Blokzijl

What Blokzijl does

Blokzijl is the digital and civic identity of a historic Dutch town located in the heart of National Park Weerribben Wieden in the municipality of Steenwijkerland, Overijssel. Founded as a Zuiderzee trading settlement that received city rights in 1672, the town today functions primarily as a tourism and residential community of roughly 593 households, served by the blokzijl.nl community portal. The portal is operated by Plaatselijk Belang Blokzijl (PB Blokzijl), a non-profit civic organization run by a small board (5 employees, volunteer working group werkgroep communicatie) that publishes news, an events calendar, webcam feeds of the Havenkolk harbor and lock, business and accommodation directories, and the digital/print newsletter 'Nieuwtjes onder de Toren' (~250 subscribers, peak web traffic above 500 daily visitors). The technology is a standard WordPress-based content platform with no disclosed proprietary AI or automation layers.

Commercially, Blokzijl does not operate a revenue-generating product business. Its operating model is a non-profit subscription: €6 per year per resident membership and €75 per year per business communication sponsorship, supplemented by one-off community fundraising (e.g., €30,500 raised for cancer research via a Mont Ventoux cycling team). Customers and stakeholders are organized in three segments: residents seeking local information, visitors and tourists exploring the Weerribben Wieden region, and local businesses (restaurants, B&Bs, a supermarket, a training studio, a construction firm) that sponsor the communication channel. Strategic partnerships with the Gemeente Steenwijkerland (Stadsvisie urban vision, randweg bypass road funding for 2027) and housing corporation Wetland Wonen (13 new homes delivered November 2024) embed the organization in regional planning and development pipelines, while recent activity such as the October 2025 Stichting Klipperaak Hoop & Vrees heritage foundation signals expanding community-stewardship scope.

Name

Blokzijl

Legal name

Blokzijl

Website

https://blokzijl.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blokzijl is a non-profit Dutch civic organization operating the blokzijl.nl community portal for the historic town of Blokzijl in National Park Weerribben Wieden, serving ~593 resident households, regional tourists, and local business sponsors through a WordPress-based news, events, and civic-engagement platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community information services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Tours, Activities & Experiences Booking Marketplaces (THALAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Destination & Local Services Marketplaces (Transfers, Guides, City Passes) (THALAFAK), Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)

Keywords

• Community information portal
• Local news publication
• Events calendar listings
• Tourism information services
• Community newsletter publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Blokzijl

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blokzijl is a non-profit civic community organization (Plaatselijk Belang Blokzijl) that operates a community information portal (blokzijl.nl) for the historic Dutch town of Blokzijl. The portal publishes local news, an events calendar, business and accommodation directories, webcam feeds of the harbor, and a monthly digital and periodic print newsletter ("Nieuwtjes onder de Toren"). It serves as the recognized community voice, coordinating citizen participation in urban planning and advocating residents' interests with the municipality of Steenwijkerland.

Product overview

Blokzijl is not a commercial company but rather the website of a Dutch former Zuiderzee town (now part of municipality Steenwijkerland), managed by Plaatselijk Belang Blokzijl (local residents' association). The website functions as an informational portal providing news, event listings, community information, business directories (restaurants, accommodations, shops), municipal documents, webcam feeds, and newsletter subscriptions for residents and visitors. No distinct commercial products or services are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Resident Membership (Lidmaatschap PB Blokzijl)
• Communication Sponsorship (Bedrijfssponsoring)
• Nieuwtjes onder de Toren Newsletter (Digital and Print)
• Community Information Portal (blokzijl.nl)

Quantifiable outcome

• 55.3% survey response rate for Stadsvisie planning process
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stichting Klipperaak Hoop & VreesminorOthers · 1 October 2025Foundation established October 2025 to preserve and restore the historic clipper barge Hoop & Vrees (built 1911). 21 partners and sponsors contributed to acquisition. Seeks volunteers for maintenance, crew, and sailing activities.
• Coop Veenstra BlokzijlminorOthersLocal supermarket sponsor of PB Blokzijl communication activities. One of the founding sponsors supporting community communication since 2022.
• B&B Vergeet me nietminorOthersBed & Breakfast accommodation sponsor of community communication. Located in Blokzijl's quiet Kerkstraat.
• Restaurant Kaatje bij de SluisminorOthersMichelin-starred restaurant located at the characteristic lock of Blokzijl. Celebrated 50th anniversary in 2023. Long-standing sponsor of community communication.
• B&B Mieke&CominorOthersBed & Breakfast located in Blokzijl's quiet Kerkstraat, sponsor of community communication.
• Viersprong Prefab MontageminorOthersConstruction company specializing in prefabricated construction assembly, sponsor of PB Blokzijl communication.
• Camping Tussen de DiepenminorOthersParadise for water sports enthusiasts, located near Blokzijl. Sponsor of community communication activities.
• Grand Café Prins MauritshuisminorOthersHistoric restaurant celebrating 25th anniversary in 2023. Located in the former Prins Maurits orphanage building. Major sponsor of community events and communication. Hosts various community gatherings including Team Blokzijl charity events.
• Restaria BlokzijlminorOthersRestaurant in Blokzijl with focus on local sourcing 'from source to plate'. New sponsor of community communication.
• Yep! Voor ieder wat wilsminorOthersRestaurant in the Brouwerstraat with a wide selection. New sponsor of PB Blokzijl communication.
• Peter Bos TrainingsstudiominorOthersTraining studio at Scheepsdiep 1a offering group training, individual coaching, and lifestyle coaching. New sponsor of community communication.
• Lions SteenwijkminorOthersService organization that donated €2,000 to Museum Het Gildenhuys from their Tied d'r Bij walking event proceeds. Organized 5th annual evening walking tour in October 2024.
• Gemeente SteenwijkerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality of Steenwijkerland collaborates with PB Blokzijl on urban planning (Stadsvisie), infrastructure projects including the ontsluitingsweg (bypass road), and housing development. Provides professional support and coordinates policy implementation.
• Wetland WonencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing corporation developing affordable rental and starter homes in Blokzijl. Partnership for housing development projects including 13 new sustainable homes (5 social rent, 4 lifelong-living rent, 4 starter purchases) completed November 2024.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/154019151370232
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blokzijl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Blokzijl