What Handjehelpen does

Stichting Handjehelpen is a Dutch nonprofit foundation founded in 1979, headquartered at Pallas Athenedreef 12 in Utrecht, and operating across 18 municipalities in the provinces of Utrecht and Noord-Holland (including Amsterdam). The organization matches vulnerable children and adults — those living at home with chronic illness, intellectual or physical disability, psychiatric vulnerability, dementia, or behavioral challenges — with trained volunteers ('maatjes') for sustained one-on-one companionship and practical support. Around 40 professional staff coordinate the operation, supported by 1,792 volunteers and 378 interns who delivered 107,116 hours of support to 3,248 help-seekers via 2,705 matches in 2025. The portfolio spans core maatjes matching, Steungezin (respite for overburdened informal caregivers), Vriendenkringen (friend circles for isolated individuals), an Internship Bureau (Stagebureau) across six educational disciplines, Vervoersmaatjes (transport companions), the Ketenstage chain-internship model (designated Koploper by the Ministry of VWS), and targeted programs such as MDT Jongerenbrigade, Ervaringsmaatjes, and Project Ouders uit elkaar.

The business model is a free-to-user service funded by a multi-stream mix of municipal subsidies (the primary revenue base, including a 4-year Gemeente Utrecht commitment announced July 2025), grants from Dutch charitable foundations (Oranje Fonds, Tillstichting, Sint Nicolaas Gasthuis, RCOAK, and ~12 others), corporate donations (BNP Paribas, Lions Club), and individual giving programs. The organization holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) public-benefit status and CBF-Erkenningspaspoort certification, with mandatory VOG (Certificate of Conduct) screening for all volunteers. Distribution is conducted through 18 regional coordinators managing local intake, a self-service website/vacaturebank, and inbound referrals from municipalities, social workers, schools, and care organizations (Abrona, Kwintes, Lister, Ouder- en Kindteams Amsterdam). Underlying technology is intentionally minimal: there is no proprietary matching platform, with regional coordinators performing manual matching, intake, and supervision supported by a website and a mobile app. Marketing relies on community channels, earned media (including national coverage by Queen Máxima opening the National Year of Voluntary Engagement 2021), newsletters, social media, and an extensive library of personal stories/testimonials.

Name

Handjehelpen

Legal name

Stichting Handjehelpen

Website

https://handjehelpen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Handjehelpen is a Dutch nonprofit foundation founded in 1979 that matches volunteers with vulnerable children and adults in 18 municipalities across Utrecht and Noord-Holland, delivering one-on-one companionship, respite, and social-support programs funded by municipal subsidies, foundation grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreational Outings, Community Participation & Mobility Support (Non-Clinical) (HSABAAAI), Personal Care & ADL Assistance (bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility) (HLADAGAA)

Keywords

• Volunteer matching services
• Community social support
• Caregiver respite programs
• Companionship services
• Nonprofit social care

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: Primary funding source from municipal (gemeente) subsidies. A 4-year subsidy from Gemeente Utrecht was announced in 2025, along with additional subsidies for steungezinnen (support families). Subsidies from multiple municipalities in Utrecht and Noord-Holland provinces form the core operating revenue.
2. Private Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time and periodic gifts. The organization operates a donation portal, donateurs in beeld (donor recognition) program, and periodic giving (periodiek schenken) whitepaper. Private donations supplement core subsidies.
3. Corporate/Business Donations: Companies support through corporate donation programs, corporate friendship (bedrijfsvriend) arrangements, and one-time gifts (e.g., BNP Paribas donation). The website includes a dedicated 'Doneren als bedrijf' section and whitepaper on corporate giving tips.
4. Volunteer Expense Reimbursements: Volunteers receive a nominal expense reimbursement of €1 per hour (max 5 hours/day), allowing cost recovery for phone and travel expenses. This is a cost-reimbursement rather than a revenue stream for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Handjehelpen is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that matches vulnerable children and adults (hulpvragers) with chronic illness, disabilities, or behavioral challenges to trained volunteer 'maatjes' (buddies) for long-term one-on-one social support and companionship. The service is delivered free of charge across 18 municipalities in the provinces of Utrecht and Noord-Holland, including Amsterdam. Complementary programs include support families (steungezin), friend circles (vriendenkringen), internship placements (stagebureau), and transport companions (vervoersmaatjes).

Product overview

Handjehelpen is a volunteer matching nonprofit organization operating across 18 municipalities in the Dutch provinces of Utrecht and Noord-Holland (including Amsterdam). Founded in 1979, it offers a unified volunteer matching platform called 'Maatjes' that connects children and adults with chronic illness, disabilities, or behavioral challenges to trained volunteers for long-term companion support. The organization provides supplementary services including an Internship Bureau (Stagebureau) placing students across six educational disciplines, the Support Family Program (Steungezin) for respite care, Friend Circles (Vriendenkringen) for group social activities, Transport Companions (Vervoersmaatjes), and specialized programs like MDT Jongerenbrigade for youth service, Chain Internships (Ketenstage) recognized by the Ministry, and Parents Apart (Ouders uit elkaar) for children of divorced parents. The portfolio also includes training/education offerings (Scholingsaanbod) for volunteers, an online vacancy bank for volunteer opportunities, and experiential companion programs. The core offering centers on personalized one-to-one matching between volunteers and help-seekers, with supplementary group-based and family-support programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maatjes (Volunteer Matching) Core matching service that pairs volunteers ('maatjes') with individuals needing support, including children and adults with chronic illness, disabilities, or behavioral challenges. Matching is personalized based on needs, preferences, and availability, with regional coordinators managing the process.
• Stagebureau (Internship Bureau) Internship coordination service that places students from Social Work, Pedagogy, Applied Psychology, Nursing, Medical Assistance, Creative Therapy, and MBO programs with partner organizations for practical training.
• Steungezin (Support Family Program) Program that matches families with a child or family member with a disability with a 'steungezin' (support family) that provides occasional respite care, play opportunities, or hosting for the child.
• Vriendenkringen (Friend Circles) Program that creates social circles for multiple help-seekers living near each other with similar interests, connecting them with a volunteer coordinator who facilitates friendships and group activities to reduce social isolation.
• MDT Jongerenbrigade (Youth Service Brigade) Meaningful Durational Tasks (MDT) youth brigade program where young people engage in volunteer activities, contributing to social impact while developing skills.
• Vervoersmaatjes (Transport Companions) Volunteer service providing transportation assistance to individuals with mobility challenges, helping them travel to appointments, activities, or outings.
• Vacaturebank (Volunteer Job Board) Online portal listing volunteer opportunities, allowing users to filter by location, target group, activity type, and disability to find suitable matches.
• Ketenstage (Chain Internship) Innovative internship model that strengthens collaboration between formal and informal care providers, designated as a 'Koploper' (leader) initiative by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
• Project Ouders uit elkaar (Parents Apart) Project providing support for children involved in parental separation, matching them with a companion who has experiential knowledge to offer guidance through the transition.
• Maatje voor het jonge kind (Companion for Young Children) Program matching volunteers with young children on waiting lists to provide early support and development assistance.
• Ervaringsmaatjes (Experiential Companions) Volunteers with personal experience of disability or vulnerability who provide peer support and understanding to others facing similar challenges.
• Eigenwijs op reis (Independent Travel) Sustainable alternative to student transportation, supporting independent travel for children with support needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,248 hulpvragers supported with 107,116 hours of volunteer and intern support in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• AbronamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization with which Handjehelpen has a unique collaboration (aangeduid as 'unieke samenwerking') supporting people with intellectual disabilities through volunteer matching.
• KwintescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare organization with which Handjehelpen ran a pilot program placing volunteers with clients, expanding support for people with psychiatric vulnerabilities.
• ListercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare organization that partnered with Handjehelpen to make 51 volunteer matches in 2020 for clients with psychiatric vulnerabilities.
• Ouder- en Kindteams AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild and family teams in Amsterdam collaborating with Handjehelpen to provide volunteer support for families and children in need.
• Sociaal Team HoutenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial team in Houten that jointly offers practical volunteer placement positions with Handjehelpen.
• Hogeschool Utrecht (HU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtrecht University of Applied Sciences collaborates with Handjehelpen on internships, podcast series, and knowledge sharing. Handjehelpen is active in ketenstage (chain internship) programs with educational institutions.
• de KapmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandjehelpen and de Kap jointly develop internship opportunities, with Handjehelpen coaching organizations in setting up internship structures (announced June 2026).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Mezzo: Mezzo is the Dutch association for informal caregivers, providing support, advocacy, and connections to caregiver programs; it overlaps with Handjehelpen's Steungezin and mantelzorgers target segments while operating more as an umbrella and advocacy body.

Direct peers

• Humanitas: Humanitas is a Dutch nonprofit that matches volunteers ('maatjes') with vulnerable individuals including people with disabilities, lonely seniors, refugees, and youth — directly parallel to Handjehelpen's core maatjes matching service across the same Dutch nonprofit landscape.
• WeHelpen: WeHelpen is an online Dutch platform facilitating volunteer help among neighbors and informal caregivers; it directly competes with Handjehelpen in the volunteer/informal-care matching category with a more tech-led delivery model.
• Buddy Netwerk: Buddy Netwerk matches trained volunteers ('buddies') with people affected by cancer and chronic illness for companionship — directly comparable to Handjehelpen's maatjes concept though focused on oncology.
• Stichting Present: Stichting Present is a Dutch volunteer-matching nonprofit connecting practical helpers with people in vulnerable situations; it serves a comparable mission and customer base to Handjehelpen across multiple Dutch regions.
• Stichting Helpende Handen: Stichting Helpende Handen supports people with intellectual disabilities through volunteer and community programs in the Netherlands — comparable target population (disability) and informal-support delivery model to Handjehelpen.

Broad incumbents

• NOV (Nederlandse Organisaties Vrijwilligerswerk): NOV is the national umbrella organization for Dutch volunteer organizations; it sits in the same ecosystem as Handjehelpen, supporting and representing volunteer-matching nonprofits across the country.

Regional players

• Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam: Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam is a regional volunteer-matching intermediary operating in Amsterdam; it competes with Handjehelpen for volunteers and municipal funding within Handjehelpen's own Noord-Holland footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/handjehelpenut
• Facebookfacebook.com/Handjehelpen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/handjehelpen

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Handjehelpen