What Buurts does

Buurts Coöperatie U.A. is a Dutch social welfare cooperative (non-profit) headquartered in Haarlem, Netherlands, formed on January 1, 2023 through the merger of six predecessor welfare organizations: DOCK Haarlem, Haarlem Effect, perMens, Stichting Ontmoeting, Zorgbalans, and Leger des Heils. The organization provides neighborhood-based social support services to the residents of Haarlem and adjacent municipalities (Bennebroek, Zandvoort, Cruquius, Heemstede) through 12 wijkteams (neighborhood teams) and more than 25 physical locations, including Huizen van de Wijk (community centers), youth centers (Flinty's, Delftwijk City, STOKED), playgrounds, and Waardevol Werk employment sites.

The service portfolio covers financial guidance and debt counseling, mental health support, housing assistance, youth work (ages 10–27), elderly and dementia support, parenting programs, and community engagement activities. Supporting offerings include the Buurtplaats low-threshold advice points, Speelgroepen and Spel aan Huis play programs, Stamtafel communal dining, the Zoefzoef volunteer transport service, the Haarlem Ontmoet activities platform, and the Buurts Webshop social-enterprise channel. Underlying service delivery is human-led and physical; the organization explicitly does not operate a technology platform, with no app, proprietary AI, API, or SDK disclosed. Three strategic focus areas have been defined jointly with the municipality: money worries and making ends meet, dementia-friendly city, and mental health of young people.

Buurts is primarily funded through managed-service commissioning from the Municipality of Haarlem under the Wmo (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning), with the municipality's Sociaal Wijkteams integrated into the organization since 2015. Most resident-facing services are free or low-cost (subsidized via HaarlemPas), with ancillary unit-priced fees on community services (e.g., Stamtafel €5/meal, Speelgroepen €1.50/session, Zoefzoef €2/ride, Spel aan Huis €7.50–€15.00). The cooperative is governed by a two-person board (Jeannette Vader, Godfried Lambriex) and a General Members' Assembly representing five member/affiliated organizations, with no venture capital or external equity holders.

Name

Buurts

Legal name

Buurts Coöperatie U.A.

Website

https://buurts.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Buurts Coöperatie U.A. is a Dutch non-profit social welfare cooperative delivering neighborhood-based support (financial guidance, youth work, elderly care, housing help, community programs) to all residents of Haarlem and adjacent municipalities via 12 wijkteams and 25+ physical community centers, funded primarily through municipal commissioning under the Wmo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Community support programs
• Neighborhood teams
• Youth social work
• Financial counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices31 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Municipal commissioning (Gemeente Haarlem): Buurts receives primary funding through commissioned services from the Municipality of Haarlem. Since 2015, municipalities are responsible for social support under the Wmo (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning). The Sociaal Wijkteams of the municipality are integrated into Buurts to provide support close to residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Buurts is a non-profit cooperative (coöperatieve vereniging U.A.) social welfare organization based in Haarlem, Netherlands, that delivers community-based social support services to local residents. Its offerings span neighborhood teams (wijkteams), community centers (huizen van de wijk), youth work, financial counseling, play groups, community meals, and transport support, all delivered through physical locations and neighborhood-based staff.

Product overview

Buurts is a cooperative social welfare organization serving all residents of Haarlem, Netherlands. The offering consists of multiple interconnected services centered around neighborhood support and community building: Wijkteams (Neighborhood Teams) provide front-line information, advice, and support for residents; Huizen van de Wijk (Community Centers) serve as physical gathering spaces; Waardevol Werk (Valuable Work) provides employment-related day activities; and Jongerenwerk (Youth Work) supports young people aged 10-27. Supporting services include Buurtplaats for low-threshold advice, various support activities (Buurtspreekuur, Formulierenbrigade, Inkomen op Orde, Sociaal Raadslieden), Speelgroepen and Spel aan Huis for families, Stamtafel for communal dining, Zoefzoef transport service, and Haarlem Ontmoet activities platform. The organization operates as a cooperative structure with multiple locations and partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wijkteams (Neighborhood Teams)

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Gemeente Haarlem (Municipality of Haarlem)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Since 2015, the municipality of Haarlem is responsible for social support under the Wmo (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning). The Sociaal Wijkteams are integrated into Buurts to provide support close to residents. Buurts operates in commissioned services from the municipality.
• Centrum voor Jeugd en Gezin (CJG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJG works with youth under 18 and collaborates with wijkteams when needed. Buurts serves adults 18+ and refers younger residents to CJG.
• Stichting DOCKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the 5 founding members of the Buurts cooperative. DOCK is represented by Monique Kuik in the General Members Assembly.
• Stichting OntmoetingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the 5 founding members of the Buurts cooperative. Represented by Gerard Stoop in the General Members Assembly.
• Stichting Leger des Heils Welzijns- en GezondheidszorgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated party of the Buurts cooperative. Represented by Marc Verberg in the General Members Assembly.
• Stichting perMenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the 5 founding members of the Buurts cooperative. Represented by Lucienne Kelfkens in the General Members Assembly.
• Stichting ZorgbalanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the 5 founding members of the Buurts cooperative. Represented by Bouke Bijnsdorp in the General Members Assembly.
• VWC-BUUVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral point in Haarlem and Bloemendaal for volunteering and neighbor assistance. VWC-BUUV connects people to organizations and each other for help or volunteering. Website: vwc-buuv.nl, Phone: 023 5300 500
• SportSupportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sports activities and support. SportSupport offers information about sports opportunities in Haarlem with over 80 sports and 220 providers.
• KiKiDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that delivers school presentations on topics including debt, mental resilience, and sexuality. Buurts collaborates with KiKiD to visit all secondary schools in Haarlem.
• PrezensmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health partner offering online questionnaires for adults 18+ to gain insight into mental health complaints. Provides personalized advice within 3 working days.
• 113 ZelfmoordpreventiemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuicide prevention organization collaborating with Buurts youth work to prevent suicide among young people.
• Tandem MantelzorgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for caregiver support (mantelzorg). Provides information and support for people caring for family members or friends who cannot fully care for themselves.
• NOV (Nederlandse Organisaties Vrijwilligerswerk)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for volunteer work that Buurts follows guidelines from. Buurts uses the 7xB methodology for volunteer management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Incluzio: Incluzio is a Dutch social welfare organization providing Wmo-aligned services such as community support, youth work, and neighborhood engagement to multiple municipalities. Like Buurts, it operates as a large-scale contracted welfare provider with a multi-region footprint.
• Humanitas DMH: Humanitas DMH provides social welfare and support services to vulnerable populations in the Netherlands, including community-based support and youth services. Comparable to Buurts in target population and Dutch welfare ecosystem positioning.
• Participe: Participe is a Dutch welfare organization that delivers social support services on behalf of multiple municipalities, including neighborhood teams, youth work, and community-based support. Its operational structure closely mirrors Buurts' wijkteam model.
• Stichting DOCK: Stichting DOCK is a Dutch social welfare organization operating community centers and neighborhood support services across multiple municipalities. DOCK is also a founding member of the Buurts cooperative, providing direct operational overlap.
• Stichting De Regenboog Groep: De Regenboog Groep supports homeless and vulnerable populations in Amsterdam through outreach, day activities, and social welfare programs. Comparable in mission and community-based service delivery to Buurts' neighborhood support work.
• MEE NL: MEE NL supports people with disabilities and chronic conditions through information, advice, and independent client support across the Netherlands. It is a comparable Wmo-aligned social support provider with municipal funding and broad community footprint.
• Kwadraad: Kwadraad is a Dutch social work organization delivering social support, community engagement, and welfare services in South Holland. It mirrors Buurts' mix of neighborhood-based support, voluntary work coordination, and municipal commissioning.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Philadelphia Zorg: Philadelphia is a large Dutch care and welfare provider offering support to people with intellectual disabilities. While more specialized than Buurts, it operates in the same Dutch social support space with government commissioning.
• Leger des Heils (Salvation Army Netherlands): The Salvation Army Netherlands is a broad welfare and social services organization operating nationwide, including community support, youth work, and shelter services. Leger des Heils is also a founding member of Buurts, giving direct membership overlap.

Emerging players

• Combinatie Jeugdzorg: Combinatie Jeugdzorg provides youth care and family support services in the Netherlands. Overlaps with Buurts' Jongerenwerk portfolio and speaks to the same Dutch municipal-commissioned youth welfare market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=E2iENZ2EP_U
• Facebookfacebook.com/buurts
• Instagraminstagram.com/liefenleedstratenhaarlem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buurts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Buurts