What Wurkjouwer does

Wurkjouwer is a Dutch social enterprise and re-integration day-activity center, operating as a subsidiary of Pastiel within the broader Empatec social-employment group, with two workshop locations in Sneek (Súdwest-Fryslân) and Haskerhorne (De Fryske Marren). The organization delivers personalized activation and re-integration trajectories for statushouders (refugees with residency status), uitkeringsgerechtigden (benefit recipients), and individuals with disabilities, mental health challenges, addiction recovery needs, or post-illness re-entry requirements. Its core service model combines Dutch language practice, structured daily activity, soft-skill coaching, and hands-on work in a real workshop environment covering woodworking, metalwork, sewing/atelier (producing bags and cushions from recycled sailcloth and tarpaulins), bicycle repair and redistribution, furniture upcycling from pallets and glassbokken, gardening, cooking, cleaning, painting, and ICT/administrative tasks. Technical capabilities include 3D printing and laser cutting/engraving, with partnerships delivering accredited training (Firda Entreeopleiding, welding) and embedded digital literacy via the Digitaalhuis program.

Wurkjouwer's revenue model is dominated by bilateral municipal re-integration contracts with Gemeente De Fryske Marren and Gemeente Súdwest-Fryslân, under which participants are referred through municipal gebiedsteams (area teams) and Pastiel coaches, then matched to customized trajectory plans. A minor fee-for-service revenue stream is generated through the Hand-and-Spand (Klusdienst) handyman service offered to De Fryske Marren residents at €5/hour or €15/half-day. Additional value is created through a circular-economy material exchange — since late 2017 with Recycle Boulevard (Omrin) and multiple local SMBs (Douma Staal, Regts, Cnossen, Alfa Laval, Limor, Mind-Up, Glashandel Sneek) — in which surplus wood, bicycle wheels, and glassbokken are delivered to Wurkjouwer and returned as upcycled furniture sold through Recycle Boulevard stores. Customer concentration is therefore structurally high: two public-sector principals account for the bulk of revenue and the entire participant pipeline.

The organization operates with a small core staff (7 employees per the firmographic record), operates within a much larger Empatec group (1,300 employees across 8 werkbedrijven, with 250+ cumulative employment placements referenced), and reports modest but tangible employment outcomes including 19 participants transitioned to regular employment as of the May 2019 Haskerhorne opening. Wurkjouwer maintains a website and an active Facebook page as its primary external channels, with no paid marketing or commercial sales motion; demand generation is essentially the municipal referral system. Strategic context: this is a publicly funded, mission-driven social enterprise rather than a venture-backable technology business, with its competitive moat grounded in regulatory relationships and local ecosystem embeddedness rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Wurkjouwer

Legal name

Wurkjouwer

Website

https://wurkjouwer.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wurkjouwer is a Dutch social re-integration enterprise, subsidiary of Pastiel, operating workshop-based activation programs in Sneek and Haskerhorne for refugees, benefit recipients, and individuals with support needs, funded primarily through municipal contracts with De Fryske Marren and Súdwest-Fryslân.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Reintegration Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Resettlement, Relocation & Repatriation Support (BPADAHAD)

Keywords

• Social reintegration services
• Work activation programs
• Vocational training workshops
• Municipal employment services
• Circular economy upcycling

Headquarters

HQ city

Haskerhorne

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Re-integration Contracts: Wurkjouwer is funded primarily through agreements with municipalities De Fryske Marren and Sudewest-Fryslan. Municipal area teams refer participants for activation and re-integration trajectories. This is the core funding mechanism and represents the majority of revenue. Participants follow a structured trajectory plan with coaching support aimed at re-entering regular employment or society.
2. Hand-and-Spand Services (Klusdienst): Wurkjouwer offers a paid handyman/hand-and-spand service to residents of De Fryske Marren. The service is priced at 5 EUR per hour, or 15 EUR per half-day. Stortkosten (disposal fees) are charged separately to the customer. This provides minor fee-for-service revenue.
3. Recycled Product Exchange: Wurkjouwer exchanges materials with Recycle Boulevard and local businesses. Companies supply materials (wood, bicycles, glassbokken, etc.) and Wurkjouwer returns finished recycled products (furniture, bags, etc.). This circular economy model generates value through material exchange rather than direct revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wurkjouwer delivers personalized activation and reintegration trajectories for statushouders (refugees with residency permits), benefit recipients (uitkeringsgerechtigden), and individuals with support needs. Participants engage in workshop-based activities such as woodworking, metalwork, sewing/atelier, bicycle repair, furniture upcycling, vegetable gardening, cooking, cleaning, and ICT, complemented by Dutch language practice, Digitaalhuis digital literacy training, and Firda/Entreeopleiding education pathways. A separate low-cost handyman (klusdienst) service is sold directly to residents, and finished recycled products are returned through Recycle Boulevard and partner businesses as part of a circular economy model.

Product overview

Wurkjouwer is a social work and reintegration organization (not a technology product) offering a unified set of activation and work readiness services. The core offering consists of personalized reintegration trajectories, Dutch language training, and diverse work activities including creative workshops (atelier), bicycle repair, vegetable garden, furniture repair and recycling, wood and metal working, painting, cleaning, cooking, and maintenance services. Training and education programs supplement the work activities, including Firda/Entreeopleiding, Digitaalhuis digital literacy, and individual customized education. Additional services include handyman/odd jobs for municipality residents and work experience placements (WEP) that can lead to employment contracts. All services are delivered through locations in Sneek (Súdwest-Fryslân) and Haskerhorne (De Fryske Marren), in collaboration with municipalities and the parent organization Pastiel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Activatie- en Re-integratietrajecten
• Hand- en Spandiensten (Klussenservice)
• Werkervaringsplek (WEP)
• Training en Opleiding
• Schoonmaakdiensten
• Creatieve Werkplaats en Atelier
• Meubel Opknappen en Recycling

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 participants transitioned to regular employment at the time of the Haskerhorne opening (May 2019)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Friesland CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Mentioned as a collaboration partner during the opening of the Haskerhorne location in May 2019, alongside Wurkjouwer and Empatec. The nature of the collaboration appears to relate to educational pathways for participants.
• Recycle Boulevard (Omrin)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Since end 2017, Wurkjouwer and Recycle Boulevard (formerly Estafette) maintain a circular economy partnership. Recycle Boulevard supplies surplus materials (wood, bicycle wheels) via truck to Wurkjouwer Sneek. Wurkjouwer participants transform these into furniture (tables, chairs, planters, benches), which are returned to Recycle Boulevard stores for sale.
• PastielcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPastiel is the parent organization of Wurkjouwer. Pastiel coaches conduct intake sessions with participants and create personalized trajectory plans. After Wurkjouwer trajectories are completed, participants can transition to Pastiel for guided support toward paid employment. Pastiel also refers participants to Wurkjouwer for workshop-based activation activities.
• Gemeente De Fryske MarrencoreOthersThe municipality of De Fryske Marren is a founding partner and primary funder of Wurkjouwer. It refers participants through its social services, commissions the handyman/klusdienst, and is represented at Wurkjouwer events by officials (e.g., wethouder Lucienne Boelsma).
• Gemeente Sudwest-FryslancoreOthersThe municipality of Sudwest-Fryslan is a founding partner and primary funder of Wurkjouwer. It refers participants via its gebiedsteam (area team) for the Sneek location and commissions Wurkjouwer for civic projects such as election support cleaning.
• Gemeente De Fryske Marren - Handyman/KlusdienstcoreOthersThe municipality of De Fryske Marren commissioned Wurkjouwer to provide a hand-and-spand (klusdienst) service for its residents. Wurkjouwer participants execute the work under supervision, providing a low-cost service (5 EUR/hour) to residents while giving participants real work experience.
• Empatec MeubelmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpatec Meubel, part of the Empatec group, produces plastic protective screens used at polling stations during elections. Wurkjouwer and Empatec jointly supported the 2021 Tweede Kamerverkiezingen in Sudwest-Fryslan. Empatec Meubel also provides a metalworking department that supports Wurkjouwer's welding training programs.
• Firda (Friesland College)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirda provides Dutch language lessons to status holders (statushouders) two days per week at Wurkjouwer De Fryske Marren, focused on language support and practical situations. Firda also offers an Entreeopleiding (Level 1) for status holders, combining classroom education with Wurkjouwer workshop practice. Additionally, Wurkjouwer collaborates with Firda for welding training through Empatec's metal department.
• Digitaalhuis (Digital Literacy House)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Digitaalhuis is embedded at Wurkjouwer's Joure location in partnership with the local library, Stichting Lezen en Schrijven (Foundation for Reading and Writing), and the municipality of De Fryske Marren. It provides digital literacy, basic literacy, and numeracy support to participants who struggle with learning or lack computer skills. Two language coaches provide on-site support and instruction.
• Glashandel SneekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlashandel Sneek supplies surplus wooden glassbokken (glass racks) to Wurkjouwer, which are upcycled into furniture such as garden chairs, planters, and lamps. This circular economy partnership was facilitated by Glashandel's proximity to Wurkjouwer's Sneek location.
• Douma StaalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal steel company partnering with Wurkjouwer for recycling. Douma Staal supplies materials that Wurkjouwer processes into recycled products.
• RegtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner supplying materials to Wurkjouwer's recycling operations.
• CnossenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal infrastructure company partnering with Wurkjouwer on recycling.
• LimorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner supplying materials to Wurkjouwer's recycling operations.
• Mind-UpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner supplying materials to Wurkjouwer's recycling operations.
• Alfa LavalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company on Wurkjouwer's Samenwerken page, supplying materials for recycling.
• Kringloopwinkel EstafetteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNow rebranded as Recycle Boulevard, this local secondhand shop is part of the circular economy partnership with Wurkjouwer, accepting and selling the furniture and products made from recycled materials.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WerkPro: WerkPro is a social employment organization in Groningen offering workshop-based reintegration, training, and work experience to vulnerable groups. It mirrors Wurkjouwer's combination of municipal contracts, workshop activities, and trainee-to-employment pathways, operating in a neighboring northern Dutch province.
• Pantar: Pantar is one of the largest Dutch social employment organizations, based in Amsterdam, operating work and activation programs for people with a distance to the labor market. Its operating model — workshop-based reintegration funded by municipalities — closely matches Wurkjouwer's, but at much larger scale and in a different geography.
• Dichterbij: Dichterbij is a Dutch social enterprise supporting people with intellectual disabilities and support needs through day activities, work, and housing. While it focuses on a narrower population than Wurkjouwer, its workshop-day-activity model and reliance on government funding make it a comparable operating peer.
• Empatec: Empatec is the parent social enterprise group operating across Friesland (1,300 employees, 8 work companies). Wurkjouwer is a Pastiel/Empatec subsidiary and directly shares Empatec's metal department, election civic projects, and Empatec Meubel capabilities — making it the closest functional and structural peer.
• Tomingroep: Tomingroep is a social employment company in Twente that helps people with a distance to the labor market through work, training, and participation. Its funding model (municipal contracts plus commercial work) and workshop-based delivery closely parallel Wurkjouwer's structure, in a different region.
• Pastiel: Pastiel is Wurkjouwer's parent organization and provides job coaching, intake, and trajectory planning for the same participants. Its services overlap almost completely with Wurkjouwer's activation model, and the two operate as a single integrated reintegration pathway.

Emerging players

• Stichting UAF: UAF is a Dutch foundation supporting refugee students and professionals in higher education and career development. It addresses a narrower segment of the statushouder population that Wurkjouwer serves and is thematically adjacent rather than directly competing.
• VluchtelingenWerk Nederland: VluchtelingenWerk Nederland is the national organization supporting refugees during the asylum and integration process, including on statushouder pathways to work. It overlaps with Wurkjouwer specifically on the refugee-to-employment segment but operates as an advocacy and information organization rather than a workshop-based provider.

Broad incumbents

• UWV: UWV is the Dutch national employee insurance agency that administers benefits and runs employment services. It is a much larger, national-scale incumbent that often contracts with or substitutes for regional activation providers like Wurkjouwer, and sets the broader policy environment in which Wurkjouwer operates.

Regional players

• Arduin: Arduin is a Friesland-based social enterprise supporting people with support needs through day activities, work, and participation programs. It addresses a similar mission in the same region as Wurkjouwer, and competes for adjacent municipal social domain contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Wurkjouwer-2481882438704025
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wurkjouwer

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 Wurkjouwer