TOPS
TOPS is a Dutch staffing and recruitment agency, founded 2004, specializing exclusively in outdoor work across horticulture, agriculture, construction, and infrastructure sectors, serving employers and job seekers in the Netherlands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBodegraven, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TOPS does
TOPS is a privately held Dutch staffing and recruitment agency founded in 2004, headquartered in Bodegraven with a second branch in Steenbergen. The company operates exclusively in outdoor work sectors, organized around four verticals: Groen (horticulture, landscaping, tree care), Agri (farms, nurseries, seed production), Bouw (construction trades), and Infra (civil engineering, GWW). It serves Dutch employers ranging from municipal services and large agronomy enterprises (Rijk Zwaan, Limagrain, Agrifirm, Bunnik Groep, Idverde, Vebego) to mid-market contractors, and job seekers seeking outdoor careers.
The company monetizes through four service lines: temporary staffing (Uitzenden), permanent recruitment (Werving & Selectie), secondment/detachment (Detacheren), and social-return placements (SROI), with margin earned on hourly bill rates and placement fees. An internal vocational training division, TOPS Vakschool, funds VHG-certified green-sector qualifications and guarantees job placement, functioning as a proprietary talent pipeline. Operations are supported by the third-party HelloFlex portal (tops.helloflex.com) for worker self-service (timesheets, contracts, payslips, leave). Matching itself is recruiter-led rather than technology-led.
The business is NBBU-affiliated and certified under VCA, VCU, SNA/NEN 4400-1, Kiwa, and HACCP, providing the compliance and liability credentials required by Dutch enterprise and public-sector buyers. The firm has roughly 21 named staff across two offices, 365+ active vacancies listed, and worker/staff satisfaction scores of 8.6/8.3. No external funding, revenue disclosure, or M&A activity is recorded; the company is independently operated and has been for over two decades.
TOPS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TOPS
- Legal name
- TOPS
- Website
- https://www.tops.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TOPS is a Dutch staffing and recruitment agency, founded 2004, specializing exclusively in outdoor work across horticulture, agriculture, construction, and infrastructure sectors, serving employers and job seekers in the Netherlands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TOPS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Work Staffing & Recruitment Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- High-Volume / High-Turnover Temp Staffing (BPACACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seasonal & Peak Workforce Staffing (BPACACAE), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)
Keywords
Where TOPS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bodegraven
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
TOPS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Temporary Staffing (Uitzenden): TOPS places workers with client employers on a temporary basis. Workers are employed by TOPS and contracted out to employers. TOPS handles payroll, compliance, and administration while earning margin on hourly rates. This is the core revenue stream.
- Recruitment & Selection (Werving & Selectie): Direct placement of candidates into permanent positions with client employers. TOPS screens, matches, and presents candidates for direct hire roles. Fees are typically structured as a percentage of annual salary or a fixed placement fee.
- Staffing/Detacheren: TOPS remains the employer while contracting experienced workers to client organizations. Provides flexibility for employers without long-term commitment while ensuring workers receive proper employment terms and continuity.
- Social Return (SROI): Placement services focused on workers with a distance to the labor market, fulfilling corporate social responsibility requirements for employers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Entry-level green/agri workers (e.g., Groenvoorziener, Teeltmedewerker) |
| Other | Monthly | Experienced workers (e.g., Vakbekwaam Hovenier, Ervaren Timmerman) |
| Other | Monthly | Senior/Specialized positions (e.g., Meewerkend Voorman, Ervaren Kraanmachinist) |
| Other | Monthly | Expert construction/technical (e.g., Ervaren Timmerman Rotterdam) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | ZZP/Freelance positions |
| Other | Monthly | Internal TOPS staff (Recruiters, Account Managers) |
| Other | Monthly | Vocational training salary (TOPS Vakschool) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
TOPS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TOPS is a Dutch staffing and recruitment agency that connects skilled outdoor workers (vakmensen) with employers in the green/horticulture, agriculture, construction, and infrastructure sectors. Core services include temporary staffing (Uitzenden), direct-hire recruitment and selection (Werving & Selectie), detachment/temp-to-perm (Detacheren), social return placements (SROI), and the proprietary TOPS Vakschool vocational training program that funds and places workers in green-sector careers.
Product overview
TOPS is a Dutch staffing and recruitment agency specialized exclusively in outdoor work sectors. The company operates a multi-service model offering temporary staffing (Uitzenden), direct recruitment (Werving & Selectie), detachment/temp-to-perm (Detacheren), and social return programs. TOPS also runs TOPS Vakschool, a proprietary vocational training division that funds and places workers in green sector careers. For professionals, TOPS Professionals matches mid-level candidates in specialized outdoor work roles. The portfolio is unified around the buitenwerk (outdoor work) theme spanning four sectors: groen (green/horticulture), agri (agriculture), bouw (construction), and infra (infrastructure).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TOPS Vakschool: Vocational training school offering green sector education programs including hovenier (gardener) qualifications, fully funded by TOPS with job placement guarantee.
Quantifiable outcome
- Vacancy response within 1 business day
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TOPS
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
TOPS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
TOPS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NBBU (Nederlandse Bond van Bemiddelingsondernemingen)coreTOPS is affiliated with the NBBU, the Dutch association for staffing and recruitment agencies. This membership provides quality assurance, financial reliability guarantees, and adherence to industry standards and codes of conduct.
- StiPP (Stichting Pensioenfonds voor Personeelsdienst)minorTOPS provides pension provisions through StiPP, the pension fund for temporary workers. Workers are immediately enrolled in the Plus scheme, offering enhanced pension benefits.
- HelloFlexcoreTOPS uses HelloFlex as its workforce management platform, enabling digital hour logging, contract management, payslip access, and time-off requests for workers. This platform provides transparency and operational efficiency.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TOPS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olympia Uitzendbureau: Established Dutch staffing and recruitment agency with regional branches across the Netherlands. Offers uitzenden, werving & selectie, and detacheren across multiple sectors including outdoor work — directly comparable service portfolio and target customer base to TOPS.
- WerkTalent: Dutch regional staffing firm operating multiple branches and providing temporary staffing, direct placement, and sector-specialized recruitment. Comparable in size and multi-vertical approach, particularly in green and construction staffing.
- Headfirst Selection: Dutch staffing and selection firm focused on permanent placements and skilled trades recruitment. Comparable in size and Dutch regional approach, with overlap in construction and technical trades — direct competition for TOPS's Werving & Selectie stream.
- Lokaal Werkt: Dutch regional staffing platform connecting local job seekers with nearby employers, often in green, construction, and logistics. Closely comparable in regional/local model and target worker demographics to TOPS.
- Agriwerker: Dutch staffing agency specializing exclusively in the agricultural and green sectors. The most direct vertical-overlap competitor to TOPS, focused on seasonal and permanent placements for farms, nurseries, and horticulture — shares TOPS's niche specialism.
- ASA Talent: Dutch staffing and recruitment agency with regional branches across the Netherlands. Provides multi-sector temporary staffing including outdoor trades — comparable in regional office footprint and service offerings to TOPS.
Broad incumbents
- Tempo-Team (Adecco Group Netherlands): One of the largest Dutch staffing brands, part of the Adecco Group. Offers temporary staffing, direct hire, and HR solutions across all sectors including outdoor work — a major incumbent competing for the same employer clients as TOPS but at significantly greater scale.
- Randstad Nederland: The largest staffing firm in the Netherlands and global market leader. Provides uitzenden, werving & selectie, and HR solutions across all verticals including the green, agri, and construction sectors TOPS serves. Competes for the same enterprise customers but with broader sector coverage.
- ManpowerGroup Netherlands: Major Dutch staffing brand under ManpowerGroup, offering temporary staffing, permanent placement, and workforce solutions across many verticals including construction, agri, and infrastructure — directly overlapping with TOPS's employer segments.
Others
- Vinci Facilitair / Groenvoorziening vacatures: Dutch facilities and green maintenance services group that hires outdoor workers — an employer-side participant in the same labor pool TOPS recruits from, making it both a potential client and ecosystem participant rather than a direct head-to-head competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TOPS social profiles
Digital presenceTOPS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TOPS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
TOPS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TOPS 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 TOPS
What does TOPS do?
TOPS is a Dutch staffing and recruitment agency that connects skilled outdoor workers (vakmensen) with employers in the green/horticulture, agriculture, construction, and infrastructure sectors. Core services include temporary staffing (Uitzenden), direct-hire recruitment and selection (Werving & Selectie), detachment/temp-to-perm (Detacheren), social return placements (SROI), and the proprietary TOPS Vakschool vocational training program that funds and places workers in green-sector careers.
Is TOPS a public or private company?
TOPS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TOPS founded?
TOPS was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TOPS based?
TOPS is headquartered in Bodegraven, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does TOPS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Temporary Staffing (Uitzenden) is the primary driver. The others are recruitment & Selection (Werving & Selectie), staffing/Detacheren and social Return (SROI).
Who are TOPS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olympia Uitzendbureau, WerkTalent, Headfirst Selection, Lokaal Werkt, Agriwerker and ASA Talent. Broad incumbents are Tempo-Team (Adecco Group Netherlands), Randstad Nederland and ManpowerGroup Netherlands. Vinci Facilitair / Groenvoorziening vacatures is listed as an others.
Does TOPS have an API?
No public API is recorded for TOPS.
What industry is TOPS in?
TOPS's product category is Outdoor Work Staffing & Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACACAF, High-Volume / High-Turnover Temp Staffing, with a secondary code of BPACACAE, Seasonal & Peak Workforce Staffing. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.