Gilde Amsterdam
Gilde Amsterdam is a volunteer-driven Amsterdam nonprofit (founded 1984) offering free one-on-one social programs — language coaching, literacy support, child health mentoring, career advice, and guided walking tours (Mee in Mokum) — to Amsterdam residents and visitors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Gilde Amsterdam does
Gilde Amsterdam (legal entity: Stichting Gilde Amsterdam) is a Dutch charitable foundation founded in 1984 and headquartered at Keizersgracht 334-346 in Amsterdam. It operates a volunteer-driven social welfare and cultural model, delivering services to Amsterdam residents and visitors through one-on-one matching between trained volunteers and clients. The organization runs six program verticals: Mee in Mokum (multilingual guided walking tours at €15 per adult / €7.50 per child), FitMaatjes (coaching for children aged 4–16 with overweight), SamenSpraak (Dutch language conversation practice for non-native speakers), Taal voor het Leven (adult literacy coaching), Leesbegeleiding (reading support for primary school children in grades 3–8), and Coaching & Loopbaanadvies (career counseling). Mee in Mokum walking tours cover Amsterdam history, architecture, and themed walks in Dutch, English, German, and French.
The organization's service delivery is entirely volunteer-led: 500+ volunteers (also referenced as 'ruim 600 adviseurs en begeleiders') are onboarded through formal intake ('kennismakingsgesprek') and matched to clients based on shared interests. Only two paid employees existed as of 2025. Technology infrastructure is limited to a WordPress website with standard plugins, Google Analytics, and cookie-based tracking — there is no proprietary platform or technology stack.
Gilde Amsterdam's revenue is composed of three streams: (1) transaction fees from paid walking tours, (2) multi-year municipal subsidies from the City of Amsterdam (a new six-year period commenced in 2025), and (3) donations, corporate sponsorships (minimum €1,000/year including logo placement and complimentary tours), and legacy bequests. The organization holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, making donations and bequests tax-deductible. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website booking, phone, and referrals from partner organizations including GGD Amsterdam, OBA (public libraries), schools, and youth health nurses.
Gilde Amsterdam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gilde Amsterdam
- Legal name
- Stichting Gilde Amsterdam
- Website
- https://gildeamsterdam.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Gilde Amsterdam is a volunteer-driven Amsterdam nonprofit (founded 1984) offering free one-on-one social programs — language coaching, literacy support, child health mentoring, career advice, and guided walking tours (Mee in Mokum) — to Amsterdam residents and visitors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gilde Amsterdam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services and Cultural Tours
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Walking City Tours (Highlights & Orientation) (THAJAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Culture, Heritage & Arts Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAK), FIT & Private Tour Operators (Customized Day Tours) (THAKAEAC)
Keywords
Where Gilde Amsterdam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gilde Amsterdam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Walking Tour Fees (Mee in Mokum): Revenue from paid city walking tours offered by volunteer guides. Tour fees are charged per person at €15 adults / €7.50 children, covering administration costs.
- Subsidies and Grants: Government funding from the municipality of Amsterdam. The 2025 annual report mentions entering a new six-year subsidy period. Also funded through KansenNet and SamenSpraak Noord partnerships.
- Donations and Sponsorship: Financial donations (including ANBI tax-deductible gifts), corporate sponsorship (minimum €1,000/year with logo placement and complimentary tours for 10), and legacy/nalatenschap gifts. Gifts are tax-deductible as Gilde Amsterdam holds ANBI status.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | City walking tours: €15 per adult, €7.50 for children (up to 12) and Stadspasholders |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gilde Amsterdam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gilde Amsterdam is a volunteer-driven foundation that delivers one-on-one social support programs and guided walking tours across Amsterdam. Its social programs include FitMaatjes (childhood wellness mentoring), SamenSpraak (Dutch language practice for non-native speakers), Taal voor het Leven (adult literacy coaching), Leesbegeleiding (reading support for primary school children), and Coaching & Loopbaanadvies (free career coaching). Its commercial offering, Mee in Mokum, provides paid guided walking tours of Amsterdam led by trained volunteer guides in multiple languages.
Product overview
Gilde Amsterdam is a volunteer-driven social organization offering a portfolio of community support programs and guided experiences. The core offerings include Mee in Mokum (guided walking tours of Amsterdam in multiple languages) and five social support programs: FitMaatjes (childhood obesity coaching), SamenSpraak (Dutch language conversation practice), Taal voor het Leven (adult literacy), Leesbegeleiding (children's reading assistance), and Coaching & Loopbaanadvies (career counseling). All programs operate on a one-on-one volunteer matching model with free or low-cost participation, primarily serving Amsterdam residents and visitors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FitMaatjes: Free coaching program pairing children aged 4-16 with volunteer mentors to help them make healthier lifestyle choices regarding nutrition, movement, and self-confidence.
- SamenSpraak
- Taal voor het Leven
- Coaching & Loopbaanadvies
- Leesbegeleiding
- Mee in Mokum
Products and services
- Mee in Mokum — Guided Walking Tours
Quantifiable outcome
- Started in 1984 with 50 volunteers advising ~350 residents; now 500+ volunteers serving hundreds annually
Companies that use Gilde Amsterdam
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Gilde Amsterdam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gilde Amsterdam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Gemeente Amsterdam (Municipality of Amsterdam)corePrimary funder through multi-year subsidy agreements. The 2025 annual report notes entering a new six-year subsidy period. Municipality provides core operational funding for Gilde Amsterdam's social programs including FitMaatjes.
- KansenNetcoreCollaborative partnership mentioned in the 2025 annual report as one of the key collaborations Gilde Amsterdam continued during the year.
- SamenSpraak NoordcoreRegional collaboration referenced in the 2025 annual report, extending SamenSpraak language coaching services to Amsterdam-Noord.
- OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam)supportingOBA provides venues and resources for Taal voor het Leven and SamenSpraak sessions. The Taalplein at OBA Oosterdok is a regular meeting location for language coaching sessions.
- GGD AmsterdamsupportingRefers children with weight concerns to the FitMaatjes program. Jointly addresses childhood obesity in Amsterdam.
- ZuiderMRKTminorSponsored or supported the FitMaatjes 'Kookmaatjes' cooking event at Stadsboerderij Osdorp on 23 June, providing food ingredients and resources for the event.
- Leef&Leer (OBA)supportingProvides free training to Gilde Amsterdam SamenSpraak volunteers on language coaching techniques and methodology.
- Taalmeesterschap.orgsupportingReferral partner for non-native Dutch speakers with higher-level (hbo/university) writing improvement needs who have outgrown Gilde Amsterdam's program scope.
- Ambassade van de Vrije Geest (Embassy of the Free Spirit)supportingCo-sponsor of the 'Amsterdam, stad van de vrije geest' walking tour. Their café serves as the starting point for this themed walk.
- Vereniging Vrienden van de Amsterdamse Gevelstenen (VVAG)supportingCollaborated with Gilde Amsterdam to develop the special 'Gevelsteen wandeling' (facade stone walking tour) as part of the '750 years of Amsterdam' celebrations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gilde Amsterdam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Context Travel: Premium small-group walking tour operator with expert guides covering Amsterdam and other European cities. Comparable on themed, expert-led walking tours, but positioned at much higher price point than Gilde's Mee in Mokum.
Broad incumbents
- Sandemans New Europe: Largest free-tip-based walking tour operator in Amsterdam and major European cities. Direct competitor to Mee in Mokum on the guided city walking tour side, with much larger guide pool and digital booking scale.
- VluchtelingenWerk Nederland: National Dutch foundation supporting refugees and newcomers with integration, language, and civic participation — overlapping with Gilde Amsterdam's SamenSpraak and migrant-facing programs at national scale.
- Stichting Lezen & Schrijven: National Dutch literacy foundation addressing low literacy in the Netherlands. Comparable to Gilde Amsterdam's Taal voor het Leven and Leesbegeleiding programs, but operates at national policy and coordination level rather than direct service delivery.
Direct peers
- Het Begint met Taal: National Dutch foundation coordinating volunteer literacy and language-coaching programs (including Taal voor het Leven, which Gilde Amsterdam runs locally). Direct programmatic overlap on the social-services side.
- Strawberry Tours: Free walking tour operator active in Amsterdam with themed tours. Competes head-to-head with Mee in Mokum on price point (tip-based) and tour themes (history, culture, neighborhoods).
- Gilde Utrecht: Sister Gilde organization in Utrecht offering the same volunteer-driven model of one-on-one guidance and city walks. Most directly comparable peer — same brand lineage, same operating philosophy, similar program mix.
- Free Tour Amsterdam: Local free-tip-based walking tour company in Amsterdam offering themed city walks. Direct competitor to Mee in Mokum on guided city tours, particularly for budget-conscious travelers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gilde Amsterdam social profiles
Digital presenceGilde Amsterdam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gilde Amsterdam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Gilde Amsterdam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gilde Amsterdam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gilde Amsterdam
What does Gilde Amsterdam do?
Gilde Amsterdam is a volunteer-driven foundation that delivers one-on-one social support programs and guided walking tours across Amsterdam. Its social programs include FitMaatjes (childhood wellness mentoring), SamenSpraak (Dutch language practice for non-native speakers), Taal voor het Leven (adult literacy coaching), Leesbegeleiding (reading support for primary school children), and Coaching & Loopbaanadvies (free career coaching). Its commercial offering, Mee in Mokum, provides paid guided walking tours of Amsterdam led by trained volunteer guides in multiple languages.
Is Gilde Amsterdam a public or private company?
Gilde Amsterdam is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Gilde Amsterdam founded?
Gilde Amsterdam was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Gilde Amsterdam based?
Gilde Amsterdam is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Gilde Amsterdam make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Walking Tour Fees (Mee in Mokum) is the primary driver. The others are subsidies and Grants and donations and Sponsorship.
Who are Gilde Amsterdam's main competitors?
Context Travel is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Sandemans New Europe, VluchtelingenWerk Nederland and Stichting Lezen & Schrijven. Direct peers are Het Begint met Taal, Strawberry Tours, Gilde Utrecht and Free Tour Amsterdam.
Does Gilde Amsterdam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gilde Amsterdam.
What industry is Gilde Amsterdam in?
Gilde Amsterdam's product category is Community Social Services and Cultural Tours. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAAAA, Walking City Tours (Highlights & Orientation), with a secondary code of THAKAOAK, Culture, Heritage & Arts Itinerary Planning. Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 8300.