VV Berkum

What VV Berkum does

VV Berkum (Voetbalvereniging Berkum Zwolle) is a Dutch amateur football association founded in 1961, headquartered at Sportpark De Vegtlust in the Berkum district of Zwolle, Netherlands. Operating as a member-owned non-profit, the club fields more than 50 teams across all age groups and genders, from Onder-8 youth squads through senior men's teams (Berkum 1–10) and women's teams, including the inclusive Berkum United program for players with ASS/ADHD and F-league participation. The first team competes in the Vierde Divisie, the top tier of Dutch national amateur football.

The club's technology stack centers on third-party sports management platforms rather than proprietary systems: the Voetbal.nl mobile app (powered by Sportlink Services) handles member administration, KNVB league registration, team scheduling, availability, and volunteer task sign-ups. Google Workspace supports internal communications, while the SponsorKliks affiliate portal, Clubwereld e-commerce shop, and a podcast ("Zwart Wit Warm Hart") round out the digital surface. In 2025, VV Berkum announced the joint development of "Levi," an AI-powered volunteer coordination assistant built with ClubHelper.

VV Berkum's revenue model is diversified across membership subscriptions (€86–€350 annually per tier), a multi-tiered sponsorship program (main, top, co-sponsor levels), canteen and bar operations, the Sponsorkliks affiliate program, the €75/season Vriendenclub membership, and charity fundraising (a 2025 Dinner Gala raised €62,033). Customer segments include playing members, non-playing supporters, local and regional business sponsors, and inclusive-program participants, with financial assistance provided through the Youth Fund Sport Zwolle. The Business Club Berkum serves as the commercial networking hub for sponsor engagement.

Name

VV Berkum

Legal name

Voetbalvereniging Berkum Zwolle

Website

https://vvberkum.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VV Berkum is a Dutch non-profit amateur football association founded in 1961 in Zwolle, operating 50+ teams across all ages and genders, including the inclusive Berkum United program, funded through membership fees, sponsorships, canteen operations, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Football Club Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Amateur football club
• Youth football programs
• Community sports association
• Inclusive football programs
• Football club membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Zwolle

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees collected from players (youth and seniors), non-playing members, and special programs like Berkum United and F-league. Fees range from €86 to €350 per year depending on age category.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Multi-tiered sponsorship program including main sponsors (Wehkamp, Eurosafe for youth, Het Wijnhuis for women), top sponsors (McDonald's, PCI, Breman), and co-sponsors. Business Club Berkum provides networking and hospitality services to sponsors.
3. Canteen and Bar Operations: Kantine operations generate revenue through food and beverage sales during matches and events. Volunteer-staffed canteen services members and visitors.
4. Sponsorkliks Affiliate Revenue: Online shopping affiliate program where 75% of commission from partner webstores (Bol.com, Coolblue, etc.) goes to VV Berkum at no cost to shoppers.
5. Vriendenclub Membership: Friends of the club membership at €75 per season, providing season tickets, sponsor discounts, and event invitations in exchange for financial support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

VV Berkum is a non-profit amateur football association offering organized KNVB-league football across all age groups and genders at Sportpark De Vegtlust in Zwolle, Netherlands. Its commercial portfolio includes tiered playing memberships (€86–€350), the Berkum United inclusive football program for children and youth with ASS/ADHD, multi-tier corporate sponsorships through Business Club Berkum, the Vriendenclub supporters program, food and beverage canteen operations, and a SponsorKliks affiliate shopping program.

Product overview

VV Berkum is a football association (voetbalvereniging) in Berkum, Zwolle, offering organized football across all age groups for both men and women. The club operates multiple senior and youth teams and provides its members with digital services through the Voetbal.nl app platform. VV Berkum's portfolio includes its core football operations (organized competition, training, and match play), the inclusive Berkum United program for players with ASS/ADHD, and the Business Club Berkum sponsor engagement program. The club does not operate as a technology company but leverages third-party platforms (Voetbal.nl/Sportlink) for member management and has recently begun developing an AI-powered volunteer assistant (Levi) in partnership with ClubHelper. Sustainability initiatives include solar panels, LED lighting, EV charging stations, and waste separation programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berkum United: Inclusive football team for children and youth with ASS/ADHD, providing weekly training sessions.
• Vriendenclub Berkum
• Business Club Berkum (BCB)

Products and services

• VV Berkum Playing Membership (organized amateur football across all categories) Annual membership enrollment across pupillen, junioren, senioren, veteran (35+/45+), F-league, indoor football (zaalvoetbal), and non-playing categories, providing access to KNVB league competition, training, coaching, and Sportpark De Vegtlust facilities. Members must commit to voluntary work as part of registration.
• Berkum United (Inclusive Football Program) Inclusive football program for children and youth (currently 11 members aged 14-25) with ASS/ADHD, offering weekly adapted training under trainer Hein Platenkamp and bi-monthly matches and activities. Membership is €180 per year covering both pupillen and junioren categories.
• Business Club Berkum (BCB) Corporate Sponsor Program Corporate sponsorship and B2B networking program offering multi-tier packages (main sponsor, top sponsor, co-sponsor) with branding, hospitality, match-day business room access, company visits, golf tournaments, wine tastings, and international football trips for local and regional business sponsors.
• Vriendenclub Berkum (Friends of the Club Membership) Annual supporters membership at €75 per season (formerly known as 'Club van 100') that provides financial backing to the club in exchange for season tickets, sponsor discounts, and invitations to club events.
• VV Berkum Clubshop (Clubwereld) Official online merchandise store offering club clothing including training wear, jackets, polos, and bags, operated via the Clubwereld platform.
• SponsorKliks Affiliate Revenue Program Online shopping affiliate program where supporters shop through partner webstores (Bol.com, Coolblue, etc.) and 75% of generated commission flows to VV Berkum at no extra cost to the shopper.

Quantifiable outcome

• 69% of members are interested in sustainability; 81% believe VV Berkum should actively engage in sustainability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• McDonald's (Heerde, Kampen, Zwolle)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Topsponsor for three years. Local franchisees of McDonald's with focus on community involvement, supporting sport and youth activities.
• MixCommajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Three-year partnership for communication professionalization, brand strengthening, and digital innovation. Marketing agency from Zwolle helping with website redesign and communications strategy.
• SoundvisioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025Five-year sponsor contract with Soundvision, owned by Edgar Hersevoort. Soundvision becomes sponsor of the first team's technical and medical staff.
• PCIcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Topsponsor for three seasons. Partnership based on shared values of collaboration, pragmatism, and continuous improvement.
• WehkampcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2024Main sponsor (Hoofdsponsor) of VV Berkum for four years. Wehkamp is an online department store headquartered in Zwolle with approximately 2.5 million active customers, supporting men's, women's, youth, and Berkum United teams.
• EurosafecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Main sponsor of Berkum youth (Hoofdsponsor Jeugd) since 2024-2025 season. Eurosafe is a safety solutions company with local roots, whose owner Mark van Buiten has three sons playing at the club.
• Het WijnhuiscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Main sponsor for women's football (Hoofdsponsor Vrouwen). Local wine bar and restaurant in Zwolle, providing support for women's teams.
• Craft SportswearcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Four-year clothing sponsor agreement. Provides playing kits, training gear, and supporter merchandise including heated blankets for bench players.
• Breman InstallatiegroepcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Main sponsor for three years. Installation company active in the 'Berkum Energieneutraal' project and houses the Breman Academy near the club grounds.
• Jeugdfonds Sport ZwolleminorOthersMunicipal youth sports fund supporting members up to age 23 who cannot afford membership, covering up to €320 per year including sports clothing vouchers.
• E&COminorOthersClub members and entrepreneurs who installed two EV charging stations at Sportpark De Vegtlust free of charge, providing extra service and generating margin income for the club.
• RabobankminorOthersRabobank supports the 'Afval scheiden? Graag!' (Waste Separation) sustainability project, contributing to waste reduction and recycling efforts.
• Hart voor ZwolleminorOthersLocal charity foundation. VV Berkum is a supporter of Hart voor Zwolle, a community initiative supporting local welfare.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IJsselmeervogels: Top-tier Dutch amateur football club from Spakenburg with a similarly strong community identity, large multi-team structure, and reliance on local sponsors and volunteers. Closely comparable in scale, governance model, and Vierde/Derde Divisie competitive tier.
• ASWH: Amateur football club from Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht operating in the upper tiers of Dutch amateur football, with a comparable multi-team structure and community-based governance.
• Quick Boys: Katwijk-based amateur football club competing at the top of Dutch amateur football with comparable team breadth, sponsor-driven revenue, and community-rooted membership model.
• Kozakken Boys: Werkendam-based Dutch amateur football club competing at a similar competitive tier with comparable sponsorship-driven revenue model.
• Sparta Nijkerk: Dutch amateur football club competing at comparable national amateur levels with a similar broad age-group program and local sponsorship base.
• SteDoCo: Hoornaar-based Dutch amateur football club with a similar multi-tier sponsorship structure and competitive positioning in the upper amateur divisions.
• HHC Hardenberg: Amateur football club from Hardenberg in Overijssel, the same eastern Dutch region as VV Berkum. Similar competitive tier, sponsorship structure, and reliance on local business community.
• Achilles Veen: Veen-based Dutch amateur club with a comparable multi-team program and community-sponsor revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association): National governing body for football in the Netherlands and the league organizer with which VV Berkum registers all competitive play. Overlaps as the broader industry framework for Dutch amateur football.

Others

• ClubHelper: Dutch software/AI vendor co-developing VV Berkum's volunteer assistant 'Levi'. Comparable as an adjacent technology provider serving amateur sports clubs with member and volunteer management tools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vvberkum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vv-berkum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 VV Berkum