Alcander

What Alcander does

Alcander (legal entity: Stichting Welzijn Heerlen) is a non-profit welfare foundation operating in Heerlen, Netherlands, and part of the Welzijnsgroep Parkstad Limburg group. Founded as an ANBI-designated public benefit institution effective January 1, 2015 (RSIN 818844486), the organization delivers social work, advice, guidance, and supportive activities for all residents of the municipality of Heerlen, with the stated mission of strengthening self-reliance and societal participation. Services are distributed through neighborhood and district locations, a headquarters at Kruisstraat 103 (6411 BS Heerlen) for appointment-based clients, and ambulant outreach work. Headcount sits at 51-100 employees, supplemented by a volunteer base that outnumbers paid staff approximately three-to-one at the parent-group level.

The organization's core product portfolio comprises six interconnected programs: Maatjes (a volunteer-buddy matching program with nine specializations including financial, social, youth, digital, moving, vocational, coaching, integration, and wellbeing check-ins); JENS (a cooperative delivering preventive and ambulatory youth care across Heerlen, Landgraaf, and Voerendaal since January 1, 2019); Heel Heerlen Beweegt (a community movement and sports initiative); Ooievaarsmoeder (volunteer-mother support for young parents through pregnancy and the first two years); Schoolmaatschappelijk Werk (school-based social work linking students, parents, and teachers to care providers); and MatchMate Parkstad (youth talent discovery during Maatschappelijk Diensttijd Traject). Technology infrastructure is minimal — limited primarily to the Verwijsindex Parkstad (VIP) referral index for youth services under the Dutch Youth Act — with service delivery dominated by face-to-face professional and volunteer engagement.

The business model is publicly funded rather than commercial. Revenue derives from managed-service contracts with the gemeente Heerlen (and, via JENS, Landgraaf and Voerendaal) under Dutch social welfare legislation, supplemented by ANBI-eligible donations and grants such as DUS-I funding for MatchMate. There are no commercial pricing tiers; services are delivered free of charge to residents. Governance is exercised through a Directeur-Bestuurder (Ankie Pihler), a five-member Raad van Toezicht chaired by B. Brouwer, a Klantenraad (client council), and a Vrijwilligersplatform (volunteer platform). Quality assurance is anchored by the Kwaliteitslabel Sterk Sociaal Werk, the Governancecode voor Welzijn en Maatschappelijke dienstverlening (implemented 2008), and AVG/GDPR compliance.

Name

Alcander

Legal name

Stichting Welzijn Heerlen

Website

https://alcander.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Alcander is a non-profit welfare foundation in Heerlen, Netherlands, delivering social work, advice, mentoring (Maatjes), youth care (JENS), and community programs to all residents of the municipality, funded by municipal contracts and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Youth care assistance
• Community mentoring programs
• Neighborhood welfare support
• Volunteer matching programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Heerlen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal/Government Contracts: Alcander receives funding from municipalities (gemeenten) as a welfare services provider, serving the municipality of Heerlen. Services are delivered under contract with public commissioners (opdrachtgevers).
2. Donations and Gifts: As an ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling), Alcander receives tax-deductible donations from donors. Donations are fully used for the benefit of citizens of Heerlen.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Alcander is a non-profit welfare organization (Stichting Welzijn Heerlen) that delivers social support services to residents of Heerlen, Netherlands. It offers youth care through JENS, one-on-one community mentoring through the Maatjes program, community movement initiatives via Heel Heerlen Beweegt, and targeted support programs such as Ooievaarsmoeder for young parents and Schoolmaatschappelijk Werk for school-based social work.

Product overview

Alcander is a broad welfare organization in Heerlen that provides social services focused on self-reliance and community participation. The organization operates through multiple interconnected programs: Maatjes (mentor/buddy programs) offers various specialized support types including financial, social, digital, and coaching assistance; JENS provides preventive and ambulatory youth care services; Heel Heerlen Beweegt promotes community movement and sports participation; Ooievaarsmoeder supports young mothers; and MatchMate Parkstad enables youth talent discovery through societal service. These services are delivered through neighborhood locations, outreach work, and community centers, supported by both professionals and volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JENS: Organization providing preventive and ambulatory youth assistance in Heerlen, Landgraaf and Voerendaal municipalities, focusing on children and youth development.
• Heel Heerlen Beweegt
• Impuls
• CMWW

Products and services

• Maatjes

Quantifiable outcome

• Three times as many volunteers as professionals work at Welzijnsgroep, demonstrating significant community engagement and service delivery capacity

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 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.

• Welzijnsgroep Parkstad LimburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelzijnsgroep Parkstad Limburg is the parent organization of Alcander. Alcander operates as part of this welfare group, with shared management, governance, and organizational resources. The group includes multiple welfare organizations including Alcander, Impuls, CMWW, and Grib.
• JENS (Coöperatie JENS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJENS is a cooperative that provides preventive and ambulatory youth assistance in Heerlen, Landgraaf, and Voerendaal municipalities. Alcander is part of this cooperative. JENS focuses on children and youth aged 0-23, organizing activities in neighborhoods and providing support and treatment when more is needed.
• MatchMate ParkstadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatchMate Parkstad supports young people aged 12-30 during Social Service Trajects (MDT). Originally MatchMate Zuid, the project now continues under Welzijnsgroep with funding from DUS-I (Dienst Uitvoering Subsidies aan Instellingen).
• Internationale Vrouwendag LimburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWelzijnsgroep Parkstad Limburg serves as a proud partner in organizing Internationale Vrouwendag (International Women's Day) events in South Limburg, supporting gender equality awareness and women's empowerment initiatives.
• Nieuwe HeldenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn organization that supports young people in creating their own performances. Partner in MatchMate Parkstad for cultural projects helping youth develop creative skills.
• Schuldhulpmaatje ParkstadminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal organization for financial help requests. Alcander's Maatjes program refers clients with financial questions to this specialized partner.
• Sociaal Maatje HeerlenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal organization for social support requests. Alcander's Maatjes program refers clients with social help questions to this specialized partner.
• Provinciale Klachtencommissie LimburgminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal complaints committee for Limburg province. Alcander refers to this committee when internal complaint resolution fails, as an independent escalation path for clients.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lister: Lister provides social support, sheltered housing, and welfare guidance to vulnerable adults across Northern Netherlands (Groningen, Drenthe). Comparable to Alcander's Sociaal Maatje and adult welfare mandate with regional Dutch funding.
• Versa Welzijn: Versa is a broad welfare organization in the Utrecht region delivering social work, youth services, and community programs to residents. Closely mirrors Alcander's "brede welzijnsorganisatie" structure with multi-program delivery and municipal contracts.
• Pameijer: Pameijer is a Rotterdam-based Dutch welfare and social services organization supporting adults and families with complex social support needs, including day activities, supported housing referrals, and community participation. Directly comparable to Alcander as a broad Dutch welfare provider with municipal funding and mixed professional/volunteer delivery.
• Kwintes: Kwintes delivers mental health and welfare support, supported housing, and community participation services across multiple Dutch regions. Comparable to Alcander in the mix of municipal contracting, guidance services, and regional social welfare delivery.
• Stichting Jeugdformaat: Jeugdformaat is a Dutch youth welfare organization providing preventive youth support, family coaching, and ambulatory youth care under the Jeugdwet. Directly comparable to Alcander's JENS youth services arm and overall preventive youth mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia Zorg: Philadelphia is a large Dutch care provider serving people with intellectual disabilities across housing, day activities, and welfare support. Operates at significantly larger scale than Alcander but overlaps on community-based welfare services for vulnerable populations.
• MEE NL: MEE is a national Dutch network of welfare organizations supporting people with disabilities and chronic conditions across all regions. Comparable in welfare-mandate and municipality-funded delivery, though more specialized than Alcander's full generalist scope.

Others

• Movisie: Movisie is the Dutch knowledge institute for the social domain, providing research and best-practice support to welfare organizations like Alcander. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• Sociaal Werk Nederland: The Dutch trade association for welfare organizations and the body that issues the Kwaliteitslabel Sterk Sociaal Werk that Alcander holds. Industry association rather than service peer, but a key ecosystem reference.

Regional players

• Stichting De Wering: De Wering provides youth and family welfare services in North Holland, similar in scope and Jeugdwet-aligned delivery to Alcander's JENS. Regional peer serving a different Dutch province with comparable welfare programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AlcanderHeerlen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alcander-welzijnsorganisatie-heerlen

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Alcander