The Nationale Postcode Loterij (National Postcode Lottery) is the biggest charity lottery in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1989 by Novamedia, a marketing agency that sets up and runs charity lotteries. As required by the Dutch government, forty percent of the proceeds of this lottery are donated amongst 81 charities, which, in 2010 amounted to over 270 million euros.
Prize winners are the lot owners whose postal code, a code that forms part of the winners' residential address, has been drawn. Hence even if not participating one may still find out that one would have won had one played. Anticipations of post-decisional regret influence decisions to play the Postcode lottery. Until 2012 it was prohibited to use the postal code for commercial purposes, and in that year, the government allowed the postal code to be used commercially. Rechtbank 's-Gravenhage, 21 December 2011, ()
Novamedia has expanded the Postcode Lottery format in several European countries: 2015: Svenska Postkodlotteriet in Sweden, People’s Postcode Lottery in Great Britain. 2016: Deutsche Postcode Lotterie in Germany. 2018: Norsk Postkodelotteri in Norway.
Ambassadors Several notable individuals endorse the lottery, and have been appointed ambassadors, including:
Ambassadors Gaston Starreveld Humberto Tan Winston Gerschtanowitz Caroline Tensen Quinty Trustfull Nicolette van Dam Martijn Krabbé Esther Vergeer Richard Krajicek International ambassadors Rafael Nadal, tennis player Bill Clinton, whose Clinton Foundation is a recipient of proceeds from Nationale Postcode Loterij George Clooney Nadia Murad Roger Federer Katarina Witt Muhammad Yunus Emma Thompson Sarah Brown Nice Nailantei Leng'ete Denis Mukwege Deceased ambassadors Nelson Mandela (the first international ambassador of Nationale Postcode Loterij) Johan Cruyff Desmond Tutu
Proceeds donated to charities Figures are in millions of euros: 2000 - 159.0 2001 - 177.1 2002 - 203.3 2003 - 217.4 2004 - 225.2 2005 - 212.5 2006 - 216.7 2007 - 226.0 2008 - 244.4 2009 - 256.5 2011 - 270.5
Charities Charities receiving proceeds include:
Amnesty International AMREF Flying Doctors ARK Artsen Zonder Grenzen Bellingcat BiD Network BRAC Carbon War Room Clinton Foundation Cordaid Memisa Cordaid Mensen in Nood Dance4Life DARA (international organization) De12Landschappen Defence for Children-ECPAT De Provinciale Milieufederaties De Vrolijkheid Dierenbescherming Dokters van de Wereld Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance European Partnership for Democracy Fairfood International Fair Trade Original Free Voice Fundación Rafa Nadal The Global Fund Goois Natuurreservaat Greenpeace Hivos Humanitas Human Rights Watch ICCO IMC Weekendschool IUCN Nederlands Comité IVN natuur- en milieueducatie Landelijke Vereniging van Wereldwinkels Landschapsbeheer Nederland Leprastichting Liliane Fonds Mama Cash Milieudefensie MYBODY Natuurmonumenten Nederlandse Rode Kruis Nelson Mandela Kinderfonds Oranje Fonds Oxfam Novib
Peace Parks Foundation Plan Nederland Postcode Lottery Green Challenge Prins Claus Fonds Resto VanHarte Rocky Mountain Institute Save the Children Nederland Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Simavi Skanfonds Solidaridad SOS Kinder-dorpen Stichting AAP Stichting Buurtlink Stichting DOEN Stichting Max Havelaar Stichting Natuur en Milieu Stichting Vluchteling Stichting voor Vluchteling-Studenten UAF STOP AIDS NOW! Terre des hommes The Climate Group UNHCR UNICEF University for Peace Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap VluchtelingenWerk Nederland Vogelbescherming Nederland Waddenvereniging War Child Wereld Natuur Fonds World Food Programme
See also Miljoenenjacht - Game show from the Nationale Postcode Loterij that eventually was spun off into the global Deal or No Deal television franchise Eén tegen 100 - Game show from the Nationale Postcode Loterij that eventually was spun off into the global 1 vs. 100 television franchise Postkodmiljonären - Game show from the Svenska Postkodlotteriet that was the Swedish version of the global Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? television franchise
References
External links
Charities receiving proceeds