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Today, 1 July 2026, Rutgers and Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland have formally entered into an administrative merger. Under a shared leadership structure, we are working together towards a single strategic direction for sexual health in the Netherlands and around the world. As an important step towards a full legal merger, this development strengthens our joint commitment to health, wellbeing and human rights.
Our new organisation is dedicated to creating a world in which everyone can make free and safe choices about their bodies, relationships and sexuality, and where no one dies of AIDS.
Stronger Together for Sexual Health
The challenges surrounding sexual health are growing and becoming increasingly complex. Misinformation is on the rise, inequalities are widening, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and sexual violence remain major societal issues. These are not distant problems; they affect people both in the Netherlands and across the globe.
For many years, Rutgers and Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland have worked towards the same goal: improving sexual health and wellbeing. By bringing our strengths together more closely, we are creating a single organisation with greater capacity, broader reach and increased social impact. This will enable us to remain a key partner for government, healthcare, education and society at large, while achieving even more for young people, women, LGBTQ+ communities and people living with HIV.
What Does This Merger Mean?
The merger will take place in two stages. The first stage is the administrative merger, in which we will operate under a single leadership structure and a shared strategic direction. We are combining our expertise, networks and resources as we work towards a legal merger in January 2027. This will create a single, recognisable centre of expertise for knowledge, education and policy.
The merger will enable us to respond more quickly and effectively to emerging public health challenges and strengthen collaboration with healthcare and education professionals. Our communications and interventions aimed at young people and other vulnerable groups will become clearer, more focused and more effective.
International Impact
The merger will also strengthen our impact internationally. The new organisation will become a more influential partner within European and global networks, enhance the monitoring of health developments and emerging trends, invest in fundraising, promote sexual health, wellbeing and rights, and contribute to reducing the global burden of HIV.
For donors to Rutgers and Aidsfonds, nothing will change. Their donations will continue to support the work they have chosen to fund, and their valuable contributions will be used exclusively for those purposes.
Next Steps
The administrative merger takes effect on 1 July 2026, with Marieke van der Plas (Rutgers) and Mark Vermeulen (Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland) serving as co-executive leaders within a joint management structure.
We are now working towards a legal merger, planned for 1 January 2027, at which point the two organisations will formally become a single legal entity.