Urtica de vijfsprong

What Urtica de vijfsprong does

Urtica de Vijfsprong is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting Urtica) founded in 1984 in Vorden, Gelderland, that operates an integrated anthroposophical care community combined with a biodynamic farm. The organization serves approximately 150 people with intellectual disabilities or mental health vulnerabilities through three pillars: residential care across seven locations (Roos, Hofhuis, Hoogkamp, Kleine Koning, Lelie, Perenboom, and the 2023-acquired De Hogenkamp); daytime work and occupational activities including farm work, vegetable gardening, dairy processing, a wood workshop, and a sawmill; and ambulatory guidance plus specialized GGZ treatment, notably the 'Herstellen in het Groen' (Recovery in Green) program delivered by psychiatrists, psychologists, and experiential experts. Approximately 100 staff, supplemented by trainees and volunteers, deliver these services.

The underlying 'technology' is the anthroposophical healthcare methodology integrated with biodynamic agriculture — an on-site farm of roughly 50 dairy cows producing about 300,000 liters of milk annually, processed on-site into cheese and dairy products, alongside biodynamic vegetables and meat. The organization has formal ISO 9001:2015 certification (DEKRA, July 2024), ANBI public-benefit status, and recognition as a 'Voorloper Groene GGZ' (Green Mental Healthcare Pioneer) by Groene GGZ / IVN.

Revenue derives primarily from regulated Dutch healthcare funding — chiefly Menzis Zorgkantoor and Gemeente Bronckhorst — supplemented by an on-site Biowinkel (farm shop open six days per week) selling biodynamic dairy, vegetables, and beef packages (€18.50/kg), plus a self-harvest garden and experiential tours. Customer acquisition relies on referrals from GPs, specialists, municipalities, and healthcare insurers, supported by monthly community tours, a website and newsletter, and annual referrer events. No AI, software product, or technology platform of significance is associated with the operating model.

Name

Urtica de vijfsprong

Legal name

Stichting Urtica

Website

https://devijfsprong.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Urtica de Vijfsprong is a Dutch nonprofit foundation operating an anthroposophical care community and biodynamic farm in Vorden, providing residential, daytime, and ambulatory GGZ services to roughly 150 people with intellectual disabilities or mental health vulnerabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vorden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Residential Care Services: Supported and protected housing services for people with intellectual disabilities or mental health vulnerabilities. Multiple living locations including Roos, Hofhuis, Hoogkamp, Kleine Koning, Lelie, Perenboom.
2. Day Programs and Occupational Activities: Daytime activities including farm work, gardening, dairy production, and retail work for clients receiving care services.
3. Ambulant Treatment and Guidance: Outpatient treatment and support services for people with mental health vulnerabilities, including psychiatric care and therapy.
4. Agricultural Products Sales: Farm shop (Biowinkel) selling biodynamic/organic products including dairy, vegetables, and meat packages. Products include cheese, yogurt, quark, cream, and frozen meat packages.
5. Biodynamic Meat Packages: Sale of biodynamic beef packages (~5kg) at €18.50 per kg. Products include ground beef, sausages, hamburgers, ribs, steaks, and other cuts. Distribution via signup list.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Urtica de Vijfsprong is a nonprofit anthroposophical care farm providing supported and protected residential housing, day programs, and ambulatory mental health treatment for people with intellectual disabilities or psychological vulnerabilities. The care services are delivered alongside and integrated with a biodynamic agricultural operation that produces dairy, vegetables, and meat sold through an on-site farm shop.

Product overview

Urtica de Vijfsprong operates as a unified care-agriculture community combining anthroposophic healthcare services with biodynamic farming. The organization offers three interconnected service pillars: (1) Wonen (housing) across 7 residential locations for people with disabilities or mental health needs; (2) Werken (work/day activities) including farm work, garden, dairy, wood workshop, and sawmill; and (3) Ambulante Begeleiding en Behandeling (ambulatory guidance and mental health treatment). These services are supported by a commercial ecosystem including a bio-shop selling on-site biodynamic products (dairy, vegetables, beef packages), a self-harvest garden, and experiential tourism offerings. The farm produces approximately 300,000 liters of milk annually from 50 cows, processed into cheese and dairy products sold through the shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Herstellen in het Groen: Specialized GGZ (mental healthcare) treatment program integrating nature into treatment, part of the Green GGZ (Groene GGZ) movement.
• Boerderij De Vijfsprong

Products and services

• Wonen (Begeleid en Beschermd Wonen) Residential care services including supported and protected living at multiple locations (Roos, Hofhuis, Hoogkamp, Kleine Koning, Lelie, Perenboom) for people with intellectual disabilities or psychological vulnerabilities.
• Werken (Werk en Dagbesteding) Work and day activities including farm work, vegetable garden, dairy processing, wood workshop, and sawmill, providing meaningful employment and day structure for people with support needs.
• Ambulante Begeleiding en Behandeling Ambulatory guidance and specialized GGZ (mental health) treatment including Herstellen in het Groen programs that integrate nature-based therapy, delivered to clients in their home environment.
• GGZ Dagbesteding - Herstellen in het Groen Specialized mental health day treatment integrating nature and outdoor activities as therapeutic interventions, led by a team including psychiatrists, psychologists, and experiential experts.
• Biowinkel (Biologische Producten) On-site bio-shop selling biological and biodynamic products including dairy, vegetables, and meat produced on-site in Vorden. Open 6 days per week.
• Biodynamisch Rundvlees (Vleespakketten) Biodynamic beef packages sold in approximately 5kg frozen portions at €18.50 per kg, containing various cuts including ground beef, sausages, burgers, ribs, and steaks. Distributed via signup list.

Quantifiable outcome

• No waitlist for Green GGZ treatment - clients can be helped immediately
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Menzis ZorgkantoorcoreOthersHealthcare insurer providing funding for residential care, day programs, and mental health services. Key partner in enabling care services.
• Gemeente BronckhorstcoreOthersMunicipality providing care funding and support services for local residents requiring healthcare assistance.
• NVAZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Anthroposophical Healthcare Organizations in Netherlands, providing network and standards for anthroposophical care approach.
• Hogeschool LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences offering Anthroposophical Healthcare program. Provides student placements and academic collaboration.
• Stichting BD GrondbeheerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation for Biodynamic Land Management, supporting biodynamic agricultural practices and land stewardship.
• Buurtplein DoetinchemminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal community organization possibly distributing or promoting organic products in the Doetinchem region.
• Iona StichtingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation hosting annual meeting and spiritual/educational events. Urtica serves as host location for Iona gatherings.
• QlipminorOthersVolunteer organization whose employees participate in community service days at Urtica, working alongside care recipients on practical farm tasks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Middin: Regional Dutch care organization supporting people with intellectual disabilities in the Haaglanden region with supported living, day activities, and ambulatory services. Comparable on services to the intellectual disability segment.
• Espria: Dutch care group operating multiple brands across elderly care, disability care, and home care. Comparable as a multi-site care operator in the Netherlands though it spans broader populations and lacks the anthroposophical/farm focus.
• GGz Centraal: Major Dutch mental health (GGZ) provider offering ambulatory and clinical mental healthcare across Flevoland and beyond. Comparable on the ambulatory GGZ treatment side but operates in a traditional clinical model rather than nature-based care.
• 's Heeren Loo: Largest Dutch provider of care for people with intellectual disabilities, with hundreds of locations nationwide. Broad incumbent offering similar residential and day activity services but at significantly greater scale and without the integrated biodynamic farm component.
• Lentis: Dutch GGZ provider in Groningen and Drenthe offering ambulatory, residential, and forensic mental health services. Comparable as a regional GGZ provider competing for the same zorgkantoor funding pool.
• Pameijer: Rotterdam-based Dutch care organization supporting people with non-standard needs including intellectual disabilities and psychiatric vulnerabilities through supported living and day programs. Comparable on client population in the Randstad.
• Lister: Dutch GGZ and supported living provider focused on people with severe psychiatric vulnerabilities in the Utrecht region. Comparable on ambulatory GGZ and supported housing for the same client population.
• Philadelphia Zorg: Large Dutch care provider for people with intellectual disabilities, offering supported living, day programs, and ambulatory support nationwide. Comparable on client population and service mix but much larger and not anthroposophical.

Direct peers

• Kraaybeekerhof: Anthroposophical care community near Driebergen offering residential, day activity, and ambulatory programs for people with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. Closest peer on philosophy and integrated living-working model.
• Stichting De Hoven: Dutch care organization operating on anthroposophical principles with locations in Groningen, offering supported living and day activities for people with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric vulnerabilities. Most direct comparable in terms of anthroposophical care-farm model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UrticaVorden
• Facebookfacebook.com/urticadevijfsprong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-urtica

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Urtica de vijfsprong