What Bartimeus does

Bartimeus (Stichting Bartiméus Sonneheerdt) is a Dutch charitable foundation founded in 1915, headquartered in Zeist, Netherlands, and operating as a nationwide expertise organization for people who are blind or partially sighted. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio spanning diagnostic services (a Diagnostic Center for Visual Conditions capable of assessment often within one day), specialized education (special primary and secondary schools SO Zeist, SO Lochem, VSO Zeist, and De Bosschool, plus the REA College for vocational training), residential care (Doorn campus with ~350 residents across 53 homes, Ermelo Parc Viventra and Henriëtte van Heemstra Huis for seniors, and Zeist terrain for young adults), day programs across multiple themed locations, specialized GGZ mental health services, ambulatory guidance, assistive device advisory, and a dedicated CVI Expertise Centre for Cerebral Visual Impairment. The foundation also operates Stichting Accessibility as a wholly-owned subsidiary providing B2B accessibility audits and digital inclusion services, and runs an International CVI Course available free online in English.

The organization employs 1,900+ staff plus approximately 850 volunteers and maintains a research footprint including an academic chair in diagnostics of rare conditions, an academische werkplaats (AFFECT-US), and a lectoraat in Digitale Toegankelijkheid. Proprietary intellectual property includes the CVI Experience Book, MyCVI psycho-education platform, CVI Experience toolbox, and validated novel white-cane crossing techniques (Voorwaartse Stap and Stopgebaar) with published efficacy data.

Revenue is generated through Dutch regulated healthcare funding (Wlz long-term care act and Zvw health insurance for residential care, diagnostics, specialist GGZ, and reimbursed training such as Reizen met Lef), government education funding for special schools and REA College, professional training fees, B2B accessibility consulting via Stichting Accessibility, and donations through the Bartiméus Fonds. Bartimeus is a non-profit foundation — there is no equity, no parent company, and no venture or PE ownership; the entity is governed by its own board and operates under Dutch foundation law.

Name

Bartimeus

Legal name

Stichting Bartiméus Sonneheerdt

Website

https://bartimeus.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Bartimeus is a Dutch charitable foundation, founded in 1915, operating a nationwide expertise organization providing diagnostics, special education, residential care, day programs, and specialized GGZ for blind and partially sighted people across all ages in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Visual Impairment Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Accessibility & Special Needs Equipment (Assistive Devices, Adaptive Furniture, Sensory Rooms) (EDAEAIAM), Accessibility & Special-Needs Customer Support (BPAAABAM), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

Keywords

• Visual impairment care
• Special education services
• Diagnostic eye services
• Residential disability care
• Mobility and accessibility training

Headquarters

HQ city

Zeist

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Services (Wlz/Zvw): Core revenue from residential care, day programs, and healthcare services funded through Dutch long-term care act (Wlz) and health insurance (Zvw). Services include living accommodations, specialist GGZ, diagnostics, and rehabilitation.
2. Education Services: Specialized education for visually impaired students through Bartiméus schools (SO Zeist, SO Lochem, VSO Zeist, De Bosschool in Doorn) and REA College for vocational training.
3. Training Programs: Various training programs for clients and professionals, including Reizen met Lef (travel training) which is reimbursed through health insurance.
4. Donations and Bartiméus Fonds: Voluntary donations through Bartiméus Fonds supporting the organization's mission and activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bartiméus is a Dutch non-profit foundation that provides comprehensive services for people who are blind or partially sighted, including specialist diagnostic assessments (often within one day), specialized primary and vocational education (SO Zeist, SO Lochem, VSO Zeist, De Bosschool, REA College), residential care and day programs, ambulant personal guidance at home/school/work, specialized mental health care (GGZ), mobility and independent travel training, and advisory on assistive devices. Through its CVI Expertise Centre and Stichting Accessibility, it also develops publications, online courses (MyCVI, CVI Course International), and consulting services for professionals and organizations.

Product overview

Bartimeus is a Dutch organization providing comprehensive services for people with visual impairments. The organization operates a unified service model combining healthcare, education, housing, and specialized expertise. Core offerings include the Diagnostic Center for eye condition diagnosis, the CVI Expertise Centre with publications and online courses, specialized education (REA College and multiple schools), residential care (Wonen), day care (Dagbesteding), training programs including Reizen met Lef for independent travel, guidance services, and accessibility consulting through Stichting Accessibility. The organization also produces educational publications including the CVI Experience book and My Child Has CVI handbook. Services are delivered across multiple locations in the Netherlands including Doorn, Zeist, and Ermelo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bartiméus Diagnostic Center: Specialist assessment of eye complaints for children and adults with extensive diagnostic equipment
• Bartiméus CVI Expertise Centre
• Bartiméus Fonds
• Bartiméus Academie
• REA College
• De Bosschool

Products and services

• Diagnostic Center (Diagnostisch Centrum) Specialist diagnostic center conducting assessments to determine the cause of eye complaints in children and adults, with equipment to make correct diagnoses often within one day.
• CVI Expertise Centre Expertise center specializing in Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI), providing publications, tools for habilitation, psycho-education materials, and an online CVI course for international professionals.
• REA College Vocational college offering education for people with visual impairments to prepare them for employment.
• Bartiméus Schools (SO Zeist, SO Lochem, VSO Zeist, De Bosschool) Special education schools for students with visual impairments, including primary, secondary, and special education (SO/VSO) at multiple locations.
• Wonen (Residential Care) Residential care services for adults with visual impairments, including specialized housing for those with multiple disabilities, young adults, seniors, and those with complex care needs.
• Dagbesteding (Day Care) Day care services including various locations such as Historische Theetuin, Kadoshop, Werkplaats Boschwijk, Zorgboerderij Langbroek, and De Fietsenwerkplaats.
• Reizen met Lef Training Training program teaching visually impaired individuals to travel independently using public transport, including e-learning, online introduction, and practical training at stations; reimbursed through Dutch health insurance.
• Begeleiding (Personal Guidance) Personal guidance services including home support, school guidance, work support, and accessibility consulting for people with visual impairments.
• Specialistische GGZ (Specialized Mental Health Care) Specialized mental health care services for people with visual impairments.
• Hulpmiddelen (Assistive Devices) Advice and support on assistive devices and adaptations for people with visual impairments.
• Accessibility Services (Stichting Accessibility) Advisory and expertise services for organizations seeking to improve accessibility for people with disabilities (visual, auditory, physical, cognitive), provided through Stichting Accessibility in Utrecht.
• CVI Course International Online course for international professionals working with children with CVI, covering assessment methods, interventions, psycho-education, and assistive technology; conducted in English.
• My Child Has CVI Book Handbook for parents of young children with CVI, providing tools and advice for dealing with visual perceptual problems to support child development.
• Belevingsactiviteiten (Experience Activities) Experience-based activities for organizations to promote inclusion, allowing visitors to experience what it is like to be blind or partially sighted.

Quantifiable outcome

• Diagnostic assessment often completed within one day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stichting AccessibilitycoreOthersStichting Accessibility is part of Bartiméus and focuses on advisory and expertise services for accessibility for all people with disabilities (visual, auditory, physical, and cognitive). They help companies and organizations make products, services and locations accessible.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koninklijke Visio: The other major Dutch expertise organization for people who are blind or visually impaired, offering overlapping diagnostics, education, residential care, and rehabilitation services across the Netherlands. Direct domestic competitor for referrals, donor funding, and specialized talent.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK charity providing comprehensive support for blind and partially sighted people, including education, residential services, accessibility advice, and assistive products. Closest international functional equivalent to Bartiméus's integrated care-education-accessibility model.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): US non-profit focused on advocacy, research, and accessibility services for blind and low-vision Americans. Comparable mission around accessibility and inclusion, though with less direct service delivery than Bartiméus.
• Guide Dogs (UK): UK charity providing mobility and rehabilitation services (including guide dog training) for people with sight loss. Comparable mobility-training and habilitation focus, particularly relevant to Bartiméus's orientation and mobility expertise.
• CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): Canadian non-profit delivering rehabilitation, education, and advocacy services for people with vision loss, with a national footprint. Highly comparable service mix and funding structure (charitable plus government) to Bartiméus.
• Vision Australia: Australian non-profit providing low-vision services, education, therapy, and assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision. Comparable integrated service model and national scope.
• Lighthouse Guild: US non-profit combining vision healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and behavioral health services for people with vision loss. Operates a comparable integrated clinical, rehabilitative, and educational model.

Regional players

• Sensis: Dutch organization supporting deafblind people and their families, including advisory, education, and rehabilitation services. Regional Dutch peer with overlapping accessibility and multi-disability expertise, though focused on the deafblind segment.
• DBSV (Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband): German umbrella association for blind and partially sighted people, coordinating advocacy, rehabilitation, and accessibility services across Germany. Comparable DACH-level peer serving a different national market than Bartiméus.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins School for the Blind: US-based historic institution serving children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities through education and rehabilitation, with significant international programming. Broader incumbent focused more heavily on education, with comparable special-education depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BartimeusChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bartimeus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bartimeus
• Instagraminstagram.com/bartimeus_nl
• Xx.com/bartimeusnieuws

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bartimeus