Rataplan
RataPlan is a Dutch non-profit operating the Netherlands' largest thrift store chain — 49 physical stores and a 24/7 webshop selling donated second-hand goods — while employing approximately 2,500 people, many with a distance to the regular labor market.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersHeerhugowaard, Netherlands
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rataplan does
RataPlan (legal entity Stichting RataPlan, ANBI-status non-profit) is the largest second-hand thrift store chain in the Netherlands, operating 49 physical stores across six provinces (Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Gelderland, Utrecht, Flevoland, Overijssel) plus a 24/7 online webshop at rataplan.com. Founded in 1984, the organization sells donated and pre-owned furniture, clothing, books, bicycles, electronics, home accessories, and toys, with specialized sub-formats including the KiloBoetiek (clothing sold by weight), the Next Gen vintage label, and the RataPlant department for second-hand plants. In 2025, RataPlan processed over 24 million kilograms of goods and gave 14.7 million products a new owner. The organization pursues a dual social and environmental mission, employing approximately 2,500 people — many with a distance to the regular labor market — in partnership with UWV, municipalities, and regional social employment agencies. Revenue is generated primarily through per-item retail sales of second-hand goods across physical stores and the webshop, with ancillary income from gift cards, textile recycling, and statiegeld (deposit return) machines; no subscription model is used. Customers include budget-conscious consumers, students furnishing new homes, sustainability-minded shoppers, and families, while donor-side supply is sourced via free doorstep pickup, textile containers, and in-store drop-off. RataPlan completed its merger with Noppes in late 2024, absorbing 14 former Noppes stores, and continues to expand via traditional openings plus a Pop-Up store format placed inside conventional shopping centers in partnership with Wereldhave. Pricing is per item (or per kilo in KiloBoetiek), with event-driven promotions such as Shop & Hop stacking discounts (10/15/20%), Green Friday 29% off plants, and a swap-point system for clothing swap events. Technology infrastructure is standard commercial web tooling (WordPress, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Google AdSense) with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.
Rataplan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rataplan
- Legal name
- Stichting RataPlan
- Website
- https://rataplan.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- RataPlan is a Dutch non-profit operating the Netherlands' largest thrift store chain — 49 physical stores and a 24/7 webshop selling donated second-hand goods — while employing approximately 2,500 people, many with a distance to the regular labor market.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rataplan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Second-hand Retail
- NAICS
- Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Donation, Consignment & Resale Coordination (HSAFAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination (HSAFABAI), Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)
Keywords
Where Rataplan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Heerhugowaard
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices52 records
Markets served
Rataplan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Sales of Second-Hand Goods: Revenue generated from the sale of donated second-hand items across 49 physical stores and the 24/7 online webshop (rataplan.com). Items span furniture, clothing, books, bicycles, electronics, home accessories, and toys. Pricing is per individual item.
- Gift Cards: Sale of RataPlan gift cards (available in-store and online) as a gifting product and loyalty driver.
- Textile Container Deposits & Statiegeld (Deposit Return): Collection of textiles via dedicated RataPlan textile containers and acceptance of beverage containers with statiegeld (deposit) at designated bulk machines in store parking areas.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Per-item retail pricing across all stores and webshop |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | KiloBoetiek weight-based clothing pricing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Swap point system for clothing swap events |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Ronde van RataPlan bus tour tickets |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Shop & Hop stacking discount scheme |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels14 records
Rataplan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RataPlan operates a Dutch chain of 49 non-profit thrift stores (kringloopwinkels) selling donated second-hand goods including clothing, furniture, books, toys, and household items. The foundation combines retail with a social mission by employing people with a distance to the labor market, while also offering a 24/7 online webshop, free pickup services for donations, delivery, and textile recycling containers.
Product overview
RataPlan is a Dutch non-profit thrift store chain (kringloopbedrijf) operating as a unified platform combining physical retail stores, online e-commerce, and community services. The core offering consists of 49+ physical second-hand stores selling pre-owned furniture, clothing, books, electronics, and household goods, complemented by a 24/7 online webshop (rataplan.com). Supporting services include free pickup service for donations, delivery service, gift cards, and a loyalty program (Klantenpas). Specialized store formats include KiloBoetiek (clothing sold by weight), Pop-Up temporary stores, and the RataPlant department for second-hand plants. The Next Gen vintage label represents a premium sub-brand. Seasonal events like clothing swap days, Ronde van RataPlan bus tours, Shop & Hop multi-store promotions, and the Weggeefhoek free giveaway corner drive community engagement. Founded in 1984, RataPlan merged with Noppes in late 2024 to become the largest thrift chain in the Netherlands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RataPlant: A plant department selling second-hand plants from cancelled orders or overproduction from Dutch growers
- Next Gen
- KiloBoetiek
- RataPlan Pop-Up
Products and services
- Thrift Stores (Kringloopwinkels)
- Webshop (24/7 Online Store)
- Donation Pickup Service (Ophaalservice)
- Delivery Service (Bezorgservice)
- Gift Card (Cadeaukaart)
- Loyalty Card (Klantenpas)
- Bicycle Repair Shop (Fiets & Reparatie)
- Textile Containers (Textielcontainers)
- KiloBoetiek
- RataPlant
- Next Gen
- Premium Pick-up Points (Premium Pick-up Punten)
- Deposit Return Bulk Machine (Statiegeld-bulkautomaat)
- Free Items Corner (Weggeefhoek)
- City Pass Partnership (Stadspassen)
Quantifiable outcome
- 24.2 tons of CO2 emissions avoided in 2025 through circular reuse
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Rataplan
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Rataplan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Rataplan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WereldhavecoreWereldhave, owner of winkelcentrum Eggert in Purmerend, partnered with RataPlan to host a Pop-Up store. This brings the circular economy mission into a traditional shopping center context.
- UWV Zaanstreek WaterlandcoreUWV (Employee Insurance Agency) Zaanstreek Waterland partnered with RataPlan on the Purmerend Pop-Up, contributing to social reintegration and employment for people with a distance to the labor market.
- Werkom WerkontwikkelbedrijfcoreWerkom Werkontwikkelbedrijf is a collaborator on the RataPlan Pop-Up in Purmerend Eggert, supporting the creation of employment for people with a distance to the labor market.
- WereldhavecoreWereldhave, owner of winkelcentrum Middenwaard in Heerhugowaard, partnered with RataPlan to open a Pop-Up store from May 2025, making second-hand shopping accessible in a conventional retail environment.
- Werkgeversservicepunt (WSP) Noord-Holland NoordcoreThe Employers' Service Point North Holland North collaborated with RataPlan on the Middenwaard Pop-Up, supporting job creation for people removed from the labor market.
- Oranje FondsminorThe Oranje Fonds organizes Appeltjes van Oranje (nominated RataPlan 2025), NLdoet volunteer events, and is supported by the Nationale Postcode Loterij and Nederlandse Loterij. Koning Willem-Alexander and Koningin Máxima are the royal patrons.
- NoppescoreRataPlan and Noppes completed their official fusion effective January 1, 2025. All 14 former Noppes stores were converted to RataPlan locations. The combined entity became the largest thrift chain in the Netherlands with 49 stores. The fusion strengthens both circular economy reach and social employment mission, combining RataPlan's formula with Noppes' network.
- Gemeente NissewaardminorStichting RataPlan entered a collaboration with Gemeente Nissewaard, NV Reinis, MY college, Voorne-Putten Werkt, and Repair Café Spijkenisse to establish a Circular Center in Nissewaard.
- Stichting Bont voor DierenminorRataPlan joined the Fur Free Retailer program and Bontvrijlijst (Fur-Free List) coordinated by Stichting Bont voor Dieren, committing to not selling second-hand fur and supporting the goal of a fur-free Netherlands.
- Branchevereniging Kringloopbedrijven Nederland (BKN)coreBKN, the Dutch thrift store trade association, supported RataPlan's fur-free policy and coordinates national events like the 'Grootste Kledingruil van Nederland' in which RataPlan participates.
- Gemiva-SVG GroepminorRataPlan Den Haag partners with Activiteitencentrum Cygnus (part of Gemiva-SVG Groep) to have clients inspect, clean, and repair donated toys before resale. Gemiva provides transport via its own bus.
- Repair CaféminorRataPlan works with Repair Café (e.g., at the Alkmaar location) to promote repair as an alternative to disposal, extending product lifespans and reducing waste.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rataplan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Global non-profit retail network operating thrift and second-hand stores with a social-employment mission. Comparable in combining circular-economy retail with workforce reintegration, though far larger and operating primarily in North America.
- Salvation Army Family Stores: International charity operating extensive second-hand retail networks funded by donated goods. Comparable in donation-driven supply chain, thrift retail, and social-mission funding model, though operating on a much larger global scale.
- Humana People to People: International second-hand textile and clothing organization operating thrift stores across multiple European countries. Comparable in circular-economy mission, large-scale textile collection, and resale of donated clothing, though at a broader international scale than RataPlan.
Regional players
- De Kringwinkel: Belgian network of thrift stores operating under a similar social-economy and reuse mission, with comparable donation-pickup, sorting, and resale operations. Comparable in business model but operates in a different country (Belgium/Flanders) rather than competing directly with RataPlan in the Netherlands.
- Troc.com: French second-hand and clearance retail chain with a depot/store network selling donated and consigned second-hand goods. Comparable in second-hand retail format and cross-border European positioning, though primarily active in France.
- ReShare (Oxfam): UK-based second-hand clothing and reuse operation associated with Oxfam. Operates a similar donation-collection, sorting, and thrift-retail model with a social mission, focused primarily on the UK market. Comparable in operating model though geographically distinct.
Others
- Repair Café Foundation: International foundation supporting local Repair Café events that extend product lifespan through volunteer repairs. RataPlan already partners with Repair Cafés (e.g., Alkmaar); comparable in circular-economy mission and adjacent to RataPlan's resale and textile-recycling activities.
Emerging players
- Marktplaats: Netherlands' largest online classifieds platform, including a major second-hand goods category. Competes for the secondhand merchandise flow in the Dutch market and could divert donations or buyers away from RataPlan's physical and online stores.
- Vinted: Leading online peer-to-peer resale marketplace for second-hand clothing, active in the Netherlands. Competes with RataPlan for the same secondhand-clothing supply and value-conscious Dutch customers, though through a digital C2C marketplace model rather than physical stores.
Direct peers
- Het Goed: One of the largest Dutch thrift store chains operating multiple second-hand retail locations across the Netherlands with a similar donation-and-resale model and social-employment mission. Direct comparable to RataPlan in terms of store format, customer base, and circular-economy positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rataplan social profiles
Digital presenceRataplan compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Rataplan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rataplan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Rataplan subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Rataplan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rataplan 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 Rataplan
What does Rataplan do?
RataPlan operates a Dutch chain of 49 non-profit thrift stores (kringloopwinkels) selling donated second-hand goods including clothing, furniture, books, toys, and household items. The foundation combines retail with a social mission by employing people with a distance to the labor market, while also offering a 24/7 online webshop, free pickup services for donations, delivery, and textile recycling containers.
Is Rataplan a public or private company?
Rataplan is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rataplan founded?
Rataplan was founded in 1984. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Rataplan based?
Rataplan is headquartered in Heerhugowaard, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Rataplan make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Sales of Second-Hand Goods are the primary driver. The others are gift Cards and textile Container Deposits & Statiegeld (Deposit Return).
Who are Rataplan's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Goodwill Industries International, Salvation Army Family Stores and Humana People to People. Regional players are De Kringwinkel, Troc.com and ReShare (Oxfam). Repair Café Foundation is listed as an others. Emerging players are Marktplaats and Vinted. Het Goed is listed as a direct peer.
Does Rataplan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rataplan.
What industry is Rataplan in?
Rataplan's product category is Second-hand Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAFAFAG, Donation, Consignment & Resale Coordination, with a secondary code of HSAFABAI, Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination. Its NAICS code is 459510.