Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen

What Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen does

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen vzw (RPR Antwerpen 0407.138.494) is a Flemish non-profit youth movement headquartered at Wilrijkstraat 45, 2140 Antwerpen, Belgium, operating approximately 600 local scout groups organised into 18 regional gouwen across Flanders and Brussels. Its core offering is a five-stage age-based scouting programme — Kapoenen/Zeehondjes (6–8), (Zee)welpen (8–11), Jonggidsen/Jongverkenners/Scheepsmakkers (11–13), Gidsen/(Zee)verkenners (14–17) and Jins/Loodsen (17–18) — supplemented by the Akabe inclusive programme for children and young people with disabilities and a Zeescouting water-based specialism coordinated by Ploeg Zeescouting.

The organisation's technology and content platform rests on Groepsadministratie (online group administration for membership management), the Spelendatabank (a searchable database of 2,429+ games filterable by terrain, intensity, duration, age and players), the Groepsadministratie portal, custom card games (Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen kaartspel and Open}kaart), digital member magazines Krak? and Boem! distributed via Issuu, downloadable Ledenblaadjes flyers, XL-spelposters, and the Hopper Winkel e-commerce and physical retail operation. It supports leaders through tak-specific handbooks (InKAPOENENleiding, InWELPENleiding, InJONGGIVERleiding, InGIVERleiding, JINleiding, InAKABEleiding) and a formation pathway culminating in the Animator course, which yields a Flemish Government-recognised "animator in het jeugdwerk" attestation.

The business model is a hybrid of (i) membership fees collected through local groups (undisclosed), (ii) commercial activity via the Hopper brand — Hopper Winkel retail for uniforms and equipment and Hopper Jeugdverblijven operating eight youth accommodation sites (De Kluis, De Brink, De Winner, Drieboomkensberg, Moerkensheide, Het Scoutshuis, Woutershof, Merkenveld) — (iii) training fees for the Animator course (€174 Christmas / €205.80 summer, 7-day residential) and other formation programmes, and (iv) implicit Flemish government subsidies tied to youth-work policy. A 145-person national secretariat supports a largely volunteer-led operational base distributed across the groups, districts and regional gouwen, with an Aanspreekpunt Integriteit (API) integrity framework and forthcoming 2027 volunteer criminal-record clearance requirements reinforcing the governance layer.

Name

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen

Legal name

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen vzw

Website

https://scoutsengidsenvlaanderen.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen is a Flemish non-profit youth movement operating approximately 600 local scout groups across 18 regional districts in Flanders and Brussels, delivering age-based scouting programmes for children aged 6–18, the Akabe inclusive programme, and Zeescouting, supported by the Hopper retail and youth-accommodation sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Youth scouting organization
• Non-formal youth education
• Volunteer leadership training
• Inclusive youth programs
• Youth accommodation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerpen

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen is a non-profit youth movement that organizes age-based scouting programs for children and young people aged 6–18 across Flanders and Brussels through approximately 600 local groups, 18 regional districts (gouwen), and the inclusive Akabe and Zeescouting specialisms. It supports its members and volunteer leaders with digital tools (Groepsadministratie, Spelendatabank), publications (Krak? and Boem! magazines), training courses (Animator Vorming), card games (Open}kaart, the custom kaartspel), merchandise and accommodation through the Hopper sub-brand, and an integrity framework (Aanspreekpunt Integriteit).

Product overview

Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen is a Flemish youth movement organized around five age-based takken (divisions): Kapoenen/Zeehondjes (ages 6–8), (Zee)welpen (ages 8–11), Jonggidsen/Jongverkenners/Scheepsmakkers (ages 11–13), Gidsen/(Zee)verkenners (ages 14–17), and Jins/Loodsen (ages 17–18). In addition, Akabe provides an inclusive programme for members with disabilities, and Zeescouting offers a water-based specialism across all age groups. The organization's product portfolio includes a wide range of support resources for members and leaders: the Spelendatabank (a searchable database of over 2,400 games), the Open}kaart conversation card game, the Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen custom kaartspel, Krak? en Boem! member magazines, and downloadable Ledenblaadjes flyers. Hopper is the commercial sub-brand encompassing the Hopper Winkel (equipment/uniform retail) and Hopper Jeugdverblijven (8 youth accommodation sites across Flanders). Groups are further supported by the Groepsadministratie online platform for membership management, and leaders can access training such as the Animator Vorming course leading to a government-recognized animator attestation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kapoenen en zeehondjes (age group membership, 6–8 years) Membership program for children aged 6–8 (sea scouts are called zeehondjes) who discover scouting through play and fantasy, guided by a dedicated takhandboek.
• (Zee)welpen (age group membership, 8–11 years) Membership program for children aged 8–11 (roughly 3rd–5th grade) built around play, building camps, secret languages, and the Jungle Book theme, with belofte (promise) rituals and nest sub-groups.
• Jonggidsen, jongverkenners en scheepsmakkers (age group membership, 11–13 years) Membership program for children aged 11–13 organized into patrouilles (patrols), delivering a three-year program with increasing responsibility and outdoor techniques.
• Gidsen en (zee)verkenners (age group membership, 14–17 years) Membership program for youth aged 14–17 focused on friendship, adventure, group challenges, autonomy, and totemisatie (naming) ceremonies, supported by the InGIVERleiding takhandboek.
• Jins en loodsen (age group membership, 17–18 years) Final membership program for 17–18 year olds focused on identity exploration, challenging projects, international camps, and self-discovery, supported by the JINleiding handbook and the 'De Foerage' podcast.
• Akabe (inclusive scouting program) Scouting program for children and young people with physical and/or mental disabilities, offered as separate akabe groups, akabe sub-groups, or inclusive groups.
• Zeescouting (water-based scouting specialism) Water-based scouting specialism spanning all age groups, with nautical skills certifications, specialized boat documentation, and an annual Zeescoutingcongres, coordinated by Ploeg Zeescouting.
• Animator Vorming (formation course) Multi-day formation course (7 days, 6 overnight stays) for aspiring youth leaders aged 15+ covering game design, member management, camp organization, leadership posture, and safe environments. Course costs €205.80 (summer) or €174 (Christmas), and successful participants can apply for an official 'animator in het jeugdwerk' attestation from the Flemish Government.
• Hopper Winkel (retail store) Scouting equipment and uniform retail brand (online and physical stores) of Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen, with district commissioners distributing products to groups and direct purchase from groups also available.
• Hopper Jeugdverblijven (youth accommodations) Network of eight youth accommodation sites (De Kluis, De Brink, De Winner, Drieboomkensberg, Moerkensheide, Het Scoutshuis, Woutershof, and Merkenveld) used for camps and formation courses.
• Groepsadministratie (online group administration platform) Online group administration platform enabling local scout groups to manage member registrations, group data, and related administrative tasks.
• Krak? en Boem! (member magazines) Two member magazines (Krak? and Boem!) published for members across all age groups, containing activities, stories, and themed content tied to the scouting year; previously printed and distributed by post, currently distributed digitally via Issuu.
• Spelendatabank (game database) Online searchable database of over 2,400 scouting games, filterable by type (soort), terrain, intensity, duration, age group, and number of players, serving as the primary activity planning resource for leaders.
• Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen kaartspel (card game) Custom card game featuring four suits (Harten, Schoppen, Ruiten, Klaveren) with illustrations depicting scouting adventures; uses Goud (gold), Zilver (silver), and Brons (bronze) ranks instead of traditional face cards, reflecting gender equality values.
• Open}kaart (conversation card game) Conversation card game designed to help members (from jonggivers to leiding) get to know each other better, hold deeper conversations, or use as teambuilding; questions are divided into 5 levels of depth and 5 categories (Dit ben ik, De wereld en anderen, Opdracht, Scouts, and Wat als...?).

Segments8 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

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scouting Nederland: Dutch national scouting organization operating a near-identical volunteer-led, age-branch-based youth programme with regional districts and own retail/accommodation infrastructure. Closest international peer in structure and operating model.
• Scouts et Guides de France: French national scouting association running an age-tiered youth programme with volunteer leaders and local groups. Offers the same scouting methodology and age-driven progression model as the subject.
• Chirojeugd Vlaanderen: Flemish youth movement organized by age groups with local groups, volunteer leaders, and a focus on non-formal education through play and outdoor activities. Competes head-to-head for the same Flemish youth and volunteer-leader pool.
• Les Scouts (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles): Belgian French-speaking scouting federation delivering the same Scouting movement programme to youth in Wallonia and Brussels. Directly comparable organizational model, age-branch structure, and mission as Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen.
• KLJ (Katholieke Landelijke Jeugd): Belgian Flemish Catholic rural youth movement with local group structure, volunteer leadership, and age-divided programming. Comparable in mission, structure, and target demographic to Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen.

Emerging players

• Jeugdbond voor Natuur en Milieu (JNM): Belgian Flemish youth organization focused on nature and environment education through local groups and volunteer-led activities. Overlaps with Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen on outdoor programming and youth volunteer base.
• Jeugd Natuurhuis De Speybek / Natuurpunt Jeugd: Nature-focused youth programming embedded within a larger conservation NGO; competes with the ecology and outdoor-living aspects of scouting for Flemish youth engagement.
• Jeugdland / Speelpleinwerking Vlaanderen: Flemish umbrella for local play-ground and holiday-play schemes (speelpleinwerking) that compete for the same 6-14 youth cohort during school holidays with subsidized play-based programming.

Broad incumbents

• The Scout Association (UK): UK national scouting organization with similar age-tiered programme, sections, and volunteer structure. Larger in scale but operates the same scouting methodology and supply of trained leaders.
• YMCA Belgium / YMCA Europe: Global youth and family services organization with comparable non-formal education, youth development, and community programming, though broader in scope (fitness, housing, social services) than scouting-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scouts-en-gidsen-vlaanderen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen