Schone Rivieren

What Schone Rivieren does

Schone Rivieren is a Dutch nonprofit environmental initiative, established in 2017 and operated under Vereniging IVN Natuureducatie in partnership with Stichting De Noordzee and (until 2023) Plastic Soup Foundation. Its stated mission is achieving plastic-free rivers in the Netherlands by 2030, addressing river plastic pollution before it reaches the North Sea. The initiative builds on the 2013 Schone Maas pilot and operates across all major Dutch rivers including the Maas, Waal, Rijn, Lek, IJssel, Schelde, Overijsselse Vecht, Eem, Noordzeekanaal/IJ, and Maasdelta.

The organization runs four interconnected programs ("the four O's"): Opruimen (cleanup actions), Onderzoeken (citizen science research), Ontdekken (discovery expeditions), and Oplossen. The research core uses an adapted OSPAR beach-litter monitoring protocol, where 1,100+ trained volunteer researchers count and categorize waste items across standardized 100-meter river-bank plots at 500+ locations twice per year (spring and autumn). Data is captured via online forms and aggregated into a centralized database; over 947,671 items were registered in the first five years. Cleanup operations engage 5,000+ volunteers annually, removing approximately 30,000 kg of waste from river banks each year. Discovery is delivered through guided river expeditions (walking, canoeing, SUP tours), and Oplossen channels the resulting evidence base into policy advocacy and corporate engagement through the Schone Rivieren Alliantie partnership network and the EU-funded LIVES cross-border project.

Schone Rivieren does not sell products or services. It is funded through charitable donations starting from €5, multi-year grants from Adessium Foundation and Gieskes Strijbis Fonds (both since 2017), a €1,950,000 anchor donation from the Nationale Postcode Loterij in early 2019, and partnership contributions from Alliantie members (municipalities, companies, water boards). Go-to-market is entirely community-led: the organization recruits and trains volunteers, coordinates cleanup actions with associations and municipalities, and engages alliance partners through outreach, media coverage, and structured coalition frameworks such as the Schone Schelde Convenant (35+ partners).

Name

Schone Rivieren

Legal name

Vereniging IVN Natuureducatie

Website

https://schonerivieren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Schone Rivieren is a Dutch nonprofit initiative operated under IVN Natuureducatie that runs the Netherlands' largest citizen-science river waste monitoring program (1,100+ trained researchers, 500+ locations) alongside annual cleanup actions, discovery expeditions, and source-reduction advocacy aimed at plastic-free Dutch rivers by 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services / Nonprofit Environmental Programs

NAICS

Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAK

Water Resources & Watershed Protection

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

Keywords

• River waste research
• Citizen science monitoring
• Volunteer cleanup programs
• Plastic pollution prevention
• Environmental advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: Schone Rivieren is funded through charitable donations and grants from the Nationale Postcode Loterij (€1,950,000 donation in 2019), Adessium Foundation (since 2017), Gieskes Strijbis Fonds (since 2017), and individual donations starting from €5.
2. Partnership Contributions: Companies and municipalities join the Schone Rivieren Alliantie (Alliance), providing financial contributions in exchange for partnership benefits including the Schone Rivieren toolkit, alliance newsletter (4x/year), and promotional visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schone Rivieren is a Dutch non-profit environmental initiative that conducts citizen science research on river bank waste, organizes large-scale volunteer cleanup actions along Dutch rivers, leads guided educational river expeditions, and advocates for source-based plastic reduction policies with governments, businesses, and consumers. The program trains volunteers to use a standardized OSPAR-derived monitoring protocol on 100-meter river bank plots, collecting twice-yearly data on waste composition and quantities into a centralized database to inform policy and corporate engagement.

Product overview

Schone Rivieren (Clean Rivers) is a Dutch nonprofit environmental initiative operated by IVN Natuureducatie in partnership with Plastic Soup Foundation and Stichting De Noordzee, aiming for plastic-free Dutch rivers by 2030. The organization does not offer commercial software products but operates a suite of interconnected programs: the core Rivierafvalonderzoek (River Waste Research Program) using citizen science to monitor waste at 500+ river locations; Opruimacties (Cleanup Activities) coordinating thousands of volunteers annually; Ontdekken Expedities (Discovery Expeditions) offering guided nature experiences; and Oplossen (Solving) initiatives advocating for policy changes. Supporting infrastructure includes an online data entry system for researchers, a partnership alliance program (Alliantie), educational resources (handbooks, ambassador guides), and regular newsletters. The organization functions as a nonprofit coalition rather than a technology company, with no API, no SaaS product, and no AI/ML capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schone Maas: The original project that focused on the Maas River, which later evolved into the national Schone Rivieren initiative.
• Schoon Noordzeekanaal en het IJ
• Schone Schelde
• Schone Vecht
• Schone Eem

Products and services

• Rivierafvalonderzoek (River Waste Research Program) Citizen science research program where 1,100+ trained volunteers monitor and document waste along Dutch riverbanks twice yearly at over 500 locations, collecting data on waste composition, quantity, and origin using the OSPAR-derived protocol.
• Opruimacties (Cleanup Activities) Annual cleanup actions organized with associations, municipalities, and thousands of volunteers along Dutch riverbanks to remove waste and prevent it from reaching the North Sea, with 5,000+ volunteers collecting approximately 30,000 kg of waste annually.
• Ontdekken Expedities (Discovery Expeditions) Guided river expeditions led by nature guides, offering walking tours, canoe safaris, cycling, and SUP excursions along Dutch rivers to discover river landscapes while raising awareness about plastic pollution, distributed through the IVN Routes app.
• Oplossen (Source Reduction Advocacy) Policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement program working with governments, businesses, and consumers to implement source-level solutions for plastic pollution, including legislation proposals and corporate engagement through the Alliantie.
• Rivierafvalonderzoeker Training Program Training program that prepares volunteers to become certified river waste researchers, including digital training sessions, methodology education (OSPAR-based protocol), and ongoing support for conducting standardized 100-meter river bank plot monitoring.
• Schone Rivieren Alliantie (Alliance Partnership Program) Partnership network inviting organizations (municipalities, companies, water boards, associations, NGOs) to join efforts for plastic-free rivers by 2030, offering toolkit, quarterly newsletter, and collaborative opportunities in exchange for commitment to plastic reduction activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of river waste is plastic, enabling targeted source reduction efforts
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IVN NatuureducatiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017IVN Natuureducatie is the parent organization and primary implementer of Schone Rivieren. With 26,000 volunteers and members, IVN connects humans and nature through nature activities, courses, projects, and campaigns. Within Schone Rivieren, IVN is responsible for the Cleanup and Discovery components and overall communication. IVN executes all communication for Schone Rivieren and serves as the primary organizational home.
• Plastic Soup FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Plastic Soup Foundation was one of the initiators of Schone Rivieren in 2017. Their mission is to prevent plastic waste from entering water. They advocate for source-based solutions and have been recognized internationally as one of the leading advocacy groups to tackle plastic pollution. From 2023, their role within Schone Rivieren changed due to shifting focus within their own organization, but they remain connected as a supporting partner.
• Stichting De NoordzeecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Stichting De Noordzee is an independent nature and environment organization focused on the protection and sustainable use of the North Sea. They are responsible for the Research component within Schone Rivieren, conducting annual monitoring of litter on river beaches using the same methodology as Schone Rivieren researchers.
• RijkswaterstaatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRijkswaterstaat (RWS) is the Dutch government water management agency and serves as a neutral knowledge broker within Schone Rivieren. RWS administers the Zwerfvuilophaalregeling (litter collection scheme) that pays for processing collected waste from cleanup actions. They develop monitoring programs, research microplastics in rivers, and facilitate innovative solutions like waste collection at locks and weirs.
• Universiteit LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of Science, Communication & Society (SCS) at Leiden University contributes expertise in citizen science methodology, including volunteer motivation, factors that keep participants engaged, and learning effects. They also conduct independent research into the motivation and experiences of river waste researchers over the years, helping to understand and improve the citizen science program.
• TauwminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTauw is a European consulting and engineering firm with over 1,200 professionals dedicated to creating impactful solutions for a vital living environment. They support Schone Rivieren financially as part of their social responsibility. Tauw also developed the Shoreliner, a capture system that sustainably catches, removes, and recycles floating plastic debris, making them a relevant partner for source-based solutions.
• Maas Cleanup / River Litter FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaas Cleanup is a movement of companies, (nature) organizations, and citizens united for the Maas river. Founded in late 2019, it mobilizes thousands of volunteers in hundreds of cleanup actions. Founding partners include DSM, Nextview, Oostwegel Collection, Salesforce, and Viastory Creative Agency, committed for minimum 3 years under the motto 'Clean Rivers, Better Business'. Activities are formally housed at the River Litter Foundation.
• LIVES (Litter Free Rivers and Streams)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIVES is a European Interreg V-A project (€1.5M total, 50% EU funded) focused on a litter-free Maas and tributaries in the Euregio Maas-Rijn. Partners include Provincie Limburg, Waterschap Limburg, Rijkswaterstaat, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, OVAM, Vlaamse Waterwegen, Waterschap Eifel-Rur, Zuyd Hogeschool, Open Universiteit, and RWTH Aachen University. The project implements waste collection measures, cross-border agreements between governments, and public communication over 3 years.
• Provincie LimburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government of Limburg that supports Schone Maas activities and serves as lead coordinator for the LIVES cross-border project. Limburg has been involved since the Schone Maas pilot in 2013.
• Schone Schelde Convenant PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 35 partners collaborate under the Schone Schelde convenant with the shared goal of reducing litter in and around the Scheldt estuary. Partners include municipalities (Borsele, Hulst, Middelburg, etc.), provinces (Zeeland), nature organizations (Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer), academic institutions (HZ University), companies (Damen Yachting, DOW Chemicals, SABIC, Trinseo), and NGOs. The convenant aims for visibly cleaner water and shores while reducing waste flow to the North Sea.
• IVN AmsterdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVN Amsterdam collaborates on the Schoon Noordzeekanaal en IJ program, organizing the annual IJ-expeditie during World Cleanup Day since 2020. The expedition combines nature excursions with cleanup actions, typically involving about 20 volunteers collecting approximately 60 bags of litter.
• WaternetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaternet collaborates with Schone Rivieren on the Noordzeekanaal/IJ region, working with municipalities, Rijkswaterstaat, and other partners on actions to solve plastic pollution at the source.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Tauw: European consulting and engineering firm that financially supports Schone Rivieren and developed the Shoreliner floating plastic capture system. An adjacent ecosystem partner bringing technology and engineering expertise to source-based plastic solutions.
• IVN Natuureducatie: Parent organization of Schone Rivieren and Dutch nature education association with 26,000+ members. Although not a peer in the conventional sense, it provides the operational backbone and volunteer infrastructure that powers the initiative.

Emerging players

• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise focused on stopping ocean plastic at the source by incentivizing collection in coastal communities. Comparable in source-based philosophy and corporate partnership model, though operating commercially rather than as a pure donor-funded NGO.
• 5 Gyres: US-based nonprofit focused on plastic pollution research and advocacy, including science-based plastic reduction policy. Comparable in combining citizen-driven research with systemic advocacy, though focused on oceans rather than rivers.

Broad incumbents

• The Ocean Cleanup: Dutch-headquartered nonprofit using advanced technology to remove plastic from oceans and rivers. Directly comparable mission (cleaner waterways) but operates at much larger scale with proprietary technology and a global footprint.
• Surfrider Foundation Europe: European NGO running volunteer-led beach and water-quality monitoring campaigns focused on plastic pollution. Compares on citizen science, advocacy, and policy engagement targeting plastic regulation, with a broader marine scope.

Regional players

• Marine Conservation Society: UK charity running the Great British Beach Clean and citizen science litter surveys. Their Beachwatch methodology is closely aligned with Schone Rivieren's OSPAR-derived approach, making them a strong regional peer in the same methodology space.

Direct peers

• Plastic Soup Foundation: Co-initiator of Schone Rivieren in 2017 and a Dutch NGO focused on preventing plastic from entering water. Same target issue (plastic pollution) and overlapping donor and partnership base, making it a directly comparable peer despite the role reduction in 2023.
• River Cleanup: Belgian nonprofit mobilizing citizens and businesses to clean up rivers across Europe. Operates the same volunteer-driven cleanup and corporate partnership model as Schone Rivieren and is a directly comparable peer in adjacent geography.
• Stichting De Noordzee: Co-initiator of Schone Rivieren and responsible for the research component. Dutch NGO focused on protection and sustainable use of the North Sea, with methodologically aligned citizen science monitoring of litter on river beaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SchoneRivieren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schone-rivieren

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Schone Rivieren