What Stichting HandicapNL does

Stichting HandicapNL (legal name: Stichting HandicapNederland) is a Dutch charitable foundation headquartered in Odijk, the Netherlands, that promotes participation, independence, and social inclusion of people with disabilities. The organization operates across three thematic pillars — work (werken), living (wonen), and leisure time (vrije tijd) — and serves approximately 2 million Dutch residents living with a disability, with specific focus on youth transitioning out of secondary special education and young people with acquired brain injury. Its core programs include MBO op Maat (a national vocational education pathway for youth with mild intellectual disabilities), Toegankelijke Festivals / Sitdown Café (a coalition of 17 leading Dutch music festivals working on structural accessibility, complemented by an inclusive festival café concept), Erik Scherder Huizen (residential rehabilitation housing for people aged 16–35 with non-congenital brain injury, expanding from one to four locations), Klein Geluk (micro-grants for small-scale leisure initiatives), and Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen (re-entry support for people with spinal cord injury, amputation, brain injury, or chronic illness).

The foundation is not a technology company; it is a program-delivery nonprofit with no proprietary software product. Its technology footprint is limited to a donation-processing website (handicap.nl) integrated with iDEAL payments and Google Analytics for anonymous traffic measurement. HandicapNL holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, making donations and bequests tax-deductible under Dutch law, and is registered with the CBF (Centraal Bureau Fondsenwerving). Its revenue model is donation-driven across six streams: individual recurring and one-time donations (€7 or €12 monthly; €10/€25/€50 or custom one-time), legacy bequests (tax-exempt under ANBI rules), corporate partnerships with DHL, Vegro, and Coloplast for the festival program, large grants from the Nationale Postcode Loterij (including a €3.5 million Droomfonds grant for MBO op Maat and a €1.6 million grant for Erik Scherder Huizen expansion), annual street collections (collecte), and tax-advantaged structured giving.

The organization is led by directeur-bestuurder Willem de Feijter (appointed August 20, 2024), who transitioned from the banking sector. With an estimated 11–50 employees and a national footprint in the Netherlands only, HandicapNL relies on a multi-stakeholder coalition model rather than commercial scale: it co-designs programs with educational institutions (MBO Raad), care organizations (VGN), disability advocacy groups (Ieder(in)), government (Ministerie van VWS), and the Postcode Loterij ecosystem, positioning itself as a system-change intermediary rather than a direct service provider.

Name

Stichting HandicapNL

Legal name

Stichting HandicapNederland

Website

https://handicap.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stichting HandicapNL is a Dutch ANBI-certified charitable foundation that runs national programs — including vocational education pathways, brain-injury rehabilitation housing, and festival accessibility — to promote inclusion of people with disabilities across work, living, and leisure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Advocacy

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy
• Disability inclusion programs
• Vocational education support
• Accessible event programs
• Brain injury rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Odijk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: HandicapNL raises funds through one-time and recurring donations from private individuals, with options for monthly contributions (€7 or €12) or one-time gifts (€10, €25, €50 or custom amounts). Donations are processed via iDEAL and direct bank transfer.
2. Legacy Bequests and Testaments: HandicapNL receives legacy bequests and testamentary gifts from supporters who name the foundation as beneficiary or leave a specific bequest. As an ANBI-certified organization, bequests are exempt from inheritance tax, ensuring full value goes to the mission.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Business partnerships are solicited for programs such as Toegankelijke Festivals (Accessible Festivals), where corporate sponsors like DHL, Vegro, and Coloplast co-fund accessibility infrastructure and volunteer coordination.
4. Nationale Postcode Loterij Funding: HandicapNL receives significant funding from the Nationale Postcode Loterij (Dutch Postcode Lottery) through its Droomfonds and regular grant programs, including a €3.5 million Droomfonds grant for MBO op Maat and €1.6 million for Erik Scherder Huizen expansion.
5. Collecte (Street Collection): Annual and regional street collection campaigns mobilize volunteers to raise funds door-to-door and at public locations, with partial proceeds shared with collecting partner organizations.
6. Tax-Advantaged Giving: HandicapNL promotes tax-deductible gifts under Dutch ANBI rules, including one-time large gifts and structured giving with tax benefits, enabling donors to maximize the impact of their contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Stichting HandicapNL is a Dutch charitable foundation that designs and delivers programs supporting people with disabilities across work, housing, and leisure. Core offerings include MBO op Maat (tailored vocational education for youth with mild intellectual disabilities), Toegankelijke Festivals (festival accessibility consulting and the Sitdown Café inclusive event concept), Erik Scherder Huizen (residential social-rehabilitation housing for young people with acquired brain injury), Klein Geluk (micro-grants for small-scale local leisure initiatives), and Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen (reintegration support for people with spinal cord injury, amputation, brain injury, or chronic illness).

Product overview

Stichting HandicapNL operates as a foundation offering multiple interconnected programs focused on equal opportunities for people with disabilities in work, living, and leisure. The core products include MBO op Maat (vocational education pathway), Toegankelijke Festivals (festival accessibility program), Erik Scherder Huizen (brain injury rehabilitation housing), Klein Geluk (small-scale leisure funding), and Sitdown Café (inclusive café concept). The organization also runs the Pier de Boer Prize and Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen program. These programs are funded through donations, lottery contributions, and corporate partnerships, serving youth and adults with various disabilities including intellectual, physical, and acquired brain injuries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MBO op Maat: Een landelijke leerroute voor jongeren met een licht verstandelijke beperking, ontwikkeld samen met onderwijsinstellingen, zorgorganisaties, werkgevers, de VGN, MBO Raad en Ieder(in).
• Toegankelijke Festivals
• Erik Scherder Huis
• Klein Geluk
• Sitdown Café

Products and services

• MBO op Maat A nationwide vocational education pathway for young people with mild intellectual disabilities, co-developed with educational institutions, care organizations, and employers, targeting a diploma, certificate, or practical certification with the goal of sustainable employment.
• Toegankelijke Festivals (Accessible Festivals) A program supporting festival organizers in making events accessible for people with disabilities, providing accessibility consulting, volunteer coordination, and infrastructure support such as low-stimulus rooms, accessible toilets, and nursing assistance.
• Erik Scherder Huizen Residential social-rehabilitation houses for young people aged 16-35 with acquired brain injury, providing a year-long program combining study, sports, and social recovery to regain perspective on life, work, and social connections.
• Klein Geluk A micro-grant funding program for small-scale and local initiatives (such as day trips and accessible facilities) targeting people with intellectual and/or multiple disabilities, co-funded with Stichting SFO.
• Sitdown Café An inclusive festival café concept where people with and without disabilities can socialize at eye level, staffed by people with disabilities and featuring music interpretation in sign language and Braille menus.
• Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen A program for people with spinal cord injury, amputation, brain injury, or chronic illness to regain their place in daily life, supporting them with finding work, vacation planning, health advice, and social connections. Co-developed with Rehab Academy, Dwarslaesie Organisatie Nederland, Instituut voor Publieke Waarde, and supported by the Ministry of VWS.
• Revalideren is Leren A project focused on learning during and after rehabilitation, helping people with disabilities develop skills and independence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 340+ students completed VGN Academie branch training programs with recognized certificates
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

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

• SAIL Amsterdam / SAIL FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2025HandicapNL partnered with SAIL Amsterdam for the 2025 SAIL event, deploying the Sitdown Café at a prominent location near the A'DAM Toren. The SAIL organization is committed to accessibility as a core value, with Director Mitra van Raalten publicly endorsing inclusive events.
• Buutvrij for LifemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Buutvrij for Life is the advertising agency that co-developed the Sitdown Café concept with HandicapNL for the Amsterdam Open Air festival. The agency contributed creative concept and production for the initiative.
• MBO Raad (MBO Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MBO Raad, the representative body for MBO institutions in the Netherlands, is a key partner in the MBO op Maat program, helping to link the new learning routes to existing MBO schools nationwide.
• VGN (Vereniging Gehandicaptenzorg Nederland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGN is a key partner in MBO op Maat, representing care organizations that provide practical training programs (branch-opleidingen) for young people with intellectual disabilities.
• Ieder(in)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIeder(in) is the umbrella organization for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses in the Netherlands and is a partner in developing the MBO op Maat program, ensuring the voice of people with lived experience is embedded in program design.
• Green EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Events is the co-founder of the Toegankelijke Festivals program alongside HandicapNL. Together they lead a coalition of 17 leading Dutch outdoor music festivals in shared advocacy, knowledge sharing, and practical accessibility implementation.
• Rehab AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehab Academy co-developed the Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen program with HandicapNL and other partners, contributing expertise in rehabilitation and independent living support.
• Instituut voor Publieke WaardeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstituut voor Publieke Waarde is a partner in the Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen program, contributing to the program's design and public value focus.
• Dwarslaesie Organisatie NederlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDwarslaesie Organisatie Nederland (Dutch Spinal Cord Injury Organization) co-developed the Sneller Onbeperkt Meedoen program, representing the lived experience of people with spinal cord injuries.
• Prof. Erik ScherdermajorOthersNeuropsychologist Prof. Erik Scherder is the namesake and clinical advisor for the Erik Scherder Huizen — residential rehabilitation programs for young people with acquired brain injury. He provides ongoing guidance on the program's approach to social rehabilitation.
• Fonds SPZ (Stichting Sociaal Pedagogische Zorg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFonds SPZ co-sponsors the biennial Pier de Boer Prize with HandicapNL, awarding organizations that provide exemplary support to people with intellectual disabilities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ieder(in): National Dutch umbrella network of ~250 member organizations for people with chronic illness and disabilities. Directly comparable in advocacy mandate, lived-experience orientation, and systemic-policy focus, though narrower on direct program delivery than HandicapNL.
• Bosk: Dutch association for people with physical disabilities and their families. Comparable in national advocacy for inclusion and quality of life, with overlap in the physical-disability and acquired-disability populations HandicapNL serves.
• Per Saldo: National Dutch association of personal-budget (PGB) holders with disabilities. Comparable advocacy and member-led mission in the Netherlands, focused on empowerment and self-direction rather than direct service delivery.
• MEE & de Wering: Regional Dutch organization providing information, advice, and client support to people with disabilities and their families. Closely matches HandicapNL's client-navigation and independent-living remit across a comparable Dutch geography.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Philadelphia: Large Dutch care provider for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering residential, day-activity, and supported-employment services nationwide. Comparable constituency but a direct service provider rather than a grant-making and advocacy foundation.
• Cordaan: Large Amsterdam-region care organization for elderly and people with disabilities, including rehabilitation and supported housing. Comparable in residential and community rehabilitation activities (overlapping with Erik Scherder Huizen), with broader elderly-care scope.
• 's Heeren Loo: Major Dutch care organization supporting people with intellectual and other disabilities across housing, work, and day services. Comparable national reach and intellectual-disability focus, but operates as a care provider rather than foundation.

Regional players

• Easterseals: US national disability services network delivering employment, housing, and community programs alongside advocacy. Comparable life-domain coverage and workforce-inclusion focus, but anchored in a different regulatory and funding environment.
• Scope UK: Leading UK disability charity running campaigns, services, and employment programs for disabled people. Comparable breadth across work, housing, and leisure, plus systemic advocacy — but operates in the UK rather than the Netherlands.

Emerging players

• Drempelvrij.nl: Dutch digital accessibility platform reviewing and rating the accessibility of venues and events. Partial overlap with the Toegankelijke Festivals mission around accessibility information, but focused on consumer reviews rather than program delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HandicapNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/handicapnl
• Instagraminstagram.com/handicap_nl
• Xx.com/HandicapNL

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting HandicapNL