Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken

What Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken does

Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken (also known as A/BZ) is a Dutch social design bureau founded in 2011 and headquartered in Rotterdam at Voorhaven 19B. The firm provides professional services centered on social design methodology, combining participatory design, co-creation, qualitative research, design research, and behavioral change interventions to address complex societal challenges ('wicked problems'). Its service portfolio spans twelve interconnected offerings including social design, qualitative and design research, behavioral change, social innovation, and six specialized participation verticals (citizen, youth, patient/client, energy, inclusive, and environmental participation), organized around five transition themes: social welfare, human democracy, equal space, youth empowerment, and sustainable living.

The firm is led by three partners (Jan Belon as Partner & Strategy Director, Jop Japenga as Partner & Research Director, and Gordon Tiemstra as Partner & Coordinator for Sustainable Living) supported by a multi-disciplinary team of approximately 14 members drawing on anthropology, psychology, change management, visual design, and futures thinking. Its primary client base is the Dutch public sector, with documented engagements across 30+ municipalities, provinces, and national ministries including Gemeente Rotterdam, Gemeente Amsterdam, Gemeente Dijk en Waard, Gemeente Schiedam, Ministerie SZW, Ministerie OCW, Dienst Toeslagen, DJI, and COA. Secondary clients include healthcare providers (LUMC, 's Heeren Loo, Surplus) and housing/social organizations.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional service contracts negotiated directly with government and institutional clients; no tier pricing, subscription, or product revenue exists. The firm is privately held with no external funding, no parent company, and no public listing. Distribution operates entirely through direct, relationship-driven consultancy engagements with named partners as primary contact points. The firm markets via its website, Instagram (@afbuza), LinkedIn, email newsletter, conference participation, and the co-founded Social Design Showdown community platform.

Name

Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken

Legal name

Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken

Website

https://afdelingbuitengewonezaken.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken is a Dutch social design bureau founded in 2011, applying participatory design, qualitative research, and co-creation methods to complex societal challenges for Dutch municipalities, ministries, healthcare providers, and social organizations across more than 30 government engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Social Design Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

Keywords

• Social design services
• Citizen participation consulting
• Qualitative research consulting
• Behavioral change consulting
• Social innovation advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Research Services: Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken generates revenue through project-based consulting engagements with government clients (municipalities, provinces, ministries), healthcare organizations, housing corporations, and civil society organizations. Projects involve social design, participatory research, co-creation, and behavioral change interventions. Revenue is derived from professional service fees for research, design, facilitation, and implementation of societal innovation projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken is a Dutch social design bureau that delivers co-creative consulting, qualitative research, design research, and behavioral change services to government bodies, healthcare organizations, and social institutions. Their work centers on designing human-centered solutions to complex societal challenges ('wicked problems') through participatory research, prototyping, and inclusive participation processes. Engagements are project-based, combining ethnographic research, co-creation workshops, and iterative prototyping to redesign public services, citizen participation programs, and societal interventions.

Product overview

Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken is a social design bureau offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services centered on social design methodology. The core offerings include Social Design, Qualitative Research, Design Research, Behavioral Change, and Social Innovation, supported by specialized participation services (Citizen, Youth, Patient/Client, Energy, Inclusive, and Environmental Participation). These services work together within five transition themes: Social Welfare, Human Democracy, Equal Space, Youth Empowerment, and Sustainable Living. The company was founded in 2011 and primarily serves governments, social organizations, and institutions with societal questions. The firm does not offer software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Design
• Kwalitatief Onderzoek (Qualitative Research)
• Ontwerpend Onderzoek (Design Research)
• Gedragsverandering (Behavioral Change)
• Sociale Innovatie (Social Innovation)
• Maatschappelijke Impact (Social Impact)
• Burgerparticipatie (Citizen Participation)
• Jongerenparticipatie (Youth Participation)
• Patiëntenparticipatie en Cliëntenparticipatie (Patient and Client Participation)
• Energieparticipatie (Energy Participation)
• Inclusieve Participatie (Inclusive Participation)
• Omgevingsparticipatie (Environmental Participation)

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully developed and delivered projects for 30+ Dutch municipalities, provinces, and national ministries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KAW-architectencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024KAW-architecten partnered with Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken and Studio Bereikbaar in the 'Fysiek volgt sociaal' (Physical follows Social) project, exploring how to translate the 'physical follows social' principle into practical working methods for area development. KAW contributed architectural and spatial planning expertise to complement ABZ's social design approach.
• Studio BereikbaarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Studio Bereikbaar collaborated with Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken and KAW-architecten on the 'Fysiek volgt sociaal' project, contributing expertise in accessibility and inclusive design to the joint working group exploring how social factors can lead spatial development in neighborhood planning.
• Social Design ShowdownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfdeling Buitengewone Zaken co-initiated the Social Design Showdown platform together with peers from the social design field. The platform connects and deepens the social design discipline in the Netherlands through events, publications, and research — positioning the field and its practitioners.
• MovisieminorOthersMovisie is cited as a key reference organization for social innovation and inclusive participation approaches. ABZ draws on Movisie's frameworks for client support services and diversity approaches in research. No formal partnership structure described.
• Waag FuturelabminorOthersWaag Futurelab is cited alongside Movisie as an organization emphasizing collective action, citizen initiatives, experimentation, and shared ownership in social innovation. ABZ references their work as part of the social innovation framework.
• MET Dijk en WaardminorOthersMET Dijk en Waard is one of the partner organizations in the 'Meedenker' project for the municipality of Dijk en Waard, providing the OCO (Onafhankelijke Cliëntondersteuning) service alongside other local organizations.
• VOA Dijk en WaardminorOthersVOA Dijk en Waard is a partner organization in the Meedenker project, collaborating with ABZ and the municipality to deliver independent client support services.
• De Hoofdzaak Dijk en WaardminorOthersDe Hoofdzaak Dijk en Waard is a partner organization in the Meedenker project for the municipality of Dijk en Waard, contributing to the delivery of independent client support services.
• New WestminorOthersNew West produced experiential videos for the Meedenker project, capturing the stories of real residents of Dijk en Waard to illustrate how the Meedenker service works in practice.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afdeling-buitengewone-zaken
• Instagraminstagram.com/afbuza
• Xx.com/afbuza
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfdelingBuitengewoneZaken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Afdeling Buitengewone Zaken