Creation of RataPlan
On 29 March 1982 is RataPlan set up. The foundation bears the name Stichting Kringloopwinkel when it was founded. The aim is to combat the enormous waste of raw materials and energy in society and the associated pollution of the environment. The aim is also to make people aware of this waste and pollution. The foundation wants to achieve this through human and environmentally friendly work. At that time, only volunteers are working.
In March 1983, a year after the foundation was established, the thrift store opened its doors on Weststraat in Den Helder. In addition, a peeling project was underway. Peels were collected in the Visbuurt and the Galenbuurt in Den Helder. These peels went to a farmer in Huisduinen.
The name RataPlan changes 2 years after incorporation
On May 2, 1984 the name changes to Stichting Kringloopwinkel RataPlan† This name comes from a saying in North Holland; “Take the whole rataplan but with you”. This means the entire trade. The foundation also has a new objective; activating, stimulating and setting up projects aimed at satisfying the needs of the unemployed and also aimed at a possible return to the regular labor market.
End of 1986 buy RataPlan accommodation on the Geulstraat for one guilder. Unfortunately, this building is destroyed by arson and must RataPlan looking for another location. This can be found at 71 Weststraat and the store opens its doors on January 25, 1988.
Partnerships
At that time, the foundation also entered into a four-year partnership with the day activity center. There are then eighteen volunteers and two job pool employees, the long-term unemployed who go back to work via a loan contract, work at RataPlan† Due to the end of the collaboration with the day activity center, RataPlan looking for a new home at the end of 1992. This one was found in the Amerstraat and on January 4, 1993 the thrift shop was opened. Turnover increases and RataPlan donates the profits to charities. In 1996 expands RataPlan consists of two adjacent buildings.
In 1996 RataPlan a partnership with the employment agency Noorderkwartier† The municipality of Den Helder is also associated with the project. After this, the thrift store moves one more time. Opens on June 26, 1999 RataPlan Den Helder the doors of the new store at Nijverheidsweg 3a. The former building of the Kiesewetter moving company will be a modern and well-organized thrift store. There is also talk of the 'Bijenkorf among the thrift shops'. At that moment 40 people are working there RataPlan.
Rataplan grows
In 2006 RataPlan across the border of the Helderse. The first expansion is a fact. We open a store in Heerhugowaard and in Schagen a small thrift store is taken over in the center. RataPlan Schagen will move to larger accommodation on the Korte Fok after two years. After this, various thrift shops were added and more and more are being expanded towards the Randstad.
Start in 2007 RataPlan a collaboration with the Dutch Railways. Managed together with the NS RataPlan bicycle sheds where, among other things, bicycles can be bought and where repairs are carried out. As a result of this collaboration, the number of jobs is growing RataPlan. Manages in 2023 RataPlan 49 bicycle parking spaces.
Meanwhile RataPlan 34 thrift stores. We have grown from a 'few' employees to more than 1200 employees! We continue to innovate, but the objective remains the same as in 1982; an independent, non-profit foundation that offers work to people at a distance from the labor market and promotes reuse.