ABBS De Zijderoute

What ABBS De Zijderoute does

ABBS De Zijderoute is a primary school (basisschool) located in the Bos en Lommer district of Amsterdam-West, Netherlands, and the only school in the country that combines Islamic education with Waldorf (vrijeschool) pedagogy. Founded in 2019 and operated as part of Stichting Vrijescholen Ithaka (a 23-school foundation it formally joined in January 2026), the school serves approximately 120 students (as of March 2026) across a voorschool (preschool, ages 2–4, operated through Kinderopvang Ithaka), two kindergarten groups, and primary school Groups 3 through 8, with a BSO (after-school care) program scheduled to launch on 22 August 2026 in collaboration with Kinderopvang Ithaka. The educational model emphasizes holistic development across head, heart, and hands, integrating the Islamic calendar and storytelling traditions with Waldorf seasonal rhythms, festivals, and experiential learning.

The school's underlying technology stack is conventional EdTech rather than proprietary or AI-driven: Cito Leerling in Beeld for student tracking and bi-annual nationally normed assessment from Group 3 onward; Kwink for structured social-emotional learning across five core competencies; Taakspel as a behavior and task-management program; the BOUW! adaptive reading and spelling intervention; M5 Monitor for incident registration; and the Parro app for parent-teacher communication. A multi-level support pyramid coordinates with external specialists (child physiotherapist, weekly visiting speech therapist, Ouder- en Kindteam advisor, GGD school doctor/nurse) and routes intensive cases to Stichting Passend Onderwijs (SPO-West) via a TLV when needed. Technology here is a means of standardizing pedagogical delivery and compliance rather than a differentiator.

The business model is that of a Dutch non-profit government-funded primary school. The core revenue stream is per-pupil government funding allocated through the Dutch primary education system, supplemented by a voluntary €55 per-child annual parent contribution (which can be paid via the Amsterdam Stadspas) that funds excursions, celebrations, and enrichment activities. No child is excluded from activities if parents do not pay, and no tuition is charged. Voorschool and BSO revenues are operationally channeled through Kinderopvang Ithaka rather than the school itself. Go-to-market is community-led: organic word-of-mouth within Amsterdam's Muslim and alternative-education communities, supported by a comprehensive school website, downloadable schoolgids, regular newsletters, and a direct enrollment process managed on-site. The school operates from a single permanent building occupied since 2024, after previously cycling through three temporary locations.

Name

ABBS De Zijderoute

Legal name

Basisschool De Zijderoute

Website

https://abbsdezijderoute.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ABBS De Zijderoute is a Dutch primary school in Amsterdam-West that combines Islamic education with Waldorf pedagogy — the only such school in the Netherlands. It serves approximately 120 students from preschool through Group 8 as part of Stichting Ithaka's 23-school network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs-Inclusive Early Learning Academies (EDACADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Faith-Based Preschools (EDACABAF)

Keywords

• Primary education services
• Waldorf education
• Islamic education
• Preschool programs
• After-school care

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Primary Education: As a recognized primary school in the Netherlands, De Zijderoute receives government funding per student enrolled, which forms the primary financial basis for delivering standard primary education. This is supplemented by voluntary parental contributions.
2. Voluntary Parent Contribution (Ouderbijdrage): Parents are asked for a voluntary contribution of €55 per child per year to fund extra activities, celebrations, excursions, and projects not covered by the regular school budget. The contribution is voluntary; no child is excluded from activities if parents do not pay. Parents with an Amsterdam Stadspas can pay using that pass.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ABBS De Zijderoute is a primary school (basisschool) in Amsterdam-West that combines Islamic education with Waldorf (vrijeschool) pedagogy. It offers preschool (voorschool), kindergarten groups, and primary education from Group 3 through Group 8, and is launching a BSO (after-school care) service in partnership with Kinderopvang Ithaka. The school delivers whole-child development through head, heart, and hands learning grounded in Islamic values.

Product overview

ABBS De Zijderoute is a primary school (basisschool) offering education from preschool (voorschool) through group 8. The school uniquely combines Islamic education with Waldorf (vrijeschool) pedagogy, operating under Stichting Vrijescholen Ithaka. Educational services include the voorschool (preschool program) and BSO (buitenschoolse opvang/after-school care), along with specialized support services including speech therapy (logopedie) and pediatric physiotherapy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Voorschool (Preschool) Preschool program for children aged 2-4 operated in partnership with Kinderopvang Ithaka, providing early Islamic-Waldorf education at the school premises.
• Basisschool (Primary School) Primary education for children from kindergarten (Groups 1-2) through Group 8, combining Islamic values with Waldorf pedagogy, including bi-annual Cito Leerling in Beeld assessments, social-emotional learning, and creative/experiential learning.
• BSO (Buitenschoolse Opvang / After-School Care) After-school care program for school-age children on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons, delivered at the school premises in partnership with Kinderopvang Ithaka.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student count grew from founding in 2019 to 120 students by March 2026, with the school moving through three temporary buildings before occupying a permanent school building.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Stichting IthakacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026De Zijderoute joined Stichting Ithaka as a member school in January 2026. Ithaka is an educational foundation operating 23 schools. This membership provides the school with institutional backing, shared professional resources, and administrative support, strengthening its ability to deliver high-quality education. The school remains part of Stichting Vrijescholen Ithaka in Noord-Holland, indicating a broader network of Waldorf-inspired schools.
• Stichting Vrijescholen Ithaka (Noord-Holland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Zijderoute is a vrijeschool (Waldorf/free school) under the umbrella of Stichting Vrijescholen Ithaka in Noord-Holland. This association ties the school to the broader Waldorf educational movement in the Netherlands and provides access to pedagogical expertise, teacher training networks, and quality frameworks specific to Waldorf education.
• Kinderopvang IthakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKinderopvang Ithaka (Ithaka Childcare) operates the voorschool (preschool) and the BSO (after-school care) associated with De Zijderoute. The voorschool is in the process of becoming officially recognized by the municipality and GGD (municipal health service). The BSO is set to launch on 22 August 2026, offering care on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons, with capacity for approximately 30 children per session.
• Samenwerkingsverband Primair Onderwijs Amsterdam Diemen (SWV)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Zijderoute participates in the Samenwerkingsverband Primair Onderwijs Amsterdam Diemen, a collaboration of primary schools in the Amsterdam-Diemen region. This partnership enables the school to access a structured support pyramid for students with additional educational needs, including shared protocols for handelingsgericht werken (action-oriented approach), multidisciplinary consultations, and pathways for referral to special education.
• Ouder- en Kindteam (OKT) / Ouder- en Kindadviseur (OKA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvery primary school in Amsterdam has a dedicated Ouder- en Kindadviseur (OKA) linked to the Ouder- en Kindteam. The OKA serves as the first point of contact for the intern begeleider and parents in complex situations involving child and family support. The OKA can engage a zorgmakelaar (care broker) for finding appropriate support in complex cases.
• GGD Amsterdam (School Doctor and School Nurse)supportingOthersThe GGD (Municipal Health Service) provides a school doctor and school nurse who are involved in multidisciplinary overleg (MDO) for students with complex needs. They participate in school-based care planning and can advise on health-related educational accommodations.
• Kinderfysiotherapie en Logopedie (Child Physiotherapy and Speech Therapy)supportingOthersThe school collaborates with a child physiotherapist and a weekly visiting speech therapist (logopediste) who provides support and treatment for students with speech and language difficulties. The physiotherapist can assess and treat students on-site, enabling rapid and effective response to motor development needs.
• Gemeente Amsterdam (Municipality of Amsterdam)supportingOthersThe municipality of Amsterdam is a key regulatory partner, providing official recognition of the voorschool (pending GGD approval), overseeing school admissions and capacity, and enabling parents with a Stadspas to use it for payment of the voluntary parent contribution. The school operates within the Amsterdam primary education framework.
• Stichting Passend Onderwijs (SPO-West)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor students requiring more intensive support than the school can provide, De Zijderoute may engage Stichting Passend Onderwijs (SPO-West). This partnership provides access to special education consultation, and if necessary, a TLV (toelaatbaarheidsverklaring / eligibility statement) for referral to special primary or secondary education (S(B)O).
• Cito (Leerling in Beeld)supportingTechnology or IntegrationThe school uses Cito Leerling in Beeld as its primary student assessment and monitoring system. This nationally normed system is used to track student development in language and arithmetic from Group 3 onward, providing standardized data for educational planning and support decisions.
• Kwink (Social-Emotional Learning Platform)supportingTechnology or IntegrationThe school uses the Kwink program as its primary social-emotional learning curriculum. Kwink provides a systematic framework for developing five core social-emotional competencies and serves as the school's anti-bullying prevention program, replacing traditional reactive approaches with proactive social-emotional education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ibn Ghaldoun: An Islamic primary school in the Netherlands serving Muslim families seeking faith-rooted education. Comparable in religious mission and primary-age target audience, providing a reference for size, operations, and governance of similar institutions.
• Elif Basisschool: An Islamic primary school in the Amsterdam area serving a similar demographic of Muslim families seeking faith-based education. Directly comparable in religious identity and target audience, though uses conventional rather than Waldorf pedagogy.
• International Waldorf School The Hague: A Waldorf/Steiner primary school in the Netherlands serving families seeking Steiner-inspired education. Comparable in pedagogy and educational philosophy, though serving an international rather than faith-specific audience.
• Yunus Emre Basisschool: A Turkish-Islamic primary school in Amsterdam offering faith-based primary education. Comparable target audience and faith-based positioning within the same city, with similar reliance on community-led enrollment.
• Vrijeschool Pampus: A Waldorf/Steiner primary school in the Amsterdam region. Directly comparable in pedagogy, curriculum philosophy, and governance structure as part of the broader Dutch vrijeschool network.

Others

• Kinderopvang Ithaka: The childcare arm of Stichting Ithaka operating voorschool (preschool) and BSO (after-school care) at De Zijderoute. A direct operational partner and adjacent service provider extending the school's service offering to younger and after-school age groups.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Vrijescholen Amsterdam: The umbrella organization for Amsterdam's Waldorf (vrijeschool) primary and secondary schools. Highly comparable as De Zijderoute's pedagogical peers operate under this broader network, sharing the same Steiner-inspired curriculum and governance norms.
• Stichting Vrijescholen Ithaka: The parent organization of De Zijderoute, overseeing 23 Waldorf schools in North Holland. As the network governing body, it provides the institutional context, professional development, and pedagogical standards shared across member schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abbs-de-zijderoute

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 ABBS De Zijderoute