Stichting Rechten van de Natuur

What Stichting Rechten van de Natuur does

Stichting Rechten van de Natuur is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (stichting) with ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, registered in Muiden and operating from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 2024 by jurist and director Jessica den Outer together with Jan van de Venis (head of legal affairs), and supported by Princess Irene van Lippe-Biesterfeld as patron, the foundation is the first Dutch organization dedicated specifically to promoting the legal recognition of Rights of Nature. Its mission is to translate the international Rights of Nature movement into Dutch law and policy by giving ecosystems, species, and future generations representation in decision-making, shifting from decisions 'about' nature to decisions 'with' nature.

The foundation's product surface is knowledge- and advocacy-based rather than technology-based. Core offerings include practical 'Wegwijzer' guides for citizens and municipalities, the 'Juridische Routes naar Rechten van de Natuur' framework presenting 16 legal pathways to Rights of Nature, the symbolic 'Groene Stoel' (Green Chair) campaign tool, and two published books by Jessica den Outer. It coordinates a portfolio of local initiatives including Maas in de Wet (river rights), Hoeders van de Veluwe (guardians for the Veluwe), Rechten van de Bij (pollinator rights via Bee Foundation), Stem van het Bos (forest rights in Rosmalen), and Rechten van de Utrechtse Natuur, which produced the first Dutch municipal recognition of nature's rights in January 2026.

The foundation operates as a donation-funded nonprofit with no commercial revenue streams. It accepts one-time, monthly, and annual donations from individuals at suggested amounts of €5, €10, €20, €50, or custom; ANBI status provides tax deductibility for Dutch donors. Its go-to-market is community-led, combining grassroots organizing through the 'Koplopers' network, an annual Dag van de Rechten van de Natuur event, lectures and webinars, monthly newsletter, and a social media and earned-media presence managed by a core team of approximately seven staff spanning founder, legal, business leadership, communications, office management, technology, and social media roles.

Name

Stichting Rechten van de Natuur

Legal name

Stichting Rechten van de Natuur

Website

https://rechtenvandenatuur.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting Rechten van de Natuur is a Dutch nonprofit foundation, founded in 2024, that advocates for the legal recognition of Rights of Nature in the Netherlands through practical guides, legal frameworks, and local ecosystem initiatives, funded by individual donations under ANBI status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ)

Keywords

• Rights of nature
• Environmental advocacy
• Nonprofit foundation
• Nature conservation
• Legal frameworks

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Gifts: The foundation relies entirely on donations from individuals. Donors can give one-time, monthly, or annual donations at suggested amounts of €5, €10, €20, €50, or custom amounts. As an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling), donations may be tax-deductible for Dutch taxpayers. Periodic gifts of minimum five years qualify for maximum tax benefit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stichting Rechten van de Natuur is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that advocates for the legal recognition of nature's rights in Dutch law and governance. It produces educational guides for citizens and municipalities, publishes books and legal-route resources, and supports grassroots initiatives that translate Rights of Nature concepts into local practice. Its work is funded through donations under the ANBI public benefit framework.

Product overview

Stichting Rechten van de Natuur operates as an advocacy and knowledge organization rather than a traditional product company. Its core offering consists of educational frameworks, practical guides (Wegwijzers), symbolic tools (De Groene Stoel), and published literature that support the Rights of Nature movement in the Netherlands. The organization facilitates multiple local and regional initiatives (such as Rechten van de Utrechtse Natuur, Hoeders van de Veluwe, Maas in de Wet, and Stem van het Bos) that apply Rights of Nature principles to specific ecosystems and communities. These initiatives are supported by practical resources including the 16-route legal framework for implementing Rights of Nature, guides for municipalities and citizens, and a network of partners and experts. The offering is unified by its mission to integrate nature's voice into legal and policy decision-making, rather than a software platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• De Groene Stoel: A symbolic empty green chair representing the absent voice of nature in decision-making processes. Launched as a campaign symbol to mark the missing perspective of nature at decision-making tables.
• De Groene Stoel

Products and services

• Wegwijzer Burgers (Guide for Citizens) A practical guide for Dutch citizens that explains how to advocate for and apply Rights of Nature in local communities, including how to engage with municipalities and participate in grassroots initiatives.
• Wegwijzer Gemeenten (Guide for Municipalities) A practical guide for Dutch municipalities that provides advice and tools to integrate Rights of Nature into local policy, governance, and decision-making.
• De Groene Stoel (The Green Chair) A symbolic campaign asset used by the foundation to represent the seat for nature in decision-making and supporting advocacy activities.
• Juridische Routes naar Rechten van de Natuur A legal resource detailing the legal pathways available to recognize and apply Rights of Nature within the Dutch legal system, intended for policymakers, legal professionals, and municipalities.
• The Forest Fights Back (book) A published book associated with the foundation's work that advances awareness and understanding of Rights of Nature for general readers and supporters.
• Rechten voor de Natuur (book) A published book in the foundation's catalog that supports the broader movement by educating readers about Rights of Nature.
• Nature goes to court (video) An educational video produced by the foundation to illustrate the concept of nature having legal standing and going to court, used to inform and engage the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• First municipality recognition: Utrecht passed motion 25-20 in January 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gemeente Utrecht (Municipality of Utrecht)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Utrecht is the first Dutch municipality to adopt a motion recognizing Rights of Utrecht Nature through a coalition initiative. The proposal, passed 25-20 in January 2026, requests recognition of nature's own interests and exploration of a guardian/representation model for nature in municipal decision-making.
• Bee FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Bee Foundation and Stichting Rechten van de Natuur jointly call on citizens to use their speaking rights at municipal councils for the interests of bees. Bee Foundation represents the voice of all bees as the 'buzzing heart of nature', responsible for nearly 90% of all pollination on Earth.
• Maas CleanupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Joint initiative 'Maas in de Wet' advocating for the Maas River to be recognized as a legal entity with rights. Jessica den Outer and Maas Cleanup co-initiated the petition that gathered 10,000+ signatures and was submitted to Dutch Parliament in March 2022.
• Hoeders van de VeluwecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoeders van de Veluwe is an initiative that gives voice to species, ecosystems, and future generations of the Veluwe. They work with Stichting Rechten van de Natuur on webinars and the Wegwijzer Gemeenten for Veluwe municipalities and Province Gelderland.
• Stem van het BoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStem van het Bos is a citizen initiative in Rosmalen working to protect Sparrenburgbos. The initiative aims to remove the area from commercial hands and give the forest legal standing. Partner in the Rights of Nature network.
• Vogelbescherming Nederland (BirdLife Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVogelbescherming submitted a formal response (zienswijze) on the Draft Nota Ruimte in late 2025, including a letter written on behalf of the 'Enige Westerschelde' (Only Westerschelde). They advocate for Rights of Nature for the Westerschelde estuary.
• Saskia Laseur (Van Doorne)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLawyer Saskia Laseur from Van Doorne spoke at the Dag van de Rechten van de Natuur, demonstrating how Dutch Civil Code provides entry points for Rights of Nature, comparing to the Amazon in Colombia.
• Improsa TheaterminorOthersTheater group that performed at the Dag van de Rechten van de Natuur, using stories from speakers to create interactive and humorous performances for attendees.
• The TerraceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign agency that co-developed the concept of the 'Groene Stoel' (Green Chair), a living symbol of the Rights of Nature movement. The chair represents nature's missing place at decision-making tables.
• Brabants LandschapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature management organization that Stem van het Bos aims to work with to transfer Sparrenburgbos for long-term nature conservation and development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Earth Law Center: US-based nonprofit that works globally to establish legal rights for nature through training, litigation, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable mission, legal-framework approach, and movement-building GTM.
• Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF): Organization that has pioneered Rights of Nature municipal ordinances across the United States and exported the model internationally. Closest functional peer in establishing foundational legal scaffolding for nature's rights.
• Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN): International network that convened the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth and supports national affiliates. Comparable as the global umbrella that Stichting Rechten van de Natuur connects into.

Others

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation framework-setter whose Commission on Environmental Law has explored Rights of Nature in international law. Adjacent institution that sets the standards the foundation references, rather than a direct advocate.

Broad incumbents

• Natuurmonumenten: Netherlands' largest nature conservation organization, managing nature reserves and advocating for biodiversity. Comparable Dutch environmental advocacy footprint but focused on land/area stewardship rather than legal-rights frameworks.
• Greenpeace Netherlands: Large Dutch environmental advocacy organization pursuing nature protection through protest and policy campaigns. Comparable national advocacy footprint but with vastly larger donor base and broader environmental agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-rechten-voor-de-natuur

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stichting Rechten van de Natuur