SailWise
SailWise is a Dutch nonprofit foundation, operating since 1974, that provides multi-day adaptive watersport holidays for people with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities. It runs three accessible locations in the Netherlands with adapted vessels and facilities, serving approximately 1,400 participants annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersEnkhuizen, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SailWise does
SailWise is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting) founded on 19 December 1974 as Stichting Zeilen met Gehandicapten and rebranded to its current name in 2009 after separating from Nebas-NsG. The organization provides multi-day adaptive watersport holidays for people with physical, intellectual, sensory disabilities, and acquired brain injury (NAH/ABI). It operates from three locations in the Netherlands: headquarters and home port of the two-masted clipper Lutgerdina in Enkhuizen (Noord-Holland); watersportcentrum It Sailhûs in Elahuizen (Friesland), which includes accessible vacation homes, group accommodations, and the home port of the wheelchair-accessible catamaran Beatrix; and watersports island Robinson Crusoe on the Loosdrechtse Plassen, provided via free ground lease (erfpacht) from Plassenschap Loosdrecht. The specialized fleet also includes the Tirion21 cabin sailboat, Inclusion catamaran Trude, pontoon boats, and SUP equipment, with rentals offered with or without a skipper.
Activities span sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, and SUP, typically delivered as guided group holidays pairing participants with trained volunteers. SailWise serves approximately 1,400 participants annually with 14 permanent staff and roughly 300 volunteers, supported by an established partner ecosystem including Fonds Gehandicaptensport, Vriendenloterij, Cruyff Foundation, Visio Foundation, and Crohn & Colitis NL. Participant outcomes are documented in 2017 research from Wageningen University, which identified gains in independence, self-confidence, and stress resilience. The organization holds ANBI status, CBF Erkend Goed Doel, SGR travel guarantee membership, and the NOV Keurmerk for volunteer organizations.
Revenue is generated through three streams: rental of accessible vacation homes and group accommodations at It Sailhûs (weekend rates €542–€1,850; weekly rates up to €2,506), adaptive boat rentals (with 15% discount for It Sailhûs guests), and a significant portion from donations, sponsorships, and charitable funds, which keep activities affordable for participants. Go-to-market is community-led and direct: bookings via phone, email, and the Dutch and German websites, supplemented by an annual presence at the REHACARE trade fair in Düsseldorf for international outreach. SailWise operates a legally unrelated but operationally linked subsidiary, Stichting 't Packhuys Zorgbeheer, which holds the ANBI status for It Sailhûs and collaborates with Stichting Watersport Gehandicapten Nederland on facility exploitation.
SailWise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SailWise
- Legal name
- Stichting Zeilen met Gehandicapten
- Website
- https://sailwise.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SailWise is a Dutch nonprofit foundation, operating since 1974, that provides multi-day adaptive watersport holidays for people with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities. It runs three accessible locations in the Netherlands with adapted vessels and facilities, serving approximately 1,400 participants annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SailWise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adaptive Watersport Vacations
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Marinas (713930)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB), Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities) (THAEAFAC)
Keywords
Where SailWise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Enkhuizen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
SailWise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Vacation rental revenue: SailWise generates revenue through renting accessible vacation homes and group accommodations at It Sailhûs in Elahuizen. Pricing varies by season and accommodation type, with weekend rates ranging from €542-€1,029 for vacation homes and €1,256-€1,850 for group accommodations.
- Boat rental revenue: Revenue from renting adapted boats including the Beatrix catamaran, Tirion21, Trude inclusion catamaran, pontoon boats, and smaller watercraft. 15% discount provided to It Sailhûs guests.
- Donations and sponsorship: Significant portion of operations funded through donations, sponsorships, and funds. Watersport activities are kept affordable for participants thanks to support from funds, donors, and sponsors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Vacation homes (4-6 persons) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Group accommodation (13-36 persons) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adaptive boat rental |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
SailWise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SailWise provides multi-day adaptive watersport vacations and holidays for people with physical, sensory, intellectual disabilities, and acquired brain injury. The organization operates accessible vacation homes, group accommodations, and a fleet of adapted sailing and motorboats (including the wheelchair-accessible catamaran Beatrix, the sailing ship Lutgerdina, and watersport island Robinson Crusoe), delivering supported holidays accompanied by trained volunteers. The core offering is delivered across three locations in the Netherlands and is partly funded through donations, sponsors, and charitable funds to keep participation affordable.
Product overview
SailWise is a Dutch charitable organization offering multi-day watersports vacations and holidays for people with physical or intellectual disabilities. The organization operates a portfolio of four distinct accommodations: watersports island Robinson Crusoe (Loosdrecht), sailing ship Lutgerdina (Enkhuizen), catamaran Beatrix (It Sailhûs, Elahuizen), and the multifunctional watersports center It Sailhûs with accessible vacation homes and group accommodations. Activities include sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, and SUP. The It Sailhûs location also offers boat rentals (with/without skipper) including adapted vessels. SailWise serves approximately 1,400 participants annually with support from 300 volunteers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Robinson Crusoe A private watersport island located in the Loosdrechtse Plassen, offering adapted accommodations and water activities for people with disabilities. Can accommodate up to 23 persons.
- Zeilschip Lutgerdina A two-masted clipper sailing ship based in Enkhuizen, offering multi-day sailing trips on the IJsselmeer and Wadden Sea. Adapted for people with physical disabilities, accommodating up to 20 persons.
- Catamaran Beatrix A wheelchair-accessible catamaran sailing from It Sailhûs in Elahuizen, offering day trips on the Frisian lakes and IJsselmeer. Designed specifically for people with disabilities, accommodating up to 12 persons.
- Watersportcentrum It Sailhûs A multifunctional watersport center in Elahuizen, Friesland, offering accessible vacation homes, group accommodations, and boat rentals. Accommodates 4 to 36 persons with full wheelchair accessibility features.
- Bootverhuur & Tochten Rental of adapted sailing boats and motorboats from It Sailhûs, including the Beatrix catamaran, Tirion21 cabin sailboat, Inclusion catamaran Trude, pontonboat, and SUP boards. Available with or without skipper.
- Begeleide Vakanties (Guided Holidays) Accompanied vacation packages where people with disabilities experience watersport holidays together with volunteers. Includes multi-day sailing trips, island stays, and activity programs.
- Vakantiewoningen (Vacation Homes) Accessible vacation homes at It Sailhûs for 4-6 persons, featuring wheelchair-accessible facilities including lifts, adjustable beds, adapted bathrooms, and accessible kitchens.
- Groepsaccommodatie (Group Accommodation) Group accommodations at It Sailhûs for 13-36 persons, combining vacation homes with group rooms for larger gatherings of people with disabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Research from Wageningen University (2017) demonstrates positive impact on independence, self-confidence, and stress resilience of participants
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SailWise
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SailWise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
SailWise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- VriendenloterijmajorSupported the development of the multifunctional watersport center It Sailhûs. The VriendenLoterij (Friends Lottery) supports good causes focused on health and wellbeing of people.
- Fonds GehandicaptensportcoreFund dedicated to making sport accessible for people with disabilities. Has supported SailWise since its early years and continues to be a key partner enabling affordable watersport for all.
- Cruyff FoundationmajorJohan Cruyff Foundation supports and develops sports activities for vulnerable children. Supports accessible sports opportunities.
- Plassenschap Loosdrecht en omgevingcoreOwns Robinson Crusoe island which is provided to SailWise via free ground lease (erfpacht). Essential partner enabling the island location.
- Fonds de GavereminorSupports SailWise with contributions toward additional costs for participants from Friesland province.
- Stichting het DiakonessenhuismajorMade it possible in 2022 for participants to sail with catamaran Beatrix at It Sailhûs watersport center.
- Visio FoundationmajorFoundation supporting people with visual impairments. Partnership enables accessible sailing experiences for blind and visually impaired participants.
- TeleflexminorCorporate partner supporting SailWise operations.
- Waterland Yacht CharterminorYacht charter company partner supporting SailWise watersport activities.
- Stichting Beatrixoord Noord NederlandminorHealthcare foundation supporting accessible sports for people in Northern Netherlands.
- Kinderfonds van Dusseldorp StichtingminorChildren's foundation supporting families in need.
- SailWise HavenclubminorHarbor community supporting SailWise through membership contributions.
- Stichting 't Packhuys ZorgbeheercoreInitiated It Sailhûs and owns ANBI status. Facilitates watersport activities for people with disabilities through accessible accommodations and organization of care and assistance. Exploitation occurs in collaboration with Stichting Watersport Gehandicapten Nederland.
- Stichting Watersport Gehandicapten NederlandcoreCollaborates with Stichting 't Packhuys Zorgbeheer for exploitation of It Sailhûs watersport facilities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SailWise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- VriendenLoterij: Dutch charity lottery supporting health and wellbeing causes. Helped develop It Sailhûs. Funding partner rather than peer, but reflects the broader Dutch charitable-finance ecosystem SailWise depends on.
- Fonds Gehandicaptensport: Dutch fund dedicated to making sport accessible for people with disabilities. Long-standing SailWise partner and key capital provider — adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than competitor.
- Het Gehandicapte Kind: Dutch charity advocating for children with disabilities. Operates in adjacent accessible-recreation space and shares referral/donor overlap with SailWise's family customer base.
- Cruyff Foundation: Johan Cruyff Foundation supports sports for vulnerable children. Major SailWise partner. Comparable mission-adjacent funder, not a competitor, but indicative of the Dutch accessible-sport ecosystem SailWise operates in.
- Waterland Yacht Charter: Dutch yacht charter company and SailWise partner. Adjacent to SailWise on sailing experiences in the same Dutch waters but serves general (non-disabled) charter market.
Broad incumbents
- Center Parcs: Large European vacation park operator with accessible accommodations and water-based activities. Overlaps with SailWise on accessible holiday experiences and on-site water recreation, but operates at much larger scale.
- Landal GreenParks: Major Dutch vacation park operator offering adapted bungalows across many locations. Comparable on accessible vacation lodging in the Netherlands, but broader portfolio and not watersport-specialized.
Direct peers
- Wheelyboat Trust: UK charity providing specially designed Wheelyboats and funding for disabled-accessible boating. Directly comparable to SailWise on adaptive boating equipment and charity-funded operations.
- Disabled Sailing Association: UK adaptive sailing charity offering sailing opportunities for people with disabilities. Same target customer and similar volunteer-led operating model as SailWise.
- Sailability: International charity network enabling people with disabilities to sail, operating sailing clubs and events across multiple countries. Closest peer to SailWise on mission (adaptive sailing) and volunteer-driven model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SailWise social profiles
Digital presenceSailWise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SailWise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SailWise subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
SailWise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SailWise M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SailWise
What does SailWise do?
SailWise provides multi-day adaptive watersport vacations and holidays for people with physical, sensory, intellectual disabilities, and acquired brain injury. The organization operates accessible vacation homes, group accommodations, and a fleet of adapted sailing and motorboats (including the wheelchair-accessible catamaran Beatrix, the sailing ship Lutgerdina, and watersport island Robinson Crusoe), delivering supported holidays accompanied by trained volunteers. The core offering is delivered across three locations in the Netherlands and is partly funded through donations, sponsors, and charitable funds to keep participation affordable.
Is SailWise a public or private company?
SailWise is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SailWise founded?
SailWise was founded in 1974. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SailWise based?
SailWise is headquartered in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does SailWise make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vacation rental revenue is the primary driver. The others are boat rental revenue and donations and sponsorship.
Who are SailWise's main competitors?
Others on record are VriendenLoterij, Fonds Gehandicaptensport, Het Gehandicapte Kind, Cruyff Foundation and Waterland Yacht Charter. Broad incumbents are Center Parcs and Landal GreenParks. Direct peers are Wheelyboat Trust, Disabled Sailing Association and Sailability.
Does SailWise have an API?
No public API is recorded for SailWise.
What industry is SailWise in?
SailWise's product category is Adaptive Watersport Vacations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAG, Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails), with a secondary code of THAEADAB, Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 7900.