Stichting Veteranen Search Team

What Stichting Veteranen Search Team does

Stichting Veteranen Search Team (VST) is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) founded in 2017 and headquartered in Huis ter Heide, Utrecht, that provides volunteer search-and-rescue support to the Dutch police (Politie) during urgent missing-persons cases. The organization is activated exclusively through police deployment requests, with police retaining command while VST operates in advisory and executive roles on a 24/7 voluntary basis. Its operational core consists of 2,929 trained volunteers, of whom 75-85% are (active-serving) military veterans and the remainder are drawn from other uniformed services. In 2026 VST recorded 137 police deployment requests, executed 60 search operations, and logged 12,000 volunteer hours, up from 109 deployments in 2023.

VST's underlying capability is field-execution rather than software: it combines veteran discipline, specialized search techniques, and equipment for difficult terrain (forests, nature areas, residential areas, hard-to-reach areas), with sponsor-provided assets including bicycles (Giant), thermal imaging (FLIR Systems), and drone expertise (Droneflightacademy). Its digital footprint consists of a donation platform (steun.veteranensearchteam.nl), a merchandise webshop, and social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube); it does not offer a software product, API, or app.

The business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded. Revenue-equivalent inflows come from individual one-time and recurring donations (capped at €50,000 and €1,000 per month respectively), a tiered corporate sponsorship program ranging from Donateur MKB at €500-2,000 to Hoofdsponsor at €12,000 per year plus custom packages, merchandise sales, community-driven fundraising campaigns (e.g., a €60,000 logistics-vehicle replacement campaign), and grants from funds including the Postcode Loterij, Vfonds, Stichting OVA, Kareldoormanfonds, and Fondskl1940. VST holds ANBI status (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling, RSIN 8582.01.823) and CBF Erkend certification, making donations tax-deductible and providing the regulatory credibility typical of top-tier Dutch charities. The organization employs 139 paid staff and serves a single institutional customer (Dutch Police) for its mission, with families of missing persons and vulnerable individuals (children, elderly, confused, or suicidal persons) as the ultimate beneficiaries.

Name

Stichting Veteranen Search Team

Legal name

Stichting Veteranen Search Team

Website

https://veteranensearchteam.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stichting Veteranen Search Team is a Dutch non-profit foundation that deploys 2,929 trained veteran and uniformed-service volunteers 24/7 to support the Dutch police in urgent missing-persons search operations across the Netherlands, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Search and Rescue Services

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADADAA

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYHLAJAGAJ

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

SECONDARYBPABANAD

Emergency Response Team (ERT) Staffing & Incident Management Support

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Emergency Preparedness and Response Services

Keywords

• Search and rescue services
• Missing persons support
• Volunteer emergency response
• Police support operations
• Veteran services

Headquarters

HQ city

Huis ter Heide

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations (One-time and Recurring): Individual donors contribute one-time or monthly donations to support the organization's mission. The organization raises funds through various crowdfunding actions on its platform.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Companies sponsor the organization at various tiers (Donateur MKB: €500-2,000/year, Supporter: €3,000/year, Sponsor: €6,000/year, Hoofdsponsor: €12,000/year, Maatwerk: custom). Sponsors receive logo placement, event invitations, and other recognition benefits.
3. Merchandise/Webshop Sales: The organization operates a webshop selling VST merchandise. Orders are processed with an average handling time of 4 business days.
4. Fundraising Campaigns: The organization runs specific fundraising campaigns for equipment needs (e.g., replacement logistics vehicle) and accepts community-driven fundraising actions initiated by supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stichting Veteranen Search Team (VST) is a Dutch non-profit emergency relief organization that supports the Dutch police (Politie) during urgent search operations for missing persons. Deployments are triggered exclusively by police request, with police retaining command while VST volunteers provide advisory and operational assistance. The all-volunteer force of approximately 2,929 trained members — primarily (75-85%) active-serving veterans and representatives from other uniformed services — is available 24/7 to conduct searches in difficult terrain using specialized techniques and equipment (drones, thermal imaging). Operations are funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Stichting Veteranen Search Team (VST) is a Dutch non-profit emergency response organization that supports police during urgent missing person searches. The organization operates primarily as a volunteer-based search and rescue service rather than a technology product company. The main digital touchpoints include a donation/support platform, a merchandise webshop, and informational websites. The organization does not offer a traditional software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteer Search and Rescue Operations (VST Deployment Service) Core service: 24/7 volunteer-led search and rescue operations deployed exclusively at the request of the Dutch police (Politie) to support urgent missing persons cases. Volunteers (primarily veterans and uniformed service representatives) conduct searches in difficult terrain using specialized techniques and equipment while police retain command.
• Corporate Presentations (VST on Location)

Quantifiable outcome

• 137 deployment requests from police in 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid (Ministry of Justice and Security)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry that oversees police and justice operations. VST operates in support of police, which falls under this ministry's jurisdiction.
• VfondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Fund for Memorial, Gratitude and Resistance (Nationaal Fonds voor Vrede, Vrijheid en Veteranen). Supports veteran organizations and initiatives.
• Defensie (Dutch Ministry of Defence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMany VST volunteers originate from Dutch Defence forces. The ministry supports veteran welfare and reintegration.
• Nederlands Veteraneninstituut (NL Veteraneninstituut)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Veteran Institute that supports and represents veterans. VST volunteers can obtain veteran passes through this institute.
• BavakmajorOthersMain sponsor (Hoofdsponsor) providing equipment or financial support.
• Giant BicyclesmajorOthersMain sponsor (Hoofdsponsor) providing bicycles for search operations.
• BoskalismajorOthersMain sponsor (Hoofdsponsor) providing financial or operational support.
• DroneflightacademymajorOthersMain sponsor (Hoofdsponsor) possibly providing drone-related expertise or equipment for search operations.
• FLIR SystemssupportingOthersSponsor providing thermal imaging or detection equipment for search operations.
• SaabsupportingOthersSponsor providing technology or equipment support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association): UK-based volunteer organization deploying trained search teams (often with dogs) to find missing persons, typically activated through police requests. Directly comparable volunteer SAR model supporting missing-persons investigations.
• Mountain Rescue England and Wales: UK volunteer organization providing search and rescue response in difficult terrain, predominantly activated by police. Closely matches VST's land-based volunteer SAR model and police-requested deployment structure.
• Lowland Rescue: UK volunteer search and rescue organization covering lowland and urban areas, deployed by police to find vulnerable missing persons. Directly comparable in mission, volunteer structure, and police-driven activation.
• Johanniter Unfall-Hilfe: German volunteer emergency services organization with extensive SAR, medical, and civil protection operations. Comparable in combining volunteer-led emergency response with government-aligned activation models.
• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (Germany): German volunteer civil protection and emergency response organization supporting government agencies in disaster and emergency operations. Comparable in volunteer-driven emergency response mission and government partnership model.

Regional players

• ANWB Medical Air Assistance: Dutch emergency response and helicopter medical assistance provider operating in the Netherlands. Comparable as a Netherlands-based emergency response organization supporting public safety, though paid rather than volunteer-based.
• Reddingsbrigade Nederland: Dutch volunteer lifeboat and water rescue organization operating across the Netherlands. Comparable as a Dutch nonprofit volunteer emergency response organization, though focused on water rather than land-based missing persons search.
• Bergwacht Bayern: German volunteer mountain and wilderness rescue organization supporting police in difficult-terrain search operations. Comparable volunteer SAR model operating under police activation, though regionally focused on Alpine terrain.

Broad incumbents

• Rode Kruis (Dutch Red Cross): Largest humanitarian aid organization in the Netherlands, providing emergency response and disaster relief across multiple mission areas. Comparable as a major Dutch nonprofit emergency response organization, though with a much broader humanitarian mandate.
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr Deutschland: Federation of German volunteer fire departments providing emergency response, SAR support, and disaster relief under public-sector activation. Comparable in volunteer-first emergency response model supporting government agencies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/veteranensearc1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCk5mAcXbLm2Nmuvu-iyA2Iw
• Facebookfacebook.com/VeteranenSearchTeam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-veteranen-search-team
• Instagraminstagram.com/vst_veteranensearchteam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Stichting Veteranen Search Team