Klap's seventh acquisition, advised by Hogenhouck M&A
Klap Insurance Broker, a division of Ardonagh Nederland, has acquired Vast & Zeker Business Insurance in Apeldoorn. Hogenhouck M&A advised Klap on the transaction. This marks the seventh acquisition that Klap and Hogenhouck M&A have completed together and Klap’s fifth acquisition this year (2026). All acquisitions were completed with the guidance of Hogenhouck M&A.
Business Consulting Since 2004
Vast & Zeker Business Insurance was founded in 2004 and specializes in business insurance for entrepreneurs in various sectors. The team consists of eight employees, including owner Ferdi Woudenberg.
Fifth acquisition this year
With Vast & Zeker, Klap is continuing its buy-and-build strategy. Earlier this year, AV Verzekeringen (Woudenberg), Assurantiekantoor Klaassen (Weurt), Berkenhof Employee Benefits (Rotterdam), and Segerink Adviesgroep (Leusden) were added to the group. Bijdorp Holland (Sassenheim) is also part of Klap.
Hogenhouck M&A has been supporting Klap since mid-2024 in identifying and facilitating acquisitions. At Hogenhouck, Rik Stikkelbroeck, Founding Partner, and Tijs Koolen, Analyst, are responsible for implementing the acquisition strategy. In this process, Klap is explicitly seeking firms with a recognizable DNA and a shared vision for the future. In addition to the financial figures, the company’s profile, its management, and its relationships with clients are key considerations.
Rik Stikkelbroeck, on the collaboration with Klap: “Klap is a pleasure to work with. This is reflected in the short lines of communication; we interact on a daily basis with the M&A team—composed of Jasper Breeman and Leon Knottnerus—and the line of communication to CEO René Smit is also direct (previously the same with Wim Hekstra). The clarity of the offers (“what you see is what you get”)—in other words, Klap is not a buyer—means they evaluate the parties in a mature manner and do not unnecessarily complicate the transaction structure (no earn-outs or vendor loans). Klap prioritizes time and quality. In short, a client we’re proud to work with.”
A Broad Foundation for Acceleration
Wim Hekstra, former CEO of Ardonagh Nederland, spoke with AM last year about Klap’s acquisition strategy. “Under the Klap banner, we’re carefully assessing what’s a good fit for us. We want to move up in that ranking (AM Top 100 Intermediaries, ed.). Not for the sake of the ranking itself, but running a modern insurance company costs a lot of money. With a broad base, you can accelerate growth,” he said at the time. Hekstra was succeeded in June by Chairman René Smit, who is serving as interim CEO.
