vrijwilligerswerk

What vrijwilligerswerk does

Vrijwilligerswerk is the operational brand of the Belgian non-profit association Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk vzw (enterprise number 417.430.095), headquartered at Breughelstraat 31-33, 2018 Antwerp. The organization runs vrijwilligerswerk.be, a free public web platform that matches individual volunteers aged 16 and above with volunteer organizations and local governments in Flanders, Belgium. At the time of extraction the platform listed 4,645 vacancies spanning sectors such as heritage (Open Monumentendag), sports (Vlaamse Sportfederatie), literacy (Iedereen Leest reading buddies), hospitality, disability services, and municipal programs, with vacancies ranging from Tessenderlo-Ham to Genk and Wommelgem.

The platform is built as a web-based two-sided marketplace. Volunteers browse and filter vacancies anonymously by sector, location, target group, talents, interests, accessibility, frequency, and distance, without needing a login. Organizations and local governments register for a free VSVw-account and post and manage vacancies through the Assist application (Assistonline.eu), which synchronizes with the public site. The platform also exposes dedicated accessibility filters for non-Dutch speakers and people with disabilities, and integrates thematically with partner organizations including Iedereen Leest, Vlaamse Sportfederatie, and Open Monumentendag. Data is stored on servers within the European Economic Area and processed under GDPR (EU 2016/679) and the Belgian law of 30 July 2018, with a Data Protection Impact Assessment performed for large-scale processing.

Commercially, the platform does not generate transaction revenue: both the website and the VSVw-account are free for all users. The operating organization is funded through institutional support from the Flemish government, with referral integration from the official government volunteering portal vlaanderenvrijwilligt.be serving as the primary awareness channel. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on organic search, government-portal referral, and partner co-marketing rather than paid acquisition. As a vzw with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no private shareholders, the entity is structurally insulated from capital-market cycles but dependent on sustained public-sector subsidy.

Name

vrijwilligerswerk

Legal name

Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk vzw

Website

https://vrijwilligerswerk.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Vrijwilligerswerk is a Flemish government-backed online platform, operated by non-profit Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk vzw, that connects individual volunteers with nonprofit organizations and local governments posting volunteer vacancies across Belgium, free of charge for all users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The platform is an initiative of the Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk vzw with support from the Flemish government. As a nonprofit association, it is funded by government subsidies rather than commercial revenue. Both the platform and the VSVw-account are free for all users (organizations and volunteers).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vrijwilligerswerk.be is a free, web-based matching marketplace that connects individual volunteers (16+) with nonprofit organizations and local governments in Flanders, Belgium. Organizations and municipalities post volunteer vacancies through the integrated Assist application and manage candidate volunteers via a free VSVw-account; volunteers browse, filter, and apply for vacancies directly through the public website without needing to log in.

Product overview

vrijwilligerswerk.be is a single unified web platform that connects volunteers with volunteer organizations and local governments in Flanders. The core product is the vrijwilligerswerk.be matching platform, which is complemented by the Assist volunteer management application (for organizations to create and manage vacancies) and the free VSVw-account system (for account access and administration). Organizations and local governments use the Assist application to post vacancies, which then appear on the vrijwilligerswerk.be platform where volunteers can search and apply.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• vrijwilligerswerk.be
• Assist (Volunteer Management Application)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,645 volunteer vacancies available on the platform at the time of extraction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Vlaamse overheid (Flemish Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe vrijwilligerswerk.be platform is an initiative of the Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk vzw with support from the Flemish government. The Flemish government provides institutional backing and funding, and the platform is linked from the official government volunteering portal vlaanderenvrijwilligt.be.
• Assist / Assistonline.eucoreTechnology or IntegrationThe platform collaborates with an external supplier for the development, management, and maintenance of the website, the underlying database, and the connection with the Assist application. Organizations and local governments manage their vacancies through Assist, which is connected to the vrijwilligerswerk.be website. Assist provides the vacancy database backend and management tools.
• Iedereen LeestmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIedereen Leest (Everyone Reads) is a partner in the Voorleesbuddy's (reading buddy) program. The platform features the voorleesbuddys section with Iedereen Leest's logo and contact information (Tine Kuypers). Iedereen Leest coordinates reading volunteer programs across Belgium and refers volunteers to the platform.
• Vlaamse Sportfederatie (Flemish Sports Federation)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe platform's sportvrijwilliger (sports volunteering) section features the logo of the Vlaamse Sportfederatie. The platform links to sportschouders.be, a sports volunteering initiative. The federation promotes sports volunteering through the platform, connecting sports clubs with volunteer coaches, assistants, and supporters.
• Open Monumentendag (Open Heritage Day)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpen Monumentendag is a heritage event held annually in Belgium, with a dedicated section on the platform to recruit volunteers for tours, reception, and practical organization. The platform promotes Open Monumentendag volunteer opportunities and refers volunteers to participating heritage organizations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Idealist: Global action and volunteer matching platform connecting individuals with volunteering, internships, and social impact opportunities. Comparable core marketplace functionality for the nonprofit/NGO sector with broader geographic coverage.
• VolunteerMatch: Largest US-based online volunteer matching platform connecting individuals with nonprofit opportunities. Closest functional analogue to vrijwilligerswerk.be in terms of marketplace matching model and nonprofit-sector positioning; operates at significantly larger national scale in the US.
• Reach Volunteering: UK-based charity focused on matching skilled professionals with volunteering opportunities at nonprofits. Comparable non-profit operating model, mission-driven positioning, and matching service for the voluntary sector.
• Give a Day: Belgian volunteering platform (giveaday.be) connecting volunteers with non-profits across Belgium. Direct geographic peer operating in the same country with comparable volunteer matching service; differs in covering Belgium-wide rather than Flanders-only.

Emerging players

• DoSomething: US-based youth civic engagement platform driving volunteer action among young people via digital campaigns. Comparable in mobilizing volunteers through a digital platform, with focus on a specific population segment.
• Catchafire: Skills-based volunteering platform matching professionals with nonprofit project work. Comparable marketplace functionality but specialized in skills-based/experiential volunteering rather than general volunteer roles.

Regional players

• Volunteer Ireland: Ireland's national volunteering database and matching service, operated by Volunteer Ireland (the national volunteer development agency) and government-supported. Closest peer in institutional/government-backed nonprofit volunteer matching model, focused on a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• Points of Light: Large US nonprofit operating HandsOn Network affiliates across many cities to mobilize volunteer service. Comparable in driving civic volunteerism at scale, but operates as a broader umbrella organization rather than a single matching marketplace.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

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

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about vrijwilligerswerk