deMens.nu

What deMens.nu does

deMens.nu is the umbrella organization (koepel) of freethinking (vrijzinnig) humanist associations in Flanders and Brussels, Belgium, operating under the legal entity UVV/deMens.nu vzw and founded in 1966. It provides freethinking humanist services (vrijzinnig humanistische dienstverlening) to the general public, including free ceremonies for births, relationships, and funerals; confidential conversations about life questions and end-of-life planning; moral support in institutional settings (hospitals, care homes, prisons, military, airports, universities); non-confessional ethics education for youth; and community activities. Service delivery is conducted through a network of physical huisvandeMens (Houses of the Humanist) locations and 26+ vrijzinnige ontmoetingscentra (secular meeting centers) staffed by professionally trained vrijzinnig humanistisch consulenten, with the organization officially recognized and government-funded as a recognized philosophical community under Belgian law.

The organization's product portfolio also includes media offerings: the quarterly "De Mens" magazine covering freethinking humanist topics, the "De inzichten" television and podcast program co-developed with public broadcaster VRT (presented by Nic Balthazar), and structured methodologies such as "Sokken van de Olifant" for child grief support. deMens.nu coordinates 39 member associations (lidverenigingen) including Humanistisch Verbond, Hujo, Willemsfonds, Vermeylenfonds, and CGSO, spanning youth work, adult education, socio-cultural work, and education sectors. Distribution is community-led, reaching audiences through local physical locations, traditional media (VRT television), print (De Mens magazine), digital platforms (website, social media across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube), and a regular email newsletter.

The business model is government-funded: as a recognized non-confessional philosophical community provider, deMens.nu receives Flemish/Brussels government subsidies (referenced explicitly in its privacy statement), supplemented by membership dues from the 39 member associations and individual supporter subscriptions. All core services are provided free of charge (kosteloos) to end users; paid positions follow government salary scales. There is no commercial revenue, no venture or private-equity funding, no parent company, and no disclosed pricing model. The organization is GDPR-compliant (AVG) and headquartered at Auguste Reyerslaan 70, 1030 Schaarbeek (Brussels).

Name

deMens.nu

Legal name

UVV/deMens.nu vzw

Website

https://demens.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

deMens.nu (UVV/deMens.nu vzw) is the Belgian government-recognized umbrella organization coordinating 39 freethinking humanist associations in Flanders and Brussels, providing free non-religious ceremonies, confidential counseling, end-of-life support, and youth education through physical huisvandeMens locations, 26+ meeting centers, and institutional service delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanist Counseling and Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Humanist counseling services
• Secular ceremony services
• Non-confessional ethics education
• Freethinker community support
• End-of-life moral support

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaerbeek

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: As the officially recognized umbrella organization for vrijzinnig humanistische verenigingen (freethinking humanist associations) in Flanders and Brussels, deMens.nu receives government funding and subsidies to provide secular humanist services. The privacy statement mentions 'het bekomen van subsidiëring door de overheid' (obtaining government subsidies).
2. Membership Fees: The organization operates through a network of 39 member associations that pay membership dues. Individual supporters can also subscribe to the 'De Mens' magazine and newsletter.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

deMens.nu is the umbrella organization for freethinking humanist associations in Flanders and Brussels, providing secular life-cycle ceremonies (birth, relationship, funeral), existential conversations and counseling, community activities, and educational materials for non-confessional ethics classes, delivered through a network of physical 'huizenvandeMens' locations and vrijzinnige ontmoetingscentra. Services are offered free of charge to individuals and families identifying with a non-religious humanist worldview, complemented by publications and a broadcast program.

Product overview

deMens.nu is the umbrella organization of freethinking humanistic associations in Flanders and Brussels. Its product portfolio centers on the huisvandeMens locations—a network of physical centers providing free ceremonies (birth celebrations, relationship ceremonies, farewell/commemorations), confidential conversations with humanistic consultants, and end-of-life discussions. Supporting these core services are publications including the quarterly de Mens Magazine, the De inzichten TV/podcast program featuring in-depth conversations with inspiring guests, and educational materials like Fakkeltjes for primary school students and Prik for secondary school. The Sokken van de Olifant methodology helps children cope with grief. deMens.nu coordinates a network of 39 member associations (lidverenigingen), multiple vrijzinnige ontmoetingscentra across regions, and job listings for freethinking humanistic consultants. All services are provided free of charge from a freethinking humanistic worldview.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• huisvandeMens: Physical locations where people can access vrijzinnig humanist services including ceremonies, conversations, and community activities
• De inzichten
• de Mens Magazine
• De inzichten

Products and services

• Plechtigheden (Secular Ceremonies)
• Gesprekken (Existential Conversations)
• De Mens Magazine
• De inzichten (TV and Podcast Program)
• HuisvandeMens (House of the Humanist)
• Sokken van de Olifant (Elephant Socks Methodology)
• Fakkeltjes (Primary School Magazine)
• Prik (Secondary School Digital Publication)
• Lidverenigingen (Member Associations)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VRT (Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVRT and deMens.nu co-developed 'De inzichten' (The Insights), a television series of deep conversations with inspiring guests about life perspectives. The program serves as a secular humanist alternative to religious broadcasts and is aired on VRT 1 and available on VRT MAX. Nic Balthazar serves as presenter.
• Humanistisch VerbondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Humanistisch Verbond (Humanist Association) is a key member organization of deMens.nu, organizing debates, training, and cultural activities. They work on three content axes: zingeving (meaning), informatie (information), and onderwijs (education). They also support lentefeesten and youth celebrations.
• Hujo (Humanistische Jongeren)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHujo is the youth organization within the deMens.nu network, serving free-thinking youth from 6 to 30 years old since 1958. They organize activities including spring festivals (lentefeesten), discussion evenings, science camps, art exhibitions, and training programs.
• LEIF (LevensEinde InformatieForum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEIF is a partner organization for end-of-life information and support, collaborating on events such as the 'Doodgraag' theater production about dignified dying and end-of-life planning.
• VermeylenfondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugust Vermeylenfonds develops socio-cultural practices for a solidary society where freedom and equality are central. As vrijzinnig-humanists, they embrace diversity and pluralism and want to connect citizens, with focus on social impact of language.
• WillemsfondscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWillemsfonds continues the work of Jan Frans Willems and pursues broad human development from a Flemish, freethinking, and liberal identity. Organizes cultural activities, film screenings, and commemorations.
• Gemeentebesturen (Local Municipalities)minorOthersLocal municipalities provide venue support and collaboration for events such as 'Doodgraag' theater performances (e.g., Stad Halle, CC 't Vondel).
• 39 Member AssociationscoreOthersdeMens.nu serves as the umbrella (koepel) for 39 member associations including Humanistisch Verbond, Hujo, Willemsfonds, Vermeylenfonds, CGSO, and others operating in youth work, adult education, socio-cultural work, and education sectors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiUqR5sy7AV3-gbQ5UQhfkA
• Facebookfacebook.com/deMens.nu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/demens-nu
• Instagraminstagram.com/demens.nu
• TikToktiktok.com/@demens.nu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 deMens.nu