Op Stoom

What Op Stoom does

Op Stoom (legal entity: Kinderopvang Op Stoom B.V.) is a privately held Dutch childcare organization founded in 1994 in Haarlem as 'Het Kootertje' and rebranded to its current name in 2010. The company delivers childcare services for children aged 0 to 12 years across 72+ locations in the Haarlem region and adjacent municipalities (Nieuw-Vennep, Bennebroek, Hillegom, Dorst, Breda, Beinsdorp), structured into six care types: kinderdagverblijf (KDV, 0-4 years), peuteropvang (2-4 years), buitenschoolse opvang (BSO, 4-12 years), voorschoolse opvang (VSO), tussenschoolse opvang (TSO), and vakantieopvang (holiday care). The portfolio is supplemented by activity-based clubs (SportClub, RoboClub, PonyClub, Kunst- en MediaClub), the Reizigers programme of roving activity specialists, an in-school lessons programme (Op Stoom op School), and a PonyClub operated in partnership with Stal Jasper manege.

The technology layer is operational rather than product-centric: child planning and parent/child data processing run on KidsKonnect; the OuderApp and web portal are powered by Konnect; attendance flexibility is managed through a proprietary opvangpunten (attendance points) system allowing parents to earn and redeem points for cancelled/extra days (capped at 500). Approximately 560 staff ('Op Stoom'ers') serve an estimated ~7,500-parent customer base, with internal quality assurance via a pedagogisch beleids- en kwaliteitsmedewerker and GGD regulatory inspections.

Revenue is generated through monthly recurring subscription contracts billed in advance via automatic direct debit, with location-specific pricing disclosed through an online calculator. Parents typically apply for the Dutch government childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag), which subsidizes a majority of gross fees. Ancillary revenue comes from pony riding association fees (€18/year to Stal Jasper) and extra-day BSO usage (~€11.98/morning). The entire organization has grown 'compleet op eigen kracht' (entirely on its own steam) since 1998, with no external funding, under founder/owners Pheneke Koot and Rob Dinklo and a current two-person directorship of Renate Quispel and Linda.

Name

Op Stoom

Legal name

Kinderopvang Op Stoom

Website

https://opstoom.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Op Stoom is a privately held Dutch childcare organization operating 72+ locations across the Haarlem region, providing kinderdagverblijf, peuteropvang, and buitenschoolse opvang for children aged 0-12, with roughly 560 staff serving approximately 7,500 families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

School-Age Wraparound Care (Ages 3–5) (EDACAHAA), Holiday, Inset-Day & Break Coverage Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAK), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB)

Keywords

• Child day care
• After-school care
• Toddler care
• Before-school care
• School holiday care

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Kinderdagverblijf (KDV) - Child Day Care Contracts: Monthly recurring contracts for full-day childcare for children from birth to approximately 4 years. Billed monthly in advance via automatic direct debit. Prices vary by location. Parents can apply for government childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) via the Belastingdienst. Cancellation requires one month's written notice.
2. Peuteropvang (Toddler Care) Contracts: Monthly recurring contracts for toddler childcare (ages 2-4). May be half-day or full-day. Part of the same billing infrastructure as KDV. Prices vary by location.
3. Buitenschoolse Opvang (BSO) - After-School Care Contracts: Monthly recurring contracts for before-school, after-school, and holiday care for school-age children (4-12 years). Offered as 'inclusief' (including holidays) or 'exclusief' (excluding holidays) packages. Billed monthly. Extra days can be purchased with accumulated opvangpunten or paid via invoice at approximately €11.98 per extra morning.
4. Extra Services and Activities: Additional revenue from supplementary services including pony riding lessons (via Stal Jasper manege, with a €18 annual association fee charged by the manege separately), specialized clubs (RoboClub, SportClub, Kunst- en MediaClub at no extra cost), and lesson series (cooking, theatre, sports, skating). These activities are optional add-ons billed separately.
5. Vakantieopvang (Holiday Care): Full-day holiday childcare is available at BSO locations during school holidays (including summer), billed as part of 'inclusief' BSO contracts or as extra paid days for 'exclusief' contract holders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Op Stoom provides licensed childcare services for children aged 0 to 12 in the Haarlem region of the Netherlands through three core service types: kinderdagverblijf (full-day care for 0-4 year olds), peuteropvang (toddler care for 2-4 year olds), and buitenschoolse opvang (after-school care for 4-12 year olds). Care is sold via monthly recurring subscriptions at location-specific rates, with parents eligible for Dutch government childcare allowance. The organization operates over 72 physical locations, supplemented by school-based BSO co-location, a roving Reizigers specialist program, hobby-focused Clubs, and an Op Stoom op School in-school lessons program.

Product overview

Op Stoom is a childcare organization operating in the Haarlem area (Netherlands) offering a comprehensive childcare portfolio. The core offerings consist of Kinderdagverblijf (full-day childcare for 0-4 year olds), Peuteropvang (toddler care for 2-4 year olds), and Buitenschoolse opvang (BSO - out-of-school care for 4-12 year olds). These are supplemented by specialized sub-products: Voorschoolse opvang (before-school care), Tussenschoolse opvang (midday care), and Vakantieopvang (holiday care). Beyond standard childcare, Op Stoom offers differentiated programs including Join the Clubs (hobby-focused BSO clubs such as SportClub, RoboClub, and PonyClub), Op Stoom op School (custom lessons delivered in schools by Op Stoom staff), and the Reizigers program (traveling specialists who visit locations with themed activities). Parents engage with Op Stoom through the Konnect-powered OuderApp and web portal. The organization was founded in 1994 as 'Het Kootertje' and rebranded to Op Stoom in 2010. Currently operates approximately 19 KDV locations, 12 peuteropvang locations, and 41 BSO locations across the Haarlem region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kinderdagverblijf (KDV) Full-day childcare for children aged 0 to 4 years in licensed KDV locations, with vertical age-mixed groups allowing children to stay in the same group for up to four years. Sold via monthly subscription contracts at location-specific rates, eligible for Dutch government childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag).
• Peuteropvang Toddler care for children aged 2 to 4 years, offered as half-day or full-day sessions, providing playful preparation for primary school. Sold via monthly subscription contracts.
• Buitenschoolse opvang (BSO) Out-of-school care for school-age children (4-12 years) offered as 'inclusief' (including school holidays) or 'exclusief' (excluding holidays) monthly subscriptions, including activity clubs and free play. Primarily co-located within partner primary schools.
• Voorschoolse opvang (VSO) Before-school care offered at select BSO locations from 7:30 AM until the school day starts, billed via monthly subscription.
• Tussenschoolse opvang (TSO) Midday care covering the lunch period between morning and afternoon school sessions.
• Vakantieopvang Full-day holiday care during school vacations (7:30-18:30) with special activities and excursions, offered at BSO locations. Included in BSO inclusief contracts; paid as extra days for exclusief contract holders.
• Join the Clubs Hobby-focused BSO clubs offering specialized programming: SportClub (Haarlem and Duinwijck), Buitenbende (Bloemendaal), RoboClub, Kunst- en MediaClub (Nieuw-Vennep), and PonyClub (Beinsdorp horse riding). Included in BSO contracts at no extra charge (PonyClub carries a separate €18 annual manege association fee).
• Op Stoom op School In-school lessons program where Op Stoom staff with diverse specialisms (cooks, technicians, athletes, musicians, artists, theatre and film makers) deliver custom curriculum-enrichment lesson packages to schools. Available in Haarlem, Nieuw-Vennep, and Bennebroek.
• OuderApp en Ouderportaal Parent communication app (iOS/Android) and web portal (opstoom.ouderportaal.nl) powered by Konnect, enabling self-service registration, attendance scheduling, opvangpunten management, invoice access, photo sharing, and direct messaging with staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• Parent satisfaction tracked via annual Verbetermeter survey, sent to approximately 7,500 parents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Makers UniteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Op Stoom and Makers Unite established a sustainable collaboration for producing company clothing (bedrijfskleding). Makers Unite is known for producing clothing in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. This partnership supports Op Stoom's sustainability and social responsibility credentials.
• MeneerTjes SlodDe & VosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration for two exclusive 'Op Stoom' shows at Patronaat (a Haarlem venue) on Sunday, February 12 (2023). MeneerTjes SlodDe & Vos are performers who created exclusive performances for Op Stoom families, supporting community-building and marketing events.
• GGD (Health Service)coreOthers · 1 January 2023Op Stoom is subject to GGD inspections (inspecties) for all locations. GGD inspectors review pedagogy, staff, groups, safety and health, accommodation, facilities, and parent communication. GGD inspections can be announced or unannounced, and also occur after renovations or new location openings. Op Stoom is legally required to exchange data with the GGD for inspection purposes.
• Bes(t)4kids / St. EustatiusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Op Stoom is a partner of Bes(t)4kids, a program to improve childcare quality on St. Eustatius (Caribisch Nederland / BES islands). An exchange program was established — digital in the first year due to COVID, then in-person visits in both directions. Colleagues from St. Eustatius visited Op Stoom in April (year not specified). The partnership reflects Op Stoom's commitment to social responsibility and international knowledge sharing in childcare.
• International School HaarlemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Sunrise Club (before-school care) and After School Club (after-school care) exclusively serve children from the International School Haarlem. This exclusive school partnership provides a captive customer base for Op Stoom's international-focused before/after-school services.
• KidsKonnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationKidsKonnect is the software platform used by Op Stoom for child planning, data processing of parents and children, and contract management. A data processing agreement (verwerkingsovereenkomst) is in place with KidsKonnect. KidsKonnect handles the operational data essential to running Op Stoom's childcare services, including placement planning and communication.
• Stal Jasper ManegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStal Jasper manege provides the facilities and horse riding instruction for Op Stoom's PonyClub BSO in Beinsdorp. Children in the PonyClub attend the regular manege lessons. Parents pay an annual association fee of €18 to the Manege & Ruiterbond separately. The partnership enables Op Stoom to offer horse riding as a specialized BSO club activity without owning equestrian facilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AcadeMedia: Northern European education and care operator with significant preschool and after-school segments across Sweden, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands. Comparable as an incumbent in the broader early-childhood education and out-of-school care ecosystem.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Largest publicly listed global provider of childcare and early education, including employer-sponsored and partner-school models. Conceptually comparable to Op Stoom's employer-sponsored angles and school-embedded BSO, but operates at vastly greater scale and across geographies.

Direct peers

• Humankind: Large Dutch childcare and youth services organization providing KDV, BSO, and out-of-school programming with strong regional density. Overlaps with Op Stoom in service taxonomy (child day care, after-school care), GGD regulatory exposure, and parent-app centric communication.
• Partou: One of the largest dedicated childcare organizations in the Netherlands, operating hundreds of KDV and BSO locations nationwide. Direct comparison to Op Stoom on product mix (day care, toddler care, after-school care), subscription pricing model, and parent-facing digital portal.
• DAK Kinderopvang: Amsterdam-region childcare provider (KDV, PO, BSO) with multiple locations across the Randstad. Similar scale profile to Op Stoom and directly comparable in urban-region density, municipal-contract exposure, and school-partnership BSO model.
• BLOS Kinderopvang: Dutch operator focused on nature-based and activity-rich childcare (KDV and BSO) with branded activity clubs and outdoor pedagogy. Closely comparable to Op Stoom's distinctive pedagogical philosophy ('Typisch Op Stoom'), Reizigers program, and outdoor/nature-garden emphasis.
• Babilou Family: European multi-country childcare operator with a significant Netherlands presence, operating KDV and BSO sites. Comparable in scale trajectory, multi-stakeholder model (parents, employers, schools), and recurring subscription revenue structure.
• Sportiff: Dutch activity-focused BSO and childcare brand that integrates sports and movement into its programs. Strongly comparable to Op Stoom's SportClub Duinwijck, SportClub Haarlem, and club-based BSO differentiation.
• KidsFoundation: Dutch multi-brand childcare operator running nurseries and after-school care under multiple labels across the country. Comparable to Op Stoom in offering KDV, PO, and BSO services with recurring monthly contracts and government-subsidized (kinderopvangtoeslag) billing.

Regional players

• Puk & Zo / Spelenderwijs: Smaller Dutch childcare operator with a regional footprint and pedagogically distinctive branding. Overlaps with Op Stoom on toddler care (peuteropvang) and BSO product offerings but does not match its scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/2Pw104UZ6tSrQsNXRJ4dC4
• Facebookfacebook.com/opstoom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kinderopvang-op-stoom-voorheen-het-kootertje-bv-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Op Stoom