At the European Heart Network (EHN), we are highlighting the leadership of key organisations in our network. In this edition, we feature the Dutch Heart Foundation and its recent merger with patient organisation Harteraad. As of 1 September 2025, the two organisations joined forces to strengthen efforts in cardiovascular prevention, care, and patient advocacy in the Netherlands. We spoke with Hans Snijder, CEO of the Dutch Heart Foundation, about the reasons behind the merger, its impact on patient representation, and the organisation’s vision for the years ahead.
“When I started as CEO of the Dutch Heart Foundation, I was immediately struck by the sheer number of people living with cardiovascular disease in the Netherlands, currently 1.7 million, a figure projected to rise to 2.6 million by 2030 if no action is taken. This situation is unsustainable, both for patients and for our healthcare system. It was clear that stronger, more decisive action was needed.
At the same time, we saw increasing overlap between the missions of the Dutch Heart Foundation and Harteraad. While we primarily focused on prevention, information, and research, Harteraad represented patients’ interests, working to improve quality of life and care. For many years, we collaborated intensively, even sharing the same office building and often joining forces in research and advocacy.
However, the difference in size and visibility between the two organisations sometimes caused confusion. Many stakeholders assumed the Dutch Heart Foundation was already a patient organisation, while most Harteraad members were also our donors. This demonstrated that patients are not only eager to have their voices heard but also deeply committed to supporting research and innovation in cardiovascular care. For us, the merger was therefore a logical next step: uniting our strengths to better serve patients, donors, and society as a whole.”
“One of the greatest assets we inherited from Harteraad is its strong network of members and volunteers, who actively contributed through patient panels, advocacy, and expertise. Embedding these structures within the Dutch Heart Foundation adds enormous value: it ensures the patient’s voice is integrated into every aspect of our work, from setting research priorities to shaping advocacy agendas.
The merger allows us to use resources, knowledge, and networks more effectively. Volunteers now benefit from the support of an organisation with 170 professionals, and patient issues can be addressed by a much larger team. This significantly amplifies the impact of patient input.
As a result, the Dutch Heart Foundation has become the leading authority on all aspects of cardiovascular disease in the Netherlands, covering prevention, research, patient care, and advocacy. Stakeholders and policymakers now see us as the central partner for a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular health. This unified organisation is stronger, more credible, and better positioned to drive real change for patients and society.”
“As CEO, I had to consider four key questions: What is best for the organisation? What is best for society? What is best for our supporters? And what is best for our employees? In all four cases, the answer was clear: a merger. But identifying the right path is only the beginning. The real challenge lies in execution.
A critical decision we made was not to create a separate ‘patient affairs department’ within the Dutch Heart Foundation. Instead, we integrated Harteraad colleagues across all teams. This approach meant every department had to embrace the patient perspective and work with it in practice, rather than treating it as something external or siloed. It required more effort, but it ensured that the merger was felt throughout the organisation and that patients’ voices became part of our DNA.
For other organisations in Europe, the key lesson is this: genuine integration is more effective than symbolic inclusion. Embedding the patient perspective across the entire organisation may be more complex, but it creates a stronger, more cohesive foundation for long-term success.”
“By fully embedding the patient perspective, we will become an even stronger partner for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Patient experiences will enrich our research projects, strengthen our fundraising efforts, and give weight to our advocacy.
Ultimately, we believe patients themselves can be the driving force behind our success.
Their voices and experiences are essential to achieving our overarching ambition: to halt the growth of cardiovascular disease in the Netherlands by 2030. A unified organisation, rooted in both scientific excellence and patient insight, is best positioned to make this ambition a reality.”
For more information, visit the Dutch Heart Foundation website.