienst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/houterman-autosleepdienst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Houterman