Rural Association

What Rural Association does

Landelijke Gilden vzw (Rural Association) is a Flemish non-profit association founded in 1972 and headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, that operates a community-led model for rural village life across Flanders. The organization runs a network of local chapters (lokale afdelingen) in which trained volunteers organize activities such as walking, Nordic walking, tractor meetings, and heritage events for members and village residents; events are surfaced through a chapter finder ('In jouw buurt') and a bi-annual members' magazine called 'Buiten'. Its core product portfolio spans five program areas: Open Tuinen (a network of 160+ private gardens opening to the public during focus weekends, with 108–130 gardens participating per weekend), Plantenbabbels (gardening information sessions co-organized with Groei & Bloei and VVPV), Klimaattuinieren (climate-resilient gardening education including a Dosiscalculator for pesticide dosage), Samen Tuinen (umbrella for Warme Tuinen, where care-facility residents garden with volunteers, and Schooltuinen for school-based environmental education), and village-development projects such as Plus-Plekken, Boost je Dorpszaal, 't Werkkot tool libraries, Mobilab mobility experiments, and the Kerk als Dorpsknooppunt (church as village hub) pilot.

The business model is a hybrid of individual membership subscriptions (€34/year full membership, €17 first-year discount, including the 'Buiten' magazine, free Plantenbabbels, and 50% Open Tuinen discount), capped unit-pricing on Open Tuinen entries (max €5/person, free under 18), and project-based public funding from Flemish provincial bodies, LEADER/PDPO programmes, and partners including Provincie Limburg, Vlaamse Landmaatschappij, Nationale Bank van België, and Europa. The 39-person staff coordinates a volunteer network that delivers the chapter-level programming, supplemented by named project workers (Tinneke Provoost for Samen Tuinen, Marieke De Boe for Dorp op Punt, Eddy Matthys-De Zutter for Korte Keten Meetjesland Dichtbij). Strategic distribution leverages magazine, website, newsletter, and social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), with digital platforms including the ZaalPlatform knowledge base for village hall administrators, the Open Tuinen search tool, and the video series 'De Moestuin in'. Named institutional customers and partners include Schools (Schooltuinen), Care Facilities (Warme Tuinen), Limburg Provincial Government, and 160+ garden owners participating in Open Tuinen. Pricing, segments, and product evidence are first-party; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Rural Association

Legal name

Landelijke Gilden vzw

Website

https://landelijkegilden.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Landelijke Gilden vzw is a Flemish non-profit association founded in 1972 that operates a community-led network of local chapters across villages in Flanders, delivering gardening programs (Open Tuinen, Plantenbabbels, Klimaattuinieren), village-development projects, and educational services to members, schools, care facilities, and municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Community Association Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Landscaping Services (56173)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Mixed-Use Community Association Management (BPAJAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seasonal Color, Planting & Horticultural Services (BPABADAL), Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Rural community association
• Community gardening programs
• Village development services
• Climate gardening education
• Member-based association

Headquarters

HQ city

Leuven

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide core revenue. Full membership costs €34 per year, with new members receiving 50% discount (€17). Members receive the magazine 'Buiten', access to Plantenbabbels for free, and 50% discount on Open Tuinen entrance.
2. Open Tuinen Participation Fees: Garden owners pay to participate in Open Tuinen program. Maximum entry fee is €5 per person with children under 18 free. Participants receive promotional materials and annual information sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Landelijke Gilden is a Flemish non-profit association that delivers membership-based rural community programming across three pillars: garden and nature programs (Open Tuinen open-garden weekends, Warme Tuinen community gardens, Schooltuinen school gardens, Klimaattuinieren climate gardening, Plantenbabbels info sessions), village development programs (Boost je Dorpszaal, Plus-Plekken, 't Werkkot tool library, Dorp op Punt), and a content/magazine offering (Buiten magazine, publications, webinars, video series). The association also serves schools, care facilities, garden owners, and local municipalities through partnered programs and projects.

Product overview

Landelijke Gilden is a community association for rural Flanders offering a diverse portfolio of programs centered on sustainable gardening, village development, and social cohesion. The core garden programs include Open Tuinen (160+ private gardens open to public), Warme Tuinen (community gardens connecting care facilities with volunteers), Schooltuinen (school gardening education), Klimaattuinieren (climate-resilient gardening), and Plantenbabbels (educational gardening sessions). The organization supports village development through projects like Boost je Dorpszaal (village hall management), Plus-Plekken (inclusive meeting places), and 't Werkkot (tool libraries). Digital offerings include video series 'De Moestuin in' and various publications and guides. The organization also runs campaigns like Blik op Bodem focusing on soil health awareness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Tuinen (Open Gardens) Program in which 160+ private gardens across Flanders open their gates to the public during designated focus weekends, offering inspiration for biodiversity, climate-resilient gardening, and sustainable practices. Open to visitors (max €5/visit, members 50% off, under-18 free) and to garden owners who receive professional support and promotion.
• Warme Tuinen (Community Care Gardens) Gardens at care facilities where residents have spontaneous contact with volunteers to garden together, promoting social inclusion and intergenerational connection. Intended for healthcare and social-care institutions in Flanders.
• Schooltuinen (School Gardens) Educational gardening program for schools where children learn about plant cultivation, biodiversity, and sustainable gardening practices through hands-on experience. Provided to primary and secondary schools in Flanders.
• Klimaattuinieren (Climate Gardening) Comprehensive program covering climate-resilient gardening practices including soil health, shade, water management, de-paving, and biodiversity enhancement. Targeted at home gardeners and members seeking guidance on adapting gardens to climate change.
• Plantenbabbels (Plant Talks) Information sessions organized in collaboration with Groei & Bloei and VVPV, offering tips, inspiration, and stories about gardening topics (fruit-tree pest control, perennial plants, flower meadows, salvia species, etc.). Held in Antwerp, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, and West Flanders; free for members.
• Annual Membership Annual membership (€34/year; €17 for first-year new members) granting access to the Buiten magazine, free entry to Plantenbabbels information sessions, and a 50% discount on Open Tuinen entrance, plus access to the network of local chapters. Targeted at individual rural-community members across Flanders.
• Kerk als Dorpsknooppunt (Church as Village Hub) Pilot project (2017-2020) that developed a methodology for participatively reimagining church buildings to give them a new central function in village life. Targeted at rural villages in Flanders with under-used religious buildings.
• Boost je Dorpszaal (Boost Your Village Hall) LEADER project (2022-2024) in the Flemish Ardennes that established a learning network between village-hall managers to make halls future-proof, with peer learning, workbooks, and outcomes shared via ZaalPlatform. Targeted at volunteer committees running village halls (dorpszalen).
• 't Werkkot (Tool Library) Tool-library concept where community members can borrow tools for DIY projects, promoting resource sharing, sustainability, and social inclusion. Developed in 3 Limburg municipalities (Peer, Pelt, Maasmechelen) with province, Flemish, and European subsidies; guidebook developed with De Transformisten.
• Plus-Plekken (Plus Places) Limburg PDPO project that created inclusive meeting places in villages offering coffee, companionship, and additional services such as digital points, parcel services, meeting rooms, or neighborhood shops. Implemented in 5 Limburg villages (Lafelt, Koninksem, Pelt, Heusden, Lummen); Plus-Plek Koninksem won the 2024 GoeBezig prize.
• De Moestuin in (The Vegetable Garden video series) Video reportage series featuring head gardener Kris at 't Grom teaching vegetable gardening skills, with episodes covering soil preparation, planting, pest management, and crop-specific techniques. Targeted at home gardeners and members across Flanders.
• Mobilab Project (2019-2022) that conducted mobility experiments in Oudsbergen, Peer, and Pelt to explore participatory approaches to rural mobility challenges. Targeted at rural municipalities and citizens seeking bottom-up mobility solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1100+ citizens reached with soil awareness campaign
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VZW SporenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Practical experience partner in Van dorpszaal naar dorpshuis project, working on BuurtZorgHuis 'Herberg Stanske' in Glabbeek-Zuurbemde.
• Universiteit HasseltminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Research partner in Dorp op Punt project, exploring the village point model application in Limburg.
• StebocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Dorp aan Zet project initiated by Limburg province, working with 8 Haspengouwse villages on rural village policy development.
• InnovatiesteunpuntcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Dorp aan Zet project along with Stebo and province of Limburg.
• Groei & Bloei / TuinpuntcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of Plantenbabbels - information sessions on gardening topics held in various provinces (Antwerp, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, West Flanders). Sessions cover topics like fruit tree pest control, perennial plants, flower meadows, and salvia species.
• VVPV (Vlaamse Vereniging voor Pijlstaarten)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Plantenbabbels information sessions, particularly for presentations about RHS gardens.
• Blue-bikeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for free bike rentals during Open Tuinen focus weekends. Blue-bike offers 4000+ bikes at 250+ locations across Belgium, allowing visitors to cycle between participating gardens.
• KBCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of Open Tuinen competition. KBC gives away books on plants and gardening during the Open Tuinen weekend with biodiversity focus theme.
• AVEVEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor for Open Tuinen biodiversity competition, offering 200 euro vouchers for garden supplies.
• VlacominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiodiversity workshops during Open Tuinen focus days. Vlaco experts guide visitors through participating gardens to demonstrate biodiversity enhancement.
• AquafinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebinar collaboration on rainwater management. Bart Van Bever from Aquafin presented on rainwater collection and infiltration regulations in the new Flemish legislation.
• TriasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on international solidarity theme - Trias is mentioned under the 'Warme Samenleving' (Warm Society) main theme area.
• Vlaamse LandmaatschappijcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of Inspiratieboek Denk Doe Dorp alongside Landelijke Gilden and Innovatiesteunpunt, commissioned by Flemish Minister of Environment, Nature and Agriculture.
• De TransformistencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExperts in sharing initiatives who developed the Werkkot (tool library) guidebook and provide guidance for starting tool libraries.
• Plattelandscentrum MeetjeslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Meetjeslandse Straatambassadeurs project, working together on street ambassador initiatives in the Meetjesland region.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Innovatiesteunpunt: Flemish innovation support center for rural areas, co-partner with Landelijke Gilden on Dorp aan Zet and the Inspiratieboek Denk Doe Dorp. It is a sister organization in the rural village development ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• Stebo: Flemish social enterprise supporting rural and community development, partnering with Landelijke Gilden on the Dorp aan Zet project. It operates a similar community project model but focuses on broader social activation rather than gardening.
• Trias: Belgian NGO focused on international solidarity and cooperative enterprise, referenced under Landelijke Gilden's 'Warme Samenleving' theme. They are a thematic partner rather than a direct competitor but share a member-driven nonprofit model in Flanders.

Broad incumbents

• Boerenbond: Belgian farmers' union and largest agricultural association in Flanders, with a much broader advocacy remit but overlapping rural membership base. It engages many of the same village stakeholders and rural households as Landelijke Gilden, including those involved in Landbouwbeleving topics.
• National Trust: UK heritage and conservation membership organization with a comparable playbook of local chapters, member benefits, and garden/outdoor programming. It illustrates the international ceiling for what a community-and-garden membership nonprofit can become at scale.
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): UK-based membership gardening charity with a much larger scale and brand, referenced through VVPV's RHS garden presentations at Landelijke Gilden's Plantenbabbels. It is a comparable international peer in the gardening education and member experience space.

Direct peers

• Natuurpunt: Belgium's largest nature conservation organization with a similar membership-based model, local chapters, and focus on biodiversity and green space. It overlaps directly with Landelijke Gilden's Open Tuinen, Klimaattuinieren, and Blik op Bodem programs, competing for environmentally minded Flemish households.
• Groei & Bloei: Belgian/Flemish gardening and horticulture association that partners with Landelijke Gilden on Plantenbabbels. It is the most direct peer, offering overlapping member services, gardening education, and plant enthusiast events across Flanders. Both organizations compete for the same gardening member in the same geography.
• KVLV (Katelijke Vereniging van Landelijke Vrouwen): Flemish rural women's association with local chapters and a strong tradition of community and village activities. It shares Landelijke Gilden's local chapter structure, rural member base, and focus on social cohesion in villages.

Regional players

• Plattelandscentrum Meetjesland: Regional rural association in the Meetjesland area of East Flanders that partners with Landelijke Gilden on the Straatambassadeurs project. It operates on a similar community development model but is confined to a sub-region, making it a smaller geographic peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/landelijkegilde
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/landelijkegilden
• Facebookfacebook.com/LandelijkeGilden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landelijkegilden
• Instagraminstagram.com/landelijkegilden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Rural Association