WensAmbulance Gelderland

What WensAmbulance Gelderland does

WensAmbulance Gelderland is a Dutch charitable foundation (Stichting) registered as an Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI) that fulfills the final wishes of terminally ill patients in the Gelderland and Flevoland provinces. Founded in 2014 (as Stichting Veluwse Wens Ambulance, rebranded in 2024) and headquartered in Elburg with a second operational base in Lienden opened in May 2025, the organization operates a fleet of three specially equipped ambulances (one Volkswagen and two Fords) that meet low-complexity care ambulance standards and include medical-grade equipment (AED, mobile oxygen concentrator up to 5 liters via pulse, mobile suction unit), electric stretchers with hoverboard suspension, anti-decubitus mattresses, and electric beach stretchers for sand access. Services are provided free of charge to recipients, with each wish trip averaging approximately €400 in cost, and are delivered by all-volunteer teams consisting of a trained driver (minimum EHBO/CPR plus ambulance-specific training) and a qualified nurse escort (Verzorgende IG or Verpleegkundige), with an optional volunteer photographer.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (tax-deductible via ANBI status), corporate sponsorships (cash and in-kind — equipment, vehicles, services, advertising), annual "Friends of WensAmbulance" memberships starting at €10/year, and community fundraising events such as the Toer de Dellen cycling/walking day and school-based fundraisers. The go-to-market is community-led: wish requests are submitted via website forms or phone (085-0806635) and originate from word-of-mouth referrals through doctors, nurses, hospices, families, and existing volunteers, supplemented by a promotion team attending markets, fairs, and school presentations. The organization is part of the Wensambulance Nederland federation of eight regional wish ambulances covering nearly all of the Netherlands, enabling cross-regional wish fulfillment, volunteer lending, and shared resources. The organization is governed by a six-member volunteer board and has completed nearly 1,200 wish trips over its ~10-year history.

Name

WensAmbulance Gelderland

Legal name

Stichting WensAmbulance Gelderland

Website

https://wensambulancegelderland.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

WensAmbulance Gelderland is a Dutch volunteer-run charitable foundation that uses three specially equipped ambulances to fulfill the final wishes of terminally ill patients in Gelderland and Flevoland, serving recipients free of charge and funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Emergency Medical Transport Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (62191), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Special Needs Transportation (485991), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Medical transport services
• Palliative care transport
• Non-emergency ambulance service
• Wish fulfillment service
• Patient transport ambulance

Headquarters

HQ city

Elburg

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and gifts: Primary revenue source. Donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Tax-deductible due to ANBI status.
2. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial support or in-kind donations (equipment, services, free use of facilities).
3. Annual Friends membership: Friends of Stichting WensAmbulance Gelderland can become members with annual contributions starting at €10 per year, receiving newsletter updates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WensAmbulance Gelderland is a volunteer-run charitable foundation that provides free medical transport and accompaniment for terminally ill patients (dependent on lying transport) to fulfill their final wishes. Using three specially equipped ambulances staffed by trained nurse escorts and qualified drivers, the organization delivers wish trips throughout the Gelderland and Flevoland provinces, with optional photography services and specialized beach stretchers for seaside wishes. The service is provided entirely at no cost to patients and is funded through donations and sponsorships.

Product overview

WensAmbulance Gelderland is a volunteer-based charitable organization that operates as a single unified service offering wish fulfillment trips for terminally ill patients. The organization operates three specially equipped ambulances (one Volkswagen and two Fords) stationed in Elburg and Lienden, providing free wish rides throughout Gelderland and Flevoland provinces. Core services include medical transportation with qualified nurse escorts and trained drivers, supplemented by optional photography and specialized beach stretchers for seaside wishes. The organization offers a complete application process through orientation and wish request forms, supported entirely by volunteers and funded through donations and sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wensrit (Wish Ride) Service Core service: free medical transport using specially equipped ambulances to take terminally ill patients (dependent on lying transport) to their desired destination for a memorable day, accompanied by a trained nurse escort, qualified driver, and optionally a photographer. Available to wish recipients in Gelderland and Flevoland.
• Begeleider Service (Medical Escort) Medical escort service provided by qualified volunteers with nursing qualifications (Verzorgende IG or Verpleegkundige) who accompany patients throughout the entire wish ride, ensuring medical safety during the journey.
• Chauffeur Service (Driver Service) Transportation service with trained volunteer drivers who hold at minimum an EHBO and CPR diploma and have completed specific ambulance driving training, responsible for operating the wish ambulances safely.
• Fotograaf Service (Photography Service) Optional photography service where volunteer photographers document the wish day and provide photos free of charge to families; photos are used for promotional purposes only with family permission.
• Strandbrancard Service (Beach Stretcher Service) Specialized beach transport using an electric beach stretcher on large wheels that allows transport over sand, enabling wish recipients to visit beaches and even reach the water's edge. The stretcher is transported in a trailer behind the ambulance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,200 wish trips completed in approximately 10 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wensambulance NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWensAmbulance Gelderland is part of Wensambulance Nederland, a national organization of 7 regional wish ambulances covering almost the entire Netherlands. They meet twice yearly to optimize collaboration, can lend volunteers to each other when needed, and share materials.
• Wens Ambulance UtrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within Wensambulance Nederland network for transferring wishes between regions.
• Wens Ambulance BrabantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within Wensambulance Nederland network.
• Wens Ambulance LimburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on wish trip to André Rieu concert in Maastricht.
• Wens Ambulance HardenbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within Wensambulance Nederland network.
• Wensambulance ZeelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within Wensambulance Nederland network.
• Wens Ambulance Noord-NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within Wensambulance Nederland network.
• Wensenambulance Noord-HollandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner within Wensambulance Nederland network.
• Stichting VaarwensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to enable water/sailing wishes for terminal patients. Wensambulance provides transport to harbor where Stichting Vaarwens provides boat.
• Landstede MBO LelystadminorOthersEducational institution partnership where WensAmbulance provides guest lessons to healthcare students about palliative care and wish fulfillment.
• Stichting LE 50minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for wish trip to visit historic sailing vessel LE50, where patient's grandfather designed the ship.
• Van WervenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecycling company that donated €60,000 to 12 good causes including WensAmbulance Gelderland.
• AgnietencollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool that raised €6,500 through student activities for WensAmbulance.
• Garage Elburg BandencenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored all-weather tires for the Volkswagen ambulance.
• Klaver4reclameminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvertising agency that decorated ambulances, trailers, printed T-shirts, and blinded office windows - all free of charge since the organization's founding.
• Stichting Laptop OpvangminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 4 laptops for volunteers to use for presentations and training.
• Digibord ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated 3 digital boards, one for each location.
• Electroworld A.H.C. van OmmerenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated vacuum cleaner for new Lienden location. Has locations in Lienden, Tiel, and Rhenen.
• Roger Investments B.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerExtended 10-year lease contract for business premises at Moerasstraat in Elburg at attractive rates.
• Autowas ElburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free use of car wash facilities for keeping ambulances clean.
• Van der Horst aanhangwagensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides annual free maintenance for the beach stretcher trailer.
• Leek Media (Wubbo Jan Walters)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProduces 'Wubbo-boekje' magazine with local advertisements that fund production. Approximately 3,500 copies distributed free to adverteerders and local institutions. Has been doing this for about 4 years.
• 112MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized student community service projects where WensAmbulance provided guest lessons at VMBO Het Westeraam.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Make-A-Wish Nederland: Larger Dutch affiliate of the global Make-A-Wish foundation, granting wishes to children with critical illnesses. Broader scope (national, pediatric, all wish types) and different delivery model (no medical transport), but operates in adjacent charitable wish-fulfillment space and competes for Dutch donor mindshare.

Direct peers

• Wens Ambulance Brabant: Sister regional Wens Ambulance in the Wensambulance Nederland network, providing the same wish-fulfillment ambulance service to terminally ill patients in Brabant. Directly comparable in service model, volunteer base, and funding structure; notably loaned its ambulance to Gelderland at founding.
• Wensambulance Noord-Holland: Regional Wens Ambulance covering Noord-Holland with identical mission and operational model. Member of the same Wensambulance Nederland federation that Gelderland belongs to.
• Wens Ambulance Hardenberg: Regional Wens Ambulance serving the Hardenberg area within the Wensambulance Nederland federation. Direct comparable on service model, fleet size, and volunteer operations.
• Wens Ambulance Limburg: Regional Wens Ambulance for Limburg, collaborating with Gelderland on wishes such as the André Rieu concert in Maastricht. Identical service offering, equipment class, and volunteer structure within the Wensambulance Nederland network.
• Wens Ambulance Noord-Nederland: Regional Wens Ambulance covering the northern Netherlands, operating with the same volunteer crew composition (nurse + driver) and medical-grade ambulance equipment. Direct network peer to WensAmbulance Gelderland.
• Wens Ambulance Utrecht: Another regional Wens Ambulance covering the Utrecht province with identical volunteer-driven medical-transport-for-wishes model. Direct peer in the same national network, often sharing volunteer capacity and cross-referring wishes.
• Wensambulance Zeeland: Regional Wens Ambulance serving Zeeland as part of the same 8-region Wensambulance Nederland federation. Same volunteer-based wish-fulfillment ambulance model and ANBI status.

Others

• Regionale Ambulance Voorziening (RAV) Gelderland-Midden / Zuid: Public regional ambulance service covering the same Gelderland provinces as WensAmbulance Gelderland. Same physical ambulance/medical-transport category but distinct mission (emergency 911 response vs. wish fulfillment); WensAmbulance board member Marcel Samuels works in this adjacent medium-complex ambulance care segment.

Emerging players

• Stichting Vaarwens: Dutch charity that fulfills water/sailing wishes for terminally ill patients using passenger boats, partnering with WensAmbulance Gelderland for ground transport to harbors. Comparable mission and end-of-life wish-fulfillment focus but different modality (boats vs ambulances).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WensAmbulanceGelderland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wensambulance-gelderland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 WensAmbulance Gelderland