Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden

What Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden does

The Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden is a Dutch national coalition founded in 2010 and coordinated by Pharos, the national expertise center for health inequalities, with the mission of making health information findable, understandable, assessable, and applicable for everyone. It addresses a structurally large target population: roughly one in three Dutch adults has limited health literacy, with Nivel estimating about 35% of adults are affected and European HLS-EU research estimating around 29% of the Dutch population lacks sufficient skills to understand and apply health information, alongside approximately 2.5 million people who are functionally illiterate.

The alliance does not operate as a technology company. Its core deliverable is the gezondheidsvaardigheden.nl website and an associated materials database that aggregates free tools, guides, checklists, videos, and training resources contributed by partner organizations. Core offerings are supplemented by a bimonthly newsletter, a closed LinkedIn partner group, and two annual in-person network meetings. The product portfolio additionally includes learning paths (Leertraject Begrijpelijke Zorgcommunicatie), testing methodologies (Testpanel ABC, Taal voor allemaal, Test je tekst), communication techniques (Terugvraagmethode, 3 Goede Vragen), an awareness tool (Escape Koffer), assessment tools (Quickscan Digitale Vaardigheden, Online Leesbaarheidstoets), disease-specific handbooks (COPD, cancer conversation cards), and two AI-enabled tools (Lees Simpel App for text simplification, Texamen for language-level analysis).

The business model is non-commercial: partnership is free of charge, no costs are associated with joining, and the alliance has no funding rounds, external investors, or paid product lines. Operational coordination rests on a small Pharos-based team of approximately seven staff, including a daily coordinator (Coryke van Vulpen) and a communications lead (Emma Mees). Day-to-day coordination sits at Arthur van Schendelstraat 600 in Utrecht. The alliance therefore functions as a publicly or grant-supported coordination layer whose distribution power comes from its partner ecosystem (Nivel, KNMP, Longfonds, GGDs, Stichting Lezen en Schrijven, Patiëntenfederatie Nederland, multiple universities, and others) rather than from any commercial revenue stream.

Name

Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden

Legal name

Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden

Website

https://gezondheidsvaardigheden.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden is a Dutch national coalition founded in 2010 and coordinated by Pharos that convenes healthcare, prevention, welfare, research, and patient organizations to improve health literacy across the Netherlands through a free knowledge-sharing network, materials database, newsletter, and partner working groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Literacy Network

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAMAD

Public Health Governance, Interagency Coordination & Partnerships

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Public Health Policy & Administration

Keywords

• Health literacy
• Patient education
• Health communication
• Healthcare accessibility
• Health information

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Partnership contributions: No costs are associated with partnership. The alliance is coordinated by Pharos as a non-profit knowledge network focused on improving health literacy across the Netherlands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden is a Dutch non-profit knowledge network coordinated by Pharos that aggregates partner organizations from prevention, care, welfare, and other sectors to collectively improve health literacy in the Netherlands. It provides a central online platform with a freely accessible materials database, a monthly newsletter, bi-annual network meetings, and a closed LinkedIn group for partner collaboration and knowledge sharing around accessible healthcare communication.

Product overview

The Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden is a Dutch health literacy network coordinated by Pharos that serves as a central coordination and knowledge-sharing platform. The core offering is the gezondheidsvaardigheden.nl website and materials database, supplemented by bimonthly newsletters, twice-yearly network meetings, and a private LinkedIn group. The organization provides numerous tools and resources including learning paths (Leertraject Begrijpelijke Zorgcommunicatie), testing methodologies (Testpanel ABC, Taal voor allemaal, Test je tekst), communication techniques (Terugvraagmethode, 3 Goede Vragen), awareness tools (Escape Koffer), assessment tools (Quickscan Digitale Vaardigheden, Online Leesbaarheidstoets), and specialized handbooks and materials (Handboek COPD, Praatkaarten over Kanker, Beeldverhalen). The Lees Simpel App represents the only AI-powered tool, using natural language processing to simplify text.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gezondheidsvaardigheden.nl Website The main online platform serving as a central hub for health literacy resources, materials, partner information, news, and network coordination for the alliance.
• Materialen Database (Materials Database) A growing database of freely available materials that healthcare providers can use with patients or clients who have limited health literacy, including guides, checklists, videos, and training resources.
• Nieuwsbrief (Newsletter) A monthly newsletter providing updates on health literacy news, partner activities, and new resources to subscribers.
• Netwerkbijeenkomsten (Network Meetings) Twice-yearly in-person network meetings where partners and interested parties share knowledge, learn, and collaborate on health literacy initiatives.
• Besloten LinkedIn Groep (Private LinkedIn Group) A closed LinkedIn group where partners and interested parties ask questions, share knowledge, and exchange good practices on health literacy.
• Alliance Partnership Program Free partnership program for organizations, institutions, companies, or individuals committed to improving health literacy in the Netherlands. Partners sign an intent declaration and participate in themed working groups; the alliance logo can be used to demonstrate commitment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 3 adults in the Netherlands has limited health literacy - the alliance works to address this through collective action

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PharoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Pharos is the national expertise center for health inequalities and serves as the coordinating organization for the Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden. A small team at Pharos acts as the point of contact, ensuring that new knowledge from and for partners is shared.
• NivelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNivel (Nederlands instituut voor onderzoek van de gezondheidszorg) conducts research on health literacy, focusing on patients' and healthcare consumers' perspectives. They have translated and validated measurement instruments and conduct research on health literacy in the Netherlands.
• KNMPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association (KNMP) is the professional and trade organization for pharmacists and pharmacies. They work to ensure pharmacies are health-literate organizations, accessible and understandable for everyone.
• LongfondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongfonds fights for healthy air and healthy lungs. They help people with lung diseases through research, education and advocacy, and work to strengthen the position of people with lung diseases so they can take control of their own health.
• GGD Gelderland-ZuidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGD Gelderland-Zuid monitors, promotes and protects the health of residents in the region. They have implemented training programs for recognizing and discussing low literacy, and ensure all written communication meets B1 language level.
• Stichting Lezen en SchrijvencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStichting Lezen en Schrijven (Foundation for Reading and Writing) helps people increase their literacy skills. They developed the Taalverkenner screening tool and offer various educational programs for people wanting to improve their skills.
• Nivel (for terugvraagmethode)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNivel and Amsterdam UMC conducted research on dealing with limited health literacy in curative care for ZonMw. The research showed that healthcare providers recommend the teach-back method.
• Maastricht UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaastricht University (Vakgroep Gezondheidsbevordering) developed the 'Zin in Koken' cooking course for people with limited health literacy, in collaboration with GGD Zuid Limburg.
• Universiteit LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversiteit Leiden developed the Digital Health Literacy Instrument to measure digital skills of patients, covering operational skills, navigation, information seeking, information evaluation, information application, content generation, and privacy.
• GGD Zuid LimburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGD Zuid Limburg developed the factsheet on limited literacy in relation to health and health literacy. They have high rates of limited literacy in South Limburg and work on recognition and intervention.
• Amsterdam UMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmsterdam UMC conducted research with Nivel on dealing with limited health literacy in curative care for ZonMw.
• Patiëntenfederatie NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatiëntenfederatie Nederland (Dutch Patients Federation) is involved in initiatives like '3 goede vragen' (3 good questions) for shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.
• Taal voor allemaalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaal voor allemaal developed a method for making information understandable for everyone, including people with language difficulties. They provide rewriting, translation services and workshops on understandable communication.
• Raccoon Serious GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaccoon Serious Games collaborated with Stichting Lezen en Schrijven to create the Escape Koffer (Escape Suitcase), an interactive educational game to raise awareness about low literacy.
• Health BaseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth Base developed the Geneesmiddelinformatie voor de Patiënt (GIP) with texts at language level B1, providing clear and understandable medication information for patients.
• SBAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA developed 'Bijsluiter in Beeld' (Leaflet in Pictures), a tool that uses icons to clearly communicate medication information to low-literate clients and clients unfamiliar with the Dutch language.
• GGD regio UtrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGD regio Utrecht developed a series of animations answering 'Begrijp je stress' (Understand your stress) to help people understand how stress affects their bodies.
• College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen (CBG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBG developed a toolkit for understandable patient leaflets, including a list of over 500 patient-friendly terms tested with users through Pharos.
• Aap Noot NierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAap Noot Nier created animated videos about urological problems for patients with low health literacy, including videos about bladder cancer, bladder rinses, and bladder tumors.
• Nederlandse Federatie van Kankerpatiëntenorganisaties (NFK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFK collaborated with various cancer patient organizations and Pharos to develop conversation cards about different forms of cancer for use during consultations.
• Nederlandse Diabetes Federatie (NDF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDF developed the website diversiteitindiabetes.nl providing easy-to-understand information and materials for healthcare providers treating diabetes patients of non-Western descent and low-literate patients.
• ProbibliominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProbiblio developed a publication on health literacy and libraries, providing tips and advice on how libraries can support people with their health.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Pharos: National Dutch expertise center on health inequalities that hosts and coordinates the subject alliance. Comparable as the broader operating parent and as a Dutch public health knowledge organization with similar content, tools, and partner convening.
• KNMP (Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association): Professional and trade body for Dutch pharmacists, focused in part on health-literate pharmacy practice. Comparable as a sector-specific alliance advancing understandable medication information.
• Nivel: Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, conducting health literacy research and measurement. Comparable as a Dutch evidence-generating partner in the same health literacy space, though operating more as a research institute than a coordination alliance.
• RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment): Dutch national public health institute producing population health information and guidance. Comparable as a larger incumbent shaping national public health communication standards in the Netherlands.
• CDC Plain Language / Health Literacy Program: U.S. federal health literacy program providing plain-language guidance, tools, and training. Comparable as a larger government-led effort to make health information understandable for the general population.
• NHS England Health Literacy Program: UK National Health Service program embedding health literacy across provider communication. Comparable as a national-level initiative building capacity for understandable health information at scale.

Direct peers

• Patiëntenfederatie Nederland: Dutch Patients Federation representing patient interests and running shared decision-making initiatives (e.g., 3 Goede Vragen). Comparable as a national member-based alliance addressing patient empowerment and accessible health information.
• Health Literacy Europe: European health literacy association coordinating research, policy, and practice across member states. Closely comparable as a multi-country knowledge and advocacy network for health literacy, although broader in geographic scope than the Dutch alliance.
• Stichting Lezen en Schrijven: Dutch foundation focused on literacy and functional illiteracy, including health literacy. Directly comparable as a Netherlands-based literacy alliance with tools, training, and awareness programs, and is itself a core partner of the subject alliance.

Regional players

• GGD GHOR Nederland: Association of Dutch regional public health services (GGDs). Comparable as a coordinating body of regional health organizations, several of which are direct partners of the subject alliance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alliantiegv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliantiegezondheidsvaardigheden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alliantie Gezondheidsvaardigheden