VaarKracht

What VaarKracht does

Stichting VaarKracht is a Dutch ANBI-registered charitable foundation (ANBI = Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling, a tax-privileged public-benefit entity) founded in September 2012 by Lieke Idsinga and Robert Rust, with Idsinga having co-founded the organization following her own breast cancer diagnosis. The foundation provides free sailing experiences for cancer patients and their loved ones across the Netherlands, serving beneficiaries regardless of ability to pay. Since founding, it has hosted more than 14,000 guests across over 4,000 sailing trips, with current throughput of approximately 1,500 guests per year.

The foundation delivers its services through three programs. PrivéVaartochten consist of private trips hosted on vessels owned by volunteer skippers. GroepsVaartochten are group excursions organized in coordination with regional watersport clubs. The WaterHuis is a custom floating venue constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that functions both as a stationary meeting space and as a navigable vessel for excursions on the IJsselmeer and Markermeer. Operations are supported by approximately 300 volunteer skippers and roughly 100 additional volunteers organized into regional HavenTeams, with a single paid staff member (Director Robert Rust) overseeing the organization.

Funding is sourced entirely from individual donations, corporate sponsorships structured at Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers, and grants from foundations and service organizations including Lions Clubs, Rotary, and Oranjefonds. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries. Geographic expansion in 2025 extended WaterHuis deployment to Huizen, Muiden, Amersfoort, and Rotterdam, and 2026 partnerships with Erasmus MC Patio and Adamas Centrum indicate further healthcare-channel integration.

Name

VaarKracht

Legal name

Stichting VaarKracht

Website

https://vaarkracht.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting VaarKracht is a Dutch ANBI-registered charitable foundation that provides free sailing trips for cancer patients and their families across the Netherlands, supported by approximately 300 volunteer skippers and 100 volunteers and funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and service-club grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Cancer Patient Support Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty-Themed Private Cruises (Wellness, Diving, Culinary, etc.) (THAEAEAG), Cruise Yacht Charters (Private Crewed) (THAEADAG)

Keywords

• Free sailing trips
• Cancer patient support
• Charitable sailing services
• Recreational respite programs
• Patient wellness experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Huizen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters who contribute financially to enable free sailing trips for cancer patients. VaarKracht has ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, making donations tax-deductible in the Netherlands.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) to fund sailing trips and operations. Sponsors include companies, funds, and service clubs.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations and service organizations (Lions, Rotary) that organize events and raise money for VaarKracht.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VaarKracht is a Dutch charitable foundation (Stichting) that organizes free sailing trips for cancer patients and their loved ones across the Netherlands, including private trips (PrivéVaartochten), group excursions (GroepsVaartochten), and the WaterHuis—a purpose-built wheelchair-accessible floating venue used at marinas and healthcare facilities. Services are delivered at no cost to guests by approximately 300 volunteer skippers and 100 volunteers coordinated through regional HavenTeams, funded entirely by donations, sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Product overview

VaarKracht operates as a unified charitable service offering rather than a modular software platform. The organization provides a portfolio of three interconnected sailing experiences: PrivéVaartochten (private trips for small groups on volunteer-owned vessels), GroepsVaartochten (coordinated group excursions involving multiple boats and partner organizations), and the WaterHuis (a floating venue that functions both as a stationary harbor meeting space and a sailing vessel for up to 10 guests). All trips are organized through HavenTeams, regional volunteer networks that coordinate logistics at the local level. The organization has facilitated over 14,000 guest participations since 2012, with approximately 300 volunteer skippers and around 100 active volunteers supporting an annual throughput of 1,500+ guests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PrivéVaartochten (Private Sailing Trips) Intimate sailing experiences for small groups (up to 4 guests plus the patient) aboard privately owned vessels captained by volunteer skippers, offered free of charge to cancer patients and their loved ones as a personal and restorative day on the water.
• GroepsVaartochten (Group Sailing Trips) Larger group excursions organized in collaboration with watersport clubs, service organizations, and patient associations, with multiple vessels participating and VaarKracht volunteers coordinating logistics, catering, and guest reception at various harbors throughout the Netherlands.
• WaterHuis (Floating Venue) A specially designed floating venue that serves as both a stationary meeting space at marinas and a navigable vessel; in 2025 it was positioned in Huizen, Muiden, Amersfoort, and Rotterdam. Healthcare institutions use it for patient gatherings, and it also sails with up to 10 guests aboard in a wheelchair-accessible design.
• HavenTeams (Regional Volunteer Networks) Regional teams of volunteers and skippers organized at the local level who coordinate sailing trips in their area; each HavenTeam works with local harbor masters, manages guest reception, and arranges catering for day excursions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14,000 cancer patients and family members have enjoyed free sailing experiences since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Patio (Erasmus MC oncologie patiëntinformatiecentrum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatio is a patient information center for oncology at Erasmus MC. They have used the WaterHuis floating venue for three years to welcome cancer patients and their families, offering relaxation and workshops in a unique waterfront setting.
• Adamas CentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdamas Centrum is a cancer support center that organizes sailing trips for their patients through VaarKracht. They have booked multiple trips for 2026.
• LeMKa (Stichting LeMKa - even met kanker)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeMKa is a foundation for people living with cancer in Kampen. They organized a sailing trip on the Vechtzomp for their members.
• Jachthaven NaardencoreOthersThe marina provides berthing for the WaterHuis and serves as a starting point for many sailing trips. They facilitate VaarKracht operations.
• Lions Club Gooise MerencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLions Club Gooise Meren partners with VaarKracht to organize sailing events and raise funds. They organized a sailing day with 30 guests and 8 boats.
• Botterstichting (Botter Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Botterstichting owns traditional Dutch botters and provided five botters for a special sailing day for VaarKracht guests at Elburg.
• WSV Biesbosch (Watersportvereniging Biesbosch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater sports club that partnered with Poppy's cancer center to host a sailing trip through the Biesbosch nature reserve.
• Watersportvereniging Achter 't VeercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater sports club in Geldermalsen that organized a group sailing trip on the Linge river with about 30 guests.
• VADA WageningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater sports association in Wageningen that regularly hosts VaarKracht sailing events with enthusiastic captains providing their boats.
• Koninklijke Watersportvereeniging LoosdrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive members-only club opened its facilities for cancer patients to enjoy electric sloep sailing trips on the Loosdrechtse Plassen.
• Reederij Oosterschelde (Helena ship operator)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperator of the historic 150-year-old sailing cargo ship Helena, which provides sailing experiences for VaarKracht guests on the Maas river.
• Waterlabel Project PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurants and cafes participating in the Waterlabel Project that donate proceeds to VaarKracht while offering 'free water' to customers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sail 4 Cancer (UK): UK sailing charity organizing events and experiences to benefit cancer patients and their families. Closely comparable peer: sailing-themed charity exclusively focused on supporting cancer communities through on-water experiences.
• First Descents: US nonprofit providing outdoor adventure experiences (including kayaking, surfing, and rafting) for young adults impacted by cancer. Same charitable model of using recreation as psychosocial support for cancer communities.
• Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust: UK-based charity using sailing and water experiences to rebuild confidence in young people recovering from cancer. Most direct functional peer: offers free sailing excursions to cancer patients/survivors with the same mission model.

Others

• Stichting KiKa: Dutch foundation funding childhood cancer research and family support. Shares ANBI nonprofit structure, donor-supported model, and focus on Dutch cancer patients with VaarKracht.
• Make-A-Wish Netherlands: Dutch affiliate of the global Make-A-Wish wish-granting charity for children with life-threatening illnesses. Comparable ANBI-registered nonprofit structure delivering meaningful experiences to seriously ill patients and their families.
• Sailability: International organization enabling sailing for people with disabilities through adapted equipment and volunteer support. Comparable volunteer-and-fleet mechanism, though with a broader disability focus rather than a single disease segment.
• KWF Kankerbestrijding: The Dutch Cancer Society, an ANBI-registered national charity funding cancer research, prevention, and patient support. Not a direct service peer but a natural comparator on scale, governance, and the Dutch donor-supported cancer ecosystem.
• Stichting Opkikker: Dutch foundation delivering memorable experiences and outings for families with a seriously ill child. Comparable in operating model, ANBI status, and reliance on volunteers/donations to deliver respite experiences in the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vaarkracht
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwPcGqR5LhcgngYxC-QOVZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/VaarKracht
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vaarkracht
• Instagraminstagram.com/vaarkracht

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 VaarKracht