Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen

What Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen does

Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen is a Belgian non-profit organization (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) headquartered in Brussels, operating across Flanders and Brussels since its founding in 1987 as OCIV (renamed in 2004). The organization provides legal support, reception services, policy advocacy, and integration assistance for refugees, asylum seekers, recognized refugees, Ukrainian displaced persons under temporary protection, and undocumented migrants in Belgium. Its annual beneficiary base includes over 25,000 individuals served through the Startpunt program (15,000+) and the Juridische Helpdesk (10,000+), and the organization is actively engaged in advocacy on the impending end of Ukrainian temporary protection in March 2027 affecting an estimated 70,000+ displaced Ukrainians in Belgium.

The organization delivers services through a hybrid model combining direct programs and a federated network. Core direct services include Startpunt (daily reception at asylum centers), Juridische Helpdesk (legal advice), and Infolijn (multilingual information hotline in Dutch, English, French, and Ukrainian). These are complemented by an ecosystem of approximately 30 member organizations, 50+ local volunteer groups, and 5 regional coordinators spanning every Flemish province. Its product surface includes the Materialendatabank (online training database), the We Welcome digital platform connecting citizen initiatives, the E-fugee newsletter, the Refugee Walk annual fundraiser, and a publishing program producing the migration comic book, starter kits, and practice guides. Technology infrastructure is conventional and non-proprietary: Drupal-based websites, an internal CRM, the iRaiser donation platform, Formbricks for surveys, and standard analytics pixels (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel); there is no evidence of proprietary technology or AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated through diversified streams: individual one-time and recurring donations (€10–€200 tiers, with €40+ eligible for fiscal attestation), bequests and legacy giving, Flemish government grants, merchandise sales via a webshop, and membership/affiliation contributions from the 30+ member organizations. The 2025 Refugee Walk alone raised over €800,000. The organization employs approximately 73 staff and is led by director Tine Claus.

Name

Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen

Legal name

Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen vzw

Website

https://vluchtelingenwerk.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen is a Belgian non-profit (founded 1987) providing legal aid, reception support, and policy advocacy for refugees, asylum seekers, and Ukrainian displaced persons across Flanders and Brussels through direct services and a 30+ member organization network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee Reception & Registration (BPADAHAA), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

Keywords

• Refugee legal aid
• Asylum support services
• Humanitarian assistance
• Migration policy advocacy
• Volunteer network coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussel, Brussel

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or monthly donations through the organization's fundraising platform. Donation amounts range from €10-200 per gift with fiscal attestation available for donations above €40.
2. Bequests and Legacies: Individuals can include Vluchtelingenwerk in their testament, providing ongoing support through estate planning.
3. Charitable Grants: Government grants from Flemish government and other institutional funders support specific projects and operational costs.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of educational materials including the migration comic book and starter kits for volunteers through the webshop.
5. Membership and Affiliation Fees: 30+ member organizations form the backbone of the network, contributing to collective advocacy and service delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen provides direct humanitarian and legal services to refugees, asylum seekers, Ukrainian displaced persons, and undocumented migrants across Flanders and Brussels. Core offerings include the Startpunt reception program, the Juridische Helpdesk legal aid service, the multilingual Infolijn information hotline, and five regional support points coordinating a network of 50+ local volunteer groups. The organization also delivers policy advocacy, public campaigns, training materials, and educational publications.

Product overview

Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen is a refugee support organization offering a portfolio of services including direct client support through Startpunt (information and reception for asylum seekers), Juridische Helpdesk (legal helpdesk serving ~10,000 people annually), Infolijn (info hotline for questions on residence, reception, housing and education), and a Materialendatabank (materials database with training recordings, templates and guides). Additional offerings include a Webshop, annual Refugee Walk fundraiser, E-fugee newsletter, the We Welcome digital platform for local initiatives, various publications (starter kits, inspiration guides, practice guides), and a Migration comic book. The organization operates through ~30 member organizations, 5 regional coordinators, and hundreds of volunteers, providing legal support, reception assistance, policy advocacy, campaigns, and volunteer coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startpunt A volunteer-led program providing daily on-site reception at the Belgian asylum center, offering initial information and support to asylum seekers during the asylum procedure.
• Juridische Helpdesk Legal helpdesk providing advice and guidance on asylum, residence, and rights, serving approximately 10,000 people annually who would otherwise have no access to their rights.
• Infolijn Multilingual information hotline answering questions about residence, reception, housing, and access to education for people in refuge. Available in Dutch, English, French, and Ukrainian, weekdays 09:00-12:30.
• Regionale Steunpunten Five regional coordinators supporting and strengthening local volunteer organizations and citizen initiatives working with people in refuge across Flemish provinces (Vlaams-Brabant/Brussels, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen, Limburg, Antwerpen).
• Webshop Online shop (shopvluchtelingenwerk.be) selling merchandise and educational publications including the Stripboek Migratie (Migration Comic Book), Starterskit, and Inspiratiegids.
• Refugee Walk Annual solidarity walk organized by Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen to raise funds and awareness, with over 150 volunteers participating and raising more than €800,000 in 2025.
• We Welcome Digital meeting platform for local citizen initiatives supporting people in refuge, connecting volunteers and organizations across Flanders.
• Starterskit: Van aankomst naar toekomst Comprehensive guide making volunteers familiar with working with people in refuge, providing basic information, organization contacts, and practical tips from experienced volunteers. Available in Dutch and English, in digital and physical formats.
• Inspiratiegids: Ondersteuningsnetwerken kwetsbare gezinnen op de vlucht Inspiration guide focusing on support networks for vulnerable families in refuge, featuring insights and tips for building strong support networks and instruments for frontline workers. Developed with Gastvrij Netwerk and funded by the Flemish Department of Welfare.
• Praktijkgids: De inzet van vrijwilligers bij opvang- en huisvestingsmodellen Practical guide on deploying volunteers in reception and housing models for people in refuge, reviewing two years of experiences with host family programs for Ukrainian refugees and including recommendations.
• Stripboek Migratie Accessible comic book debunking persistent myths about migration using facts, research, and clear illustrations based on migration scholar Hein de Haas' work. Suitable for ages 12 and up, available in Dutch for order or free download.
• Checklist voor je gesprek met het OCMW Checklist providing practical overview of attention points for conversations with OCMW (Public Centre for Social Welfare) for people in refuge during social assistance requests. Available in Dutch and Ukrainian as PDF download or physical copy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ people helped annually through Startpunt program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Coalitie Iedereen BeschermdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Coalition for Everyone Protected, organizing study days on social work as a human rights profession. Vluchtelingenwerk participates as member organization in these events bringing together social workers, unions, academics, and human rights organizations.
• Caritas InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Caritas International collaborates with Vluchtelingenwerk on advocacy for Ukrainian displaced persons, jointly calling for sustainable policies, clear procedures, and humane reception. Partnership includes joint recommendations on registration, housing, and future status.
• ORBIT vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026ORBIT vzw works with Vluchtelingenwerk on Ukrainian refugee support, contributing to joint policy recommendations on reception, inclusion, and future of displaced persons in Belgium.
• Ukrainian VoicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Ukrainian Voices represents the Ukrainian community perspective in joint advocacy with Vluchtelingenwerk, Caritas, and ORBIT on temporary protection extension and sustainable solutions.
• Gastvrij Netwerk vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Gastvrij Netwerk collaborated with Vluchtelingenwerk on the Starter Kit for volunteers, combining expertise on refugee support with local volunteer coordination.
• Vlaamse overheidcoreOthers · 1 January 2023Flemish government provides funding support for the Starter Kit and regional coordinator positions supporting local volunteers and refugee work.
• Departement Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en GrijpcoreOthers · 1 January 2022Department of Welfare, Public Health, and Family of the Flemish government funded the project 'Ondersteuningsnetwerken kwetsbare gezinnen op de vlucht' supporting vulnerable refugee families.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland: The Dutch equivalent organization providing legal aid, advocacy, and support for refugees and asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Same name, same mission structure, and same operational model (legal helpdesk, advocacy, volunteer network) as Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen.
• CIRÉ (Coordination et Initiatives pour Réfugiés et Étrangers): Belgian umbrella coordination platform for refugee and immigrant support organizations, based in Brussels. Operates in the same Belgian refugee support space with similar advocacy and coordination functions.
• Jesuit Refugee Service Belgium: Belgian branch of the international Jesuit Refugee Service providing direct accompaniment, legal aid, and integration support for asylum seekers and refugees. Operates with similar service model and beneficiary focus.
• ORBIT vzw: Belgian refugee support organization that partners with Vluchtelingenwerk on Ukrainian refugee policy advocacy. Operates in the same Belgian refugee support space with overlapping advocacy and direct service functions.
• Caritas International Belgium: Belgian humanitarian and refugee support organization, existing partner of Vluchtelingenwerk on Ukrainian refugee advocacy. Shares the Belgian refugee support market with overlapping legal aid, reception, and integration services.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major international humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, legal aid, and integration support for refugees globally. Operates at much larger scale with overlapping refugee support services.
• Fedasil: Belgian federal agency for the reception of asylum seekers, operating government reception centers and managing the asylum process. Provides institutional reception services that complement Vluchtelingenwerk's civil society support.
• ECRE (European Council on Refugees and Exiles): European umbrella network of 104 NGOs working on refugee rights, including Vluchtelingenwerk-affiliated organizations. Operates at the European policy level with overlapping advocacy and rights-monitoring functions.
• UNHCR Belgium: The UN Refugee Agency's Belgium office, operating globally with a mandate on refugee protection and rights. Provides overlapping advocacy and policy engagement with Vluchtelingenwerk, though with a much broader international scope.

Regional players

• Danish Refugee Council: Large Danish-based refugee support NGO operating in multiple countries with similar legal aid, integration, and advocacy services. Comparable operational model though in a different national context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/vluchtelingenwerk.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VluchtelingenwerkVL
• Facebookfacebook.com/VluchtelingenwerkVlaanderen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vluchtelingenwerk-vlaanderen
• Instagraminstagram.com/vluchtelingenwerkvl

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen