Vereniging Gehandicaptensport Nederland

What Vereniging Gehandicaptensport Nederland does

Vereniging Gehandicaptensport Nederland (GSN) is the Dutch national sports federation for people with disabilities, headquartered in Utrecht and operating as a vereniging (association) with ANBI public-benefit status. Founded in 2008 as the successor to NEBAS/NSG, GSN directly governs five Paralympic disciplines - Boccia, Goalball, Wheelchair Rugby, Showdown, and Bocce - and coordinates adapted sports across more than 50 disciplines through channel partnerships with mainstream Dutch federations including KNZB (swimming), KNWU (cycling), Judo Bond Nederland, KNHS (equestrian), Nevobo (sitting volleyball), KNGU (G-gymnastics), and Atletiekunie. It operates TeamNL elite teams in boccia, wheelchair rugby, and goalball, supported by talent-development programs such as the Johan Cruyff Foundation Talent Team.

Name

Vereniging Gehandicaptensport Nederland

Legal name

Vereniging Gehandicaptensport Nederland

Website

https://gehandicaptensport.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports Federation Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports federation
• Paralympic sport governance
• Disability sports programs
• Coach training disability
• Athlete classification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Gehandicaptensport Nederland accepts donations from individuals and organizations. Options include one-time donations (iDeal, credit card authorization), monthly donations (direct debit), and annual donations (direct debit). The organization has ANBI status, offering tax benefits for donors.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gehandicaptensport Nederland is the national Dutch sports federation that governs five core Paralympic disciplines — Boccia, Goalball, Wheelchair Rugby, Showdown and Bocce — and coordinates adapted sports programs for people with physical, visual, hearing, intellectual and severe multiple disabilities. Beyond sport governance, it delivers coach training and education programs, athlete classification services, talent development through TeamNL, and disability-specific programs such as Zichtbaar Sportief, Ongehoord Sportief, Sportief met Spierziekte and MATP. It also develops specialized sports innovations such as the AmiGo wheelchair football attachment.

Product overview

Gehandicaptensport Nederland is a sports federation that serves as both a service provider and advocate for athletes with disabilities in the Netherlands. The organization governs five core Paralympic sports: Boccia, Goalball, Rolstoelrugby (wheelchair rugby), Showdown, and Bocce. Beyond these, it coordinates an extensive network of adapted sports including swimming, athletics, tennis, judo, and many others through partnerships with other Dutch sports federations. The organization offers diverse programs targeting specific disability groups: Zichtbaar Sportief (visual impairment), Ongehoord Sportief (hearing impairment), Sportief met Spierziekte (muscle diseases), and programs for people with intellectual disabilities and severe multiple disabilities (MATP). Key services include coach and trainer education (Opleidingen), hands-on introduction sessions (Clinics), and international projects such as Erasmus+ BICEPS and MATCODE. The organization operates elite national teams (TeamNL) in boccia, wheelchair rugby, and goalball, supported by talent development initiatives including the Johan Cruyff Foundation Talentteam. Recently, Gehandicaptensport Nederland has developed innovative sports equipment like the AmiGo wheelchair attachment for football and the associated Kickit sport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boccia Boccia is a precision ball sport governed by Gehandicaptensport Nederland for athletes with severe cerebral palsy or other severe physical disabilities; it is one of the federation's five core Paralympic disciplines.
• Goalball Goalball is a Paralympic team sport for athletes with visual impairments, in which players attempt to throw a bell ball into the opponent's goal while defenders block with their bodies.
• Rolstoelrugby (Wheelchair Rugby) Wheelchair rugby is a Paralympic team sport for athletes with mobility impairments, combining elements of basketball, handball and rugby, played in wheelchairs.
• Showdown Showdown is a fast-paced table sport for visually impaired athletes, played with a ball on a table with rails, similar to air hockey but designed for blind players.
• Bocce Bocce is a ball sport similar to boccia, governed by Gehandicaptensport Nederland as one of its five core Paralympic disciplines for athletes with disabilities.
• MATP (Motor Activity Training Program) The Motor Activity Training Program is a structured adapted sports program designed for athletes with severe multiple disabilities (Ernstig Meervoudige Beperking), providing activities tailored to individual abilities.
• Opleidingen (Coach and Trainer Education) Professional training programs and qualification courses (including Trainer 3 qualifications in Boccia and Goalball) for coaches, trainers and sports instructors teaching adapted sports to people with disabilities.
• Zichtbaar Sportief A coordinated program focused on promoting sports participation for people with visual impairments, aligning partnerships between healthcare, education and sports providers in the Netherlands.
• Ongehoord Sportief A program dedicated to making sports accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, promoting inclusive participation through awareness, partnerships and adapted activities.
• Sportief met Spierziekte A program designed to make sports accessible for people with muscular (neuromuscular) diseases, helping them remain active and engaged in adapted physical activity.
• Verstandelijke beperking (Programs for people with intellectual disabilities) Programs and activities (G-sports including G-gymnastics, G-tennis, G-hockey and Special Olympics pathways) focused on sports and physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities, promoting inclusion in sports.
• Clinics Hands-on sports introduction sessions delivered at schools, clubs and community venues, allowing people with disabilities to try a range of adapted sports in a guided setting.
• Erasmus+ BICEPS A European cooperation project focused on disability sports development and inclusion through sports, coordinated by Gehandicaptensport Nederland with international partners.
• MATP Erasmus+ MATCODE A European project under Erasmus+ focused on the Motor Activity Training Program for people with severe multiple disabilities, coordinated internationally by Gehandicaptensport Nederland.
• EmpowerUp Next A project program aimed at empowering individuals with disabilities through sports participation and personal development opportunities.
• Johan Cruyff Foundation Talentteam A talent development program supported by the Johan Cruyff Foundation that identifies and develops young athletes with physical disabilities in wheelchair rugby and boccia through training from talent coaches and competition participation.
• AmiGo (Voetbalschieter) An innovative wheelchair attachment developed by Gehandicaptensport Nederland that fixes to the front of a wheelchair and enables wheelchair users to participate in football (Kickit sport).

Quantifiable outcome

• 41% of member associations utilize the Gratis VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct) scheme for volunteers

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NTTB (Nederlandse Tafeltennis Bond - Dutch Table Tennis Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Partnership strengthening table tennis trainer education. Collaboration between GSN and NTTB to enhance training programs for coaches working with disabled athletes in table tennis.
• Cruyff FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Johan Cruyff Foundation supports Gehandicaptensport Nederland to stimulate young athletes with physical disabilities to play wheelchair rugby and develop their sports talent. The Cruyff Foundation Talent Team receives training from wheelchair rugby talent coaches and participates in competitions.
• Rabo ClubSupportcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Rabobank's ClubSupport program providing online workshops for associations and launching the 'Inclusie: Aangepast Sporten' (Inclusion: Adapted Sports) learning path for club board members.
• Zichtbaar Sportief ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Program coordinated by Gehandicaptensport Nederland to make sports accessible for people with visual impairments. The renewed intent declaration was signed in April 2024, continuing the consortium's work.
• NOC*NSFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2024Signing of the 'Sporten voor mensen met een handicap vanzelfsprekend in 2030' (Sports for people with disabilities self-evident by 2030) strategy, developed in collaboration with NOC*NSF and other partners to make sports more accessible for people with disabilities.
• Spierziekten Nederland (Dutch Patient Organization for Neuromuscular Diseases)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2024New collaboration to make sports more accessible for people with muscular diseases. The partnership focuses on the 'Sportief met Spierziekte' program to create better sports opportunities for people with neuromuscular conditions.
• Special Heroes NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Gehandicaptensport Nederland took over the work of Special Heroes Nederland when they announced ending their activities at the end of 2026, preserving the knowledge and experience built up over the years for the sports and exercise domain.
• IJshockey Nederland (Dutch Ice Hockey Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Transfer of Para Ice Hockey from Gehandicaptensport Nederland to IJshockey Nederland was successfully completed during the Ron Bertelingschaal tournament. Gehandicaptensport retains coordination for other sports while Para Ice Hockey is now managed by the ice hockey federation.
• KNZB (Koninklijke Nederlandse Zwembond)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for swimming activities for people with disabilities. KNZB coordinates swimming programs while Gehandicaptensport provides expertise on adaptations for disabled swimmers.
• KNWU (Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for adapted cycling including handbiking, tandem cycling, and cycling for people with disabilities. KNWU coordinates cycling activities with support from Gehandicaptensport.
• Judo Bond NederlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for judo for people with visual impairments (VI-judo). Judo Bond coordinates programs while Gehandicaptensport provides disability-specific expertise.
• KNHS (Koninklijke Nederlandse Hippische Sportfederatie)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for equestrian sports for people with disabilities. KNHS coordinates adapted horse riding programs with Gehandicaptensport providing expertise on disability accommodations.
• Nederlandse Handboog BondcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for archery adapted for people with disabilities. Regular archery clubs can accommodate many disabled athletes with minimal adaptations.
• KNGU (Koninklijke Nederlandse Gymnastiek Unie)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for G-gymnastics (gymnastics for people with intellectual disabilities) and Gym-Extra (for children with physical disabilities).
• Nevobo (Nederlandse Volleybal Bond)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for sitting volleyball (paravolley) for people with physical disabilities. Nevobo coordinates the sport with Gehandicaptensport providing classification and support.
• KNZB (Koninklijke Nederlandse Zwembond)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for swimming activities including para swimming competitions and recreational swimming for people with disabilities.
• Atletiekunie (Dutch Athletics Federation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Partnership for athletics for athletes with disabilities, from wheelchair racing to track and field events adapted for various disability types.
• Hogeschool Inholland HaarlemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2022Project leader for the Sport Empowers Disabled Youth 2 (SEDY 2) project in which Gehandicaptensport Nederland participated. Hogeschool Inholland coordinated research on inclusion in sports and organized focus groups across four European countries. The partnership produced practical materials including an Inclusion Handbook, SPIN Tool, and e-learning on inclusive sports.
• WINNING SportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Development partner for European sports projects. Five-year collaboration between GSN and WINNING Sport focused on building European sports projects.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fédération Française Handisport: The French national federation for disability sport, governing Paralympic disciplines, talent pipelines, and adapted-sport club networks. Highly comparable in scope, structure, and reliance on public/lottery funding.
• Deutscher Behindertensportverband (DBS): The German national federation for disability sport, governing Paralympic disciplines and coordinating adapted sports across Germany. Directly comparable as a neighboring national federation with the same mandate to coordinate disability sport, talent development, and coach training.
• Move United: U.S. community-based disability sport organization (formerly Disabled Sports USA) providing adaptive sports opportunities and community programs. Comparable as a national coordinating body for disability sport, although structured as a community network rather than a federation.
• Activity Alliance: UK disability and physical activity alliance working with sport, health, and education providers to increase disability sport participation. Comparable in its cross-sector coordination role and focus on inclusive sport at national scale.
• Parasport Belgium: Belgian national federation for disability sport, coordinating adapted disciplines, Team Belgium Paralympic preparation, and club support. Comparable as a Benelux neighbor with a similar federation-based operating model.

Broad incumbents

• International Paralympic Committee (IPC): Global governing body of the Paralympic Movement that the federation explicitly partners with for TeamNL preparation and classification. Overlaps at the elite-competition and governance layer rather than grassroots club delivery.
• Special Olympics International: Global organization delivering sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Overlaps with Gehandicaptensport's G-sport and Special Heroes-style programming for intellectually disabled athletes, but operates globally and exclusively for that population.

Others

• NOC*NSF: The umbrella Dutch Olympic and sport federation with which Gehandicaptensport co-signed the 2030 inclusion strategy. Comparable as a policy-level counterpart and primary funding interlocutor rather than a competing federation.
• Johan Cruyff Foundation: Dutch foundation funding disability sport talent teams at Gehandicaptensport. Comparable mission space (enabling sport for children with disabilities) but operating as a grant-maker rather than federation, making it a strategic partner/ecosystem participant.

Emerging players

• Wheelchair Rugby Canada: National wheelchair rugby governing body that, like Gehandicaptensport, manages elite national team pathways and club development for one Paralympic discipline. Comparable as a focused single-sport national federation embedded within a broader national disability sport ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TeamNLBoccia
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamnlboccia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gehandicaptensport-nederland

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

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Frequently asked questions about Vereniging Gehandicaptensport Nederland