Sint-Gerardus

What Sint-Gerardus does

Sint-Gerardus (legal entity: Dienstencentrum Sint-Gerardus) is a Flemish-government-licensed Type 4 non-profit organization founded in 1957 and headquartered at Sint-Gerardusdreef 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium, with additional operations in Hasselt. It delivers integrated specialized education and care for children, young people, and adults with (neuro)motor disabilities, serving 564 children/young people through a 371-staff multidisciplinary workforce supplemented by 100 volunteers and 20 transport buses. Service lines span toddler care (Peutertuin Kiekeboe in Hasselt), specialized primary education (BuBaO, 12 classes), specialized secondary education (BuSO with OV1 and OV4/mOVe 4ward tracks totaling 107 students), a Medical Flexible Centre (MFC) providing residential and day care for children, youth, and adults, a service center (Dienstencentrum), the adult day center Dagcentrum Ac'cent, leisure/sports programming (Dienst Vrije Tijd, formerly Sport & Cultuur), hippotherapy, the (h)ARS art project, and a student-run BuSO Workshop producing handcrafts.

The core operating model combines on-campus service delivery with a community-led go-to-market: services are government-subsidized under Type 4 per-capita frameworks, while capital and discretionary projects are funded through donations (fiscal attestation issued from EUR 40), corporate and service-club sponsorships (Rotary, Kiwanis, Cegeka, Nike Community Impact Fund, CERA, Carglass, etc.), passive online-shopping commissions via Trooper, and a Shopify-based webshop selling calendars, speculaas, Easter packages, and adapted aids (e.g., aangepaste drinkbeker). The organization sits within Stijn vzw, a Belgian care network of 2000+ employees across Limburg, Antwerpen, and Vlaams-Brabant that provides shared services and an innovation fund. Pricing is publicly disclosed for retail products (e.g., EUR 7 calendars, EUR 9 family planners, EUR 10/kg speculaas) but not for the subsidized service lines; core technology is a generic integrated education-and-care platform with no disclosed proprietary AI or automation layers.

Customer segments are pure-persona: children with (neuro)motor disabilities (primary), toddlers with developmental needs, adults with motor disabilities, and their families/caregivers, with no enterprise B2B customers. Marketing and fundraising flow through Facebook, the sintgerardus.be website, the OUKI parent council, service clubs, and direct community outreach rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Sint-Gerardus

Legal name

Dienstencentrum Sint-Gerardus

Website

https://sintgerardus.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sint-Gerardus is a Flemish Type 4 non-profit in Diepenbeek, Belgium, providing integrated specialized education, residential and day care, and therapeutic services for 564 children, young people, and adults with (neuro)motor disabilities, funded primarily by government subsidies, donations, and community sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialized Education and Disability Care Services

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Accessibility & Special Needs Equipment (Assistive Devices, Adaptive Furniture, Sensory Rooms) (EDAEAIAM)

Keywords

• Specialized education services
• Disability care services
• Residential care facilities
• Therapeutic support services
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Diepenbeek

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: Primary funding from Flemish government for specialized education and care services Type 4
2. Donations and Gifts: Financial contributions from individuals and organizations, with fiscal attest issued for donations of 40 EUR or more
3. Webshop Sales: Sale of handcrafted products, art calendars, speculaas, Easter packages, and custom gifts through the BuSO workshop and Dagcentrum Ac'cent
4. Project Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors fund specific projects and equipment needs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sint-Gerardus is a non-profit specialized education and care center for children, young people, and adults with (neuro)motor disabilities. It provides integrated services including specialized primary and secondary education (BuBaO, BuSO), toddler care (Peutertuin Kiekeboe), medical flexible center residential and day care (MFC), multidisciplinary therapeutic support, leisure activities, hippotherapy, and an art project. The organization also sells handcrafted products and art calendars via a webshop and on-campus pickup to support its mission.

Product overview

Sint-Gerardus is a specialized care and education center for persons with (neuro)motor disabilities, offering an integrated approach of education and care. The organization operates multiple services including: Peuters (toddler care at Peutertuin Kiekeboe in Hasselt), BuBaO (specialized primary education with 12 classes), BuSO (specialized secondary education with OV1 and OV4 programs), MFC (medical flexible center for children, youth, and adults), Dienstencentrum (service center), and Dagcentrum Ac'cent (day center producing handmade crafts). The BuSO Workshop operates as a school enterprise producing art calendars and seasonal packages. Additional services include leisure activities (Dienst Vrije Tijd), hippotherapy, the [h]ARS art project, and an e-commerce webshop for crafts and adapted products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dagcentrum Ac'cent: Adult day center offering handmade cards, candles, ceramics, and gift baskets.
• (h)ARS
• Kiekeboe

Products and services

• Peutertuin Kiekeboe (Toddler Care) Toddler care services for young children with potential motor or developmental needs, provided by a multidisciplinary team that cares for and stimulates toddlers with attention to early intervention.
• BuBaO (Buitengewoon Basisonderwijs) Specialized primary education for children with (neuro)motor disabilities, offering 12 classes for toddlers and children, delivered with an Omnivista learning platform supported by Cegeka sponsorship.
• BuSO (Buitengewoon Secundair Onderwijs) Specialized secondary education including OV1 (65 students) and OV4/mOVe 4ward campus (42 students) for young people with motor disabilities, including a school enterprise producing annual art calendars and Easter packages.
• MFC (Medisch Flexibel Centrum) Medical flexible center providing residential and day care for children, young people, and adults with (neuro)motor disabilities, including sensory materials and Cloudcuddle equipment sponsored by partners.
• Dagcentrum Ac'cent (Day Center) Adult day center offering handmade cards, candles, ceramics, and gift baskets filled with homemade treats, also used as a pickup point for webshop orders.
• Dienst Vrije Tijd (Leisure Service) Leisure service organizing weekly activities including wheelchair hockey, boccia, omnisport, netball, football, cycling, and offering adapted sports equipment, plus the annual speculaas cookie sale.
• Hippotherapy Horse-assisted therapy provided by volunteers for children and young people, with safety equipment sponsored by Carglass.
• [h]ARS Art Project Art project connecting art with the stories of young artists with (neuro)motor disabilities, creating unique art pieces for auction; auctioneer Armand Schreurs; selection by Koen Vanmechelen, Sofie Van de Velde, Nele Bynens.
• BuSO Workshop (Schoolonderneming) Webshop Online store (sint-gerardus.myshopify.com) selling handcrafted products, annual art calendars, speculaas cookies, Easter packages, gift baskets, candles, ceramics, and adapted drinking cups produced by the BuSO workshop and Dagcentrum Ac'cent.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rotary Genk NoordcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 August 2024Service club sponsors outings for children, such as trips to Plopsa theme park. Provides both financial sponsorship and volunteer assistance during activities.
• Trekker trek DiepenbeekcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2024Local organization sponsored Explorer mini (electric mobility solution for young children with motor disabilities), adapted learning materials, and lab equipment totaling 3,803.52 EUR.
• Cegeka Groep NVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored Omnivista BuBaO for 15,649.72 EUR.
• CarglassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored horse riding helmets for hippotherapy (1,000 EUR).
• BNI FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored tablet for Mind Express bediening BuBaO (316.50 EUR).
• Rotary Borgloon HaspengouwminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored kauw- en bijtmateriaal for BuBaO (125.30 EUR).
• CERAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored gezellige buitenplaats for campus volwassenen (6,451.89 EUR).
• Serviceclub Carpe NoctemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored beweegplek project for active play during breaks at BuSO (1,138.45 EUR).
• Improve BVBA and Multiple Sponsors (Wim Claes Transport & Logistiek, DSSV nv, LMP, Jumi Plastics, Landi, Nice Move 2 BVBA, Witon BV, Kiwanis Diepenbeek, Dhr. Julien Smeers)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint sponsors of fietsenpark renovation totaling 53,975.55 EUR.
• Markant Bilzen and Fifty-One Club TongerenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored mirrors for kleuterspeelplaats (2,708.98 EUR).
• KI-Elektro DiepenbeekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored paal met 2 roeren for BuBaO (473.11 EUR).
• Belisia svminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored rolstoelcarwash for Dienst aanpassingen en hulpmiddelen (1,849.20 EUR).
• Bouwbedrijf JanssenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored sensorische materialen for MFC (DAH) (1,637.43 EUR).
• CloudcuddleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored Cloudcuddle for MFC (DAH) (1,727.03 EUR).
• TroopercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping platform where Sint-Gerardus receives commissions from partner retailers (Coolblue, Booking.com, Colruyt, Torfs, Hema, JBC, etc.) at no extra cost to shoppers.
• VIGOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored taaltest for Logo Kinderen (1,452.41 EUR).
• Sysmex Belgium NVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored speelblokken for Verblijf Kinderen (250 EUR).
• Stijn vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing shared services, innovation funding, and administrative support. Sint-Gerardus is part of Stijn vzw network of care entities in Limburg, Antwerpen, and Vlaams-Brabant with 2000+ employees.
• h(ARS) KunstprojectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt project connecting art with stories of young artists with (neuro)motor disabilities. Creates unique art pieces for auction, veilingmeester Armand Schreurs, selected by Koen Vanmechelen, Sofie Van de Velde, Nele Bynens.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• L'Arche International: International federation of communities supporting people with intellectual disabilities through shared living and day programs. Broad incumbent because it operates at much larger scale and global footprint while offering overlapping residential and day-care services.
• Camphill Communities: International movement of intentional communities providing education, therapy, and supported living for children and adults with disabilities. Broad incumbent comparable to Sint-Gerardus on integrated education-residential-therapy model but globally distributed.

Direct peers

• Stijn vzw: Sint-Gerardus's parent network operating multiple care entities across Limburg, Antwerpen, and Vlaams-Brabant with 2000+ employees. Direct peer because sister entities deliver comparable integrated education and care services for persons with disabilities under the same operational model.
• Dominiek Savio: Belgian organization in Gits providing education, residential care, and therapeutic services for children and young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct peer because of parallel integrated education, residential, and therapy offerings.
• Spermalie: Belgian special education and care organization based in Bruges serving children and young people with disabilities. Direct peer because it mirrors Sint-Gerardus's integrated education-plus-care approach for similar populations in Flanders.
• Koninklijk Instituut Woluwe: Brussels-based special education institution offering specialized primary and secondary education for children with disabilities. Direct peer because it provides comparable type-specialized education programs in the Belgian regulatory framework.
• De Kade vzw: Flemish organization offering education, care, and support services for children, young people, and adults with disabilities. Direct peer because it spans the same life-stage education and care continuum Sint-Gerardus provides.
• MPI Oosterlo: Flemish Medisch-Pedagogisch Instituut providing residential, educational, and therapeutic services for children with disabilities. Direct peer because the MPI model closely parallels Sint-Gerardus's MFC + BuBaO/BuSO integrated structure.

Emerging players

• Special Olympics Belgium: Belgian arm of the Special Olympics movement offering sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Emerging player with partial overlap to Sint-Gerardus's Dienst Vrije Tijd leisure and adapted sports programming.

Others

• Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen: Belgian Red Cross Flanders, a large humanitarian and care organization. Adjacent comparison because it operates broader non-profit health and social assistance programs in the same Belgian regulatory landscape, though not a direct education/care competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Sint-Gerardus