Stichting AAP — Animal Advocacy and Protection

Stichting AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection) was founded on 14 April 1972 by Okko and Riga Reussien, who had rescued their first primate in the 1960s. Starting out in Amstelveen, it is now based in Almere, in the province of Flevoland, and also runs a second rescue centre, AAP Spain. It has more than 100 employees and over 200 volunteers.

Every year hundreds of animals stay at AAP's two rescue centres. About half are primates, such as chimpanzees, baboons and Barbary macaques; the rest are other exotic mammals, including lions, tigers, servals, raccoons and coatis. Many have been kept as pets, used as photo props for tourists or exploited in circuses; others were illegally traded, confiscated from substandard zoos or retired from laboratories. Where possible AAP finds them a permanent home in a suitable sanctuary or zoo, and it has returned Barbary macaques to the wild. In 2025 Queen Máxima opened its new mammal building in Almere, with 27 flexible enclosures for small primates, servals, raccoons and meerkats.

AAP also campaigns for an EU-wide "positive list" of animals that may be kept as pets, and against wild animals in circuses and the illegal wildlife trade. It is a registered Dutch foundation with ANBI (public benefit) status, so donations can be tax-deductible in the Netherlands.

The Almere rescue centre offers free guided tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, which must be booked in advance (minimum age 12, no dogs). You can donate, adopt an animal symbolically or volunteer through its official website.