De Blink - VSO

What De Blink - VSO does

De Blink is a Dutch special-education school operated by Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten, a foundation that runs approximately 30 special-education schools and employs around 1,300 staff across the Gelderland and Ede-Apeldoorn-Deventer regions. The school has two divisions: De Blink SO (speciaal onderwijs) for students aged 4-12 at David Tenierslaan 8 in Veenendaal, and De Blink VSO (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) for students aged 12-18 at two locations in Veenendaal (Gerard Terborchstraat 21 and Patrimoniumlaan 1, opened in renovated buildings from September 2025 ahead of a planned new-build). Together the two divisions serve approximately 300 students with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, or social-emotional vulnerabilities, supported by roughly 100 staff including orthopedagogues, care coordinators, trajectory counselors, psychomotor therapists, and specialized practical-skills instructors.

The school organizes instruction through six learning routes. Routes 1-2 prepare students for day activities (dagbesteding) and apply the LACCS methodology (Lichamelijk welzijn, Alertheid, Contact, Communicatie, Stimulerende tijdsbesteding). Routes 3-4 are labor-market-oriented with mandatory internships and practical subjects (Groen, Schoonmaak, Keuken, Techniek). Routes 5-6 are diploma-oriented and feed into MBO or VMBO via the Het Perron partnership. Core subjects (rekenen, taal, burgerschap) are tracked using CED-Groep learning lines and Cito assessments. Each student has an individualized Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplan (OPP), and outcomes reported include a 95% VSO diploma rate against a 90% target, 81.49% post-graduation destination retention versus an 80% target, and student satisfaction of 7.7/10 and safety of 8.9/10, both above target.

De Blink is a publicly funded nonprofit educational institution. Revenue is derived entirely from Dutch government per-pupil funding under the Wet op de expertisecentra (WEC) and is not commercially disclosed. Admissions are gated by a toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (eligibility certificate) from the regional cooperation association Passend Onderwijs Barneveld-Veenendaal (VSO) and Rijn en Gelderse Vallei (SO), with intake handled through De Onderwijsspecialisten's central intake bureau. Downstream pathways are operated through a tightly integrated partner network: Het Perron for exam certification on routes 5/6, IW4 and Het Werkt Nu for sheltered and competitive employment placement, Reinaerde for on-site ambulatory therapeutic care (physiotherapy, speech therapy, sensory integration), and GGD for school health services. The Education Inspectorate assessed both divisions as 'voldoende' (sufficient), and the school is GDPR/AVG compliant.

Name

De Blink - VSO

Legal name

Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten

Website

https://blink-veenendaal.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Blink is a Dutch nonprofit special-education school in Veenendaal, operated by Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten, serving approximately 300 students aged 4-18 with intellectual, multiple, or social-emotional disabilities across six learning routes from day-activity preparation to VMBO diploma tracks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Special needs schooling
• Vocational special education
• Disability education programs
• Government funded education

Headquarters

HQ city

Veenendaal

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: Publicly funded special education institution under the Dutch educational system. Funded through government educational funding per the Wet op de expertisecentra (WEC) and related Dutch education laws. Revenue comes from government per-pupil funding allocated based on student enrollment and special educational needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

De Blink provides publicly funded special education (SO for ages 4-12 and VSO for ages 12-18) for students with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, or social-emotional vulnerabilities in Veenendaal, Netherlands. The school delivers six structured learning routes (Leerroute 1-6) ranging from day-activity preparation to diploma-oriented VMBO education, using the LACCS methodology and individual development perspective plans (OPP), supported by partnerships for therapeutic care, internships, and employment integration.

Product overview

De Blink is a special education school consisting of two divisions: Speciaal Onderwijs (SO) for students aged 4-12 and Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) for students aged 12-18. The school offers educational programs through six learning routes (Leerroute 1-6), ranging from preparation for day activities (dagbesteding) to diploma-oriented education leading to VMBO. Key programs include the LACCS methodology for quality of life, practical subjects (Groen, Schoonmaak, Keuken, Techniek), and phased internship programs (BES/ZES). Support services include therapeutic interventions, individual development plans (OPP), and preparation for transition to further education or employment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• De Blink SO (Speciaal Onderwijs) Special education for students aged 4 to 12 who need extra support. Focuses on overall development including academic skills, social skills, leisure time, and preparation for work or day activities. Located at David Tenierslaan 8, Veenendaal.
• De Blink VSO (Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs) Secondary special education for students aged 12 to 18, focused on future living and working, active citizenship, and leisure activities. Emphasizes self-reliance, independence, and autonomy. Located at Gerard Terborchstraat 21 and Patrimoniumlaan 1, Veenendaal.
• Leerroute 1-2 (Dagbesteding) Learning routes for students with severe learning and developmental problems, focusing on basic skills and preparation for day activities. Used for students in VSO with significant intellectual disabilities.
• Leerroute 3-4 (Arbeidsmarktgericht) Learning routes focused on labor market preparation with mandatory internships and practical skills training for VSO students.
• Leerroute 5-6 (Diplomagericht) Diploma-oriented learning routes preparing students for MBO entrance or continued education, with VMBO diploma possibility through Het Perron partnership.
• Praktijkvakken (Groen, Schoonmaak, Keuken, Techniek) Practical subjects teaching skills for living and working including planning, task execution, and safe and hygienic working practices across four disciplines: green/horticulture, cleaning, kitchen, and technology.
• Stageprogramma (BES/ZES) Phased internship program including internal stages, Begeleide Externe Stage (BES), and Zelfstandige Externe Stage (ZES) for workplace preparation in VSO.
• Basisvaardigheden (Rekenen, Taal, Burgerschap) Core subjects including mathematics, language, and citizenship education with route-specific learning objectives for VSO students.
• Therapie-ondersteuning Therapeutic support services provided during school hours, including physiotherapy, speech therapy, and psychomotor therapy, in partnership with Reinaerde.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students graduate with a diploma (target: 90%)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Het PerroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for learning routes 5 and 6. Students pursuing diploma-oriented education can take exams at Het Perron. Joint vocational preparation and transition education. Upper classes of route 6 receive education at Het Perron location, with instruction jointly provided by De Blink and Het Perron teachers.
• ReinaerdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site ambulatory support, after-school care, vacation care, sensory integration therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy. Also provides staff for individual student support through personal budgets, Long-term Care Act (WLZ), or Youth Act funding.
• IW4 and Het Werkt NumajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial work company and employment program providing training, selection, and job placement services for students with sheltered work or employment outcomes. Job coaches and work coaches guide students toward paid employment, with the goal of finding suitable employment by the end of the program.
• De OnderwijsspecialistencoreOthersParent organization of 30 schools in special primary, special, and secondary special education across regions including Arnhem, Overbetuwe, Zuidwest-Veluwe, Liemers, Achterhoek, and Ede-Apeldoorn-Deventer area. Provides shared resources, professional development, and administrative support.
• Meza College and Vester CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional VSO schools in Ede for internships, vocational preparation, and professional development collaboration.
• Special HeroesminorOthersSports stimulation program encouraging students to participate in sports clubs. Part of school sports and movement education program.
• Sportstimulering VeenendaalminorOthersLocal sports stimulation program in Veenendaal. Students attend clinics and experience various sports and movement activities.
• School & Cultuur VeenendaalminorOthersCultural education program offering projects in theater, music, dance, visual arts, literature, multimedia, and cultural heritage. Projects conducted with cultural and regional institutions including Landschap Erfgoed Utrecht.
• GGD (Municipal Health Service)minorOthersSchool doctor services for student health assessments and advice on care and support. GGD youth doctor provides guidance when needed.
• Landschap Erfgoed UtrechtminorOthersRegional cultural heritage institution collaborating on cultural education projects including School & Cultuur Veenendaal program.
• Theater De LampegietminorOthersLocal theater venue visited multiple times per year for cultural performances. Made possible through Educational Theater Productions Working Group.
• Spelderholt AcademieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides opportunities for further study and development for students transitioning from special education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heliomare Onderwijs: Dutch organization providing special education, rehabilitation, and vocational training for students with physical and multiple disabilities. Comparable in combining therapy, special education, and labor-market preparation for IDD/multiply disabled learners.
• Koninklijke Visio: Dutch expertise organization for blind and partially sighted people, offering special education from primary through secondary levels plus rehabilitation services. Comparable in integrated education-and-care model, small-group instruction, and Dutch government funding structure.
• Yulius Onderwijs: Dutch organization providing special education and youth mental-health services, including VSO programs for students with developmental, psychiatric, and behavioral needs. Operates under comparable Dutch public funding and serves overlapping student populations with similar multi-disciplinary staff models.
• Philadelphia Zorg: Dutch care provider for people with intellectual disabilities, including day activities, supported employment, and some educational pathways. Comparable in transition-from-school-to-work support and sheltered employment outcomes that De Blink delivers via IW4/Het Werkt Nu partnerships.
• Auris: Dutch special education organization focused on students with hearing, language, and communication difficulties, offering SO and VSO programs. Comparable in Dutch public funding model, multidisciplinary staff (orthopedagogues, speech therapists), and individualized learning routes.
• Bartiméus Onderwijs: Dutch special education provider for visually impaired and multiply disabled students, including SO and VSO programs. Comparable in serving IDD populations with embedded therapeutic support and individualized development plans under WEC funding.
• Kentalis: Dutch national organization providing special education and care for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and language-impaired students from early childhood through secondary special education. Comparable in funding model (WEC), small class sizes, and integration of therapy and education.
• 's Heeren Loo: Large Dutch care and education provider for people with intellectual disabilities, including VSO/day-activity programs and supported employment. Directly comparable on the labor-market preparation and post-school support services that De Blink delivers through routes 3-4.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten: Parent foundation of De Blink, operating approximately 30 schools and ~1,300 staff across Gelderland and the Ede-Apeldoorn-Deventer region for special primary, special, and secondary special education. Directly comparable in mission, funding model, and student population; broader in scale and geographic reach.
• REC 4 (Regionaal Expertise Centrum Gelderland-Midden): Regional expertise center covering special education clusters 3 (visual, hearing, language) and 4 (physical/medical) in Gelderland-Midden. Comparable in coordinating special-education placement and TLV decisions for schools in the same regional cooperation network as De Blink.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/onderwijsspec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/onderwijsspec
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeOnderwijsspecialisten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deblinkvso

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 De Blink - VSO