What Stichting AAP does

Stichting AAP is a Dutch non-profit foundation established in 1972 that specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of exotic mammals — primarily primates and big cats — seized from illegal trade, circuses, and private ownership. The foundation operates two physical rescue centers: the headquarters in Almere, Netherlands, and AAP Primadomus in Villena, Spain (opened 2009), which together provide specialized veterinary and behavioral care for confiscated animals and a rehoming pipeline to accredited zoos and sanctuaries across Europe, including partnerships with Edinburgh Zoo and Zoo Wilhelmina. Since 2017, the foundation has also run the Born to be Wild conservation project in Morocco in partnership with IFAW, protecting the Barbary macaque in its range state.

The foundation is financed through a diversified donor program covering one-time gifts, monthly contributions (€6-€15), annual memberships (€35-€100), symbolic animal adoptions, bequests, and corporate partnerships. A structural grant from the Nationale Postcode Loterij is a notable institutional anchor. AAP is also an active public-policy actor, credited with substantive contributions to the Dutch positive list for exotic pets (effective 1 July 2024) and the European Parliament's 2022 resolution calling for positive lists across member states; it is now campaigning for a similar German list, supported by a dedicated German policy officer. Operational delivery relies on a mix of paid staff and more than 200 volunteers, and the organization maintains research collaborations, including a Utrecht University study on zoonotic disease transmission from rescued primates.

Name

Stichting AAP

Legal name

Stichting AAP

Website

https://aap.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stichting AAP is a Dutch non-profit foundation, founded in 1972, that rescues and rehabilitates exotic mammals — including primates and big cats — from illegal trade, circuses, and private ownership, operating rescue centers in the Netherlands and Spain plus a Barbary macaque conservation project in Morocco.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Exotic animal rescue
• Animal rehabilitation services
• Wildlife conservation projects
• Animal shelter operations
• Animal welfare advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Almere

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. AAP offers one-time, monthly, and annual donation options via iDEAL, bank transfer, PayPal, and credit card. Donations fund daily animal care, medical treatment, and rehabilitation.
2. Adoption Programs: Supporters can adopt an animal and receive updates about their adopted animal's wellbeing. This creates an emotional engagement loop that drives recurring donor retention.
3. Legacies and Bequests: AAP encourages supporters to include the organization in their will (nalaten aan AAP), providing long-term financial sustainability.
4. Tax-Advantaged Giving (Periodieke Schenking): Dutch law allows periodic gifts (periodieke schenking) to ANBI-registered charities to be tax-deductible at up to 80% in Spain and potentially higher in the Netherlands. AAP promotes this as a benefit to increase donation size and donor retention.
5. Nationale Postcode Loterij Grant: AAP is a beneficiary of the Netherlands Postcode Lottery (Nationale Postcode Loterij), which provides structural grant funding that supports operations.
6. Corporate Partnerships: AAP accepts corporate support (Steun met jouw bedrijf) and in-kind contributions such as Air Miles, gift vouchers, and other goods (sparen en inzamelen).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Stichting AAP is a Dutch non-profit foundation that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes exotic mammals (primates, chimpanzees, big cats, and other exotic species) seized from illegal trade, circuses, and private ownership. The organization operates specialist rescue centers in Almere (Netherlands) and Villena (Spain, also known as AAP Spanje/Primadomus), and runs an international conservation project called Born to be Wild in Morocco for the endangered Barbary macaque. Services are funded entirely by donations, grants, and bequests, with no fees charged to beneficiaries.

Product overview

Stichting AAP is a Dutch animal rescue foundation (not a technology company) that operates shelters for exotic mammals rescued from the exotic pet trade, circuses, and illegal wildlife trafficking. The organization offers charitable services including animal rescue and rehabilitation, donation collection (one-time, monthly, and annual), animal adoption programs, and volunteer opportunities. The organization's activities are centered around two shelter locations in Almere (Netherlands) and Villena (Spain), with additional conservation work in Morocco through the Born to be Wild project. The website functions as a donation portal and informational resource rather than a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Born to be Wild: International conservation project to protect the endangered Barbary macaque in Morocco, focusing on anti-poaching, anti-illegal trade, habitat protection, and sustainable alternatives for local communities.

Products and services

• Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Services Specialist care for exotic mammals seized from illegal trade, circuses, and inadequate private ownership. Includes veterinary treatment, behavioral rehabilitation, and quarantine at AAP's two rescue centers. Provided free of charge to rescued animals and their referring authorities.
• Rehoming Coordination Services Coordination of permanent placement of recovered animals at accredited European sanctuaries and zoos (e.g., Edinburgh Zoo, Zoo Wilhelmina) that can guarantee long-term welfare and appropriate social groupings.
• Born to be Wild Conservation Project Field conservation program operating in Morocco near Tazekka National Park, focused on protecting the endangered Barbary macaque from poaching and illegal trade through anti-poaching operations, habitat protection, and community-based alternative livelihood programs.
• Animal Adoption Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 tigers rescued from circus trailers in Saxony, Germany — largest tiger rescue in German history.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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.

• IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017IFAW is a co-initiator of the Born to be Wild project, launched by AAP in 2017. The project aims to protect the endangered Barbary macaque in Morocco through anti-poaching measures, habitat protection, and reduction of human pressure on macaque habitats via sustainable alternative livelihood programs. This is a flagship international conservation collaboration.
• Eurogroup for AnimalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP works with Eurogroup for Animals as part of a coalition advocating for EU-wide positive lists for exotic pets. Eurogroup for Animals coordinates pan-European animal welfare advocacy, and AAP contributes its expertise in exotic mammal rescue and policy to this coalition.
• Universiteit UtrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP has a research collaboration with Utrecht University in the fields of ethology (animal behavior) and veterinary medicine. The partnership supports observation-based research to improve the welfare of shelter animals, with daily supervision by AAP specialists and periodic contact with university lecturers.
• Edinburgh ZoominorOthersEdinburgh Zoo in Scotland is a rehoming partner that has taken chimpansee Babsie from AAP. Animals are only rehomed to facilities that can guarantee long-term quality care and appropriate social groupings.
• Zoo Wilhelmina (Germany)minorOthersZoo Wilhelmina in Germany is a rehoming partner to which AAP relocated sugar glider Ro and her family. Rehoming partners must demonstrate ability to provide good housing and care for AAP's animals.
• European Parliament / European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP engages directly with Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission to advocate for an EU-wide positive list for exotic companion animals. Two EU Parliament resolutions (end 2022) were adopted naming the positive list as a solution. AAP's operational data and advocacy contributed to this policy milestone.
• Europees Solidariteitskorps (European Solidarity Corps)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP has been an ESC-accredited organization since 2008, hosting young volunteers (ages 18–30) from across Europe at its shelters in Almere and Villena for 12-month placements. The Erasmus+ program provides financial support covering accommodation, pocket money, and travel for volunteers.
• Eurogroup for AnimalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP collaborates with Eurogroup for Animals on EU-level animal welfare campaigns, including the push for a European positive list. The coalition coordinates policy positions and leverages AAP's field expertise in exotic mammal rescue.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vier Pfoten (Four Paws): International animal welfare organization operating sanctuaries and rescue centers across Europe for big cats, primates, and other exotic animals. Most direct comparable to AAP given overlapping mission, EU policy advocacy, and shelter-based operating model.
• IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare): Global animal welfare and conservation NGO. Direct peer in international rescue, anti-poaching, and policy advocacy; also an actual AAP partner on the Born to be Wild project in Morocco.
• Born Free Foundation: UK-based charity specializing in big cat welfare, sanctuary operations, and wildlife trade policy. Comparable to AAP on exotic animal rescue, EU-relevant advocacy, and zoo/sanctuary rehoming partnerships.
• AAP Primadomus (Spain): The Spanish rescue arm of Stichting AAP itself (also branded AAP Spanje). Included as the operational site peer for big cat and primate rescue in southern Europe.
• Eurogroup for Animals: Pan-European animal welfare coalition coordinating policy advocacy at EU institutions. Direct peer to AAP's advocacy arm and an actual coalition partner on the EU-wide positive list push.
• Animal Defenders International: International NGO focused on animals in entertainment and the exotic pet trade. Closely comparable to AAP on circus rescues (e.g., big cats) and positive-list advocacy in Europe.

Emerging players

• SPANA: International animal welfare charity focused on working animals. Adjacent comparator given overlapping donor base and EU/UK fundraising channels, though mission differs.

Broad incumbents

• World Animal Protection: Global NGO advocating against animal cruelty and wildlife trade with EU policy engagement. Broader in scope than AAP but comparable as an internationally operating animal welfare organization with policy influence.
• Stichting Dierenbescherming: Largest Dutch animal welfare charity, focused primarily on companion animals (dogs, cats) but covers broader welfare policy. Comparable to AAP as a Dutch ANBI-registered charity drawing on the same donor pool and Postcode Loterij funding.

Regional players

• Loro Parque Foundation: Canary Islands-based conservation foundation supporting species protection programs. Comparable as a European exotic-species welfare/conservation organization with sanctuary capacity and research output.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StichtingAAP
• Facebookfacebook.com/StichtingAAP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aap
• Instagraminstagram.com/stichtingaap

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Stichting AAP