De Kiesmannen

What De Kiesmannen does

De Kiesmannen is a privately held Dutch creative bureau founded in 2017 and headquartered at Overtoom 197-1 in Amsterdam. The company designs and delivers civic education and democratic engagement programs targeted at young people aged approximately 16-30, with particular focus on MBO (secondary vocational) students. Its portfolio spans interactive theater shows (De Grote Verkiezingsshow, EuropaNacht), school-based educational programs (Kleur Bekennen, Europese Influencers, Bondgenoten?!, EPAS), multi-week academies (The Next Step Academy, De Kiesmannen Academie), national campaigns (Europadag: Onbegrensd Ontdekken), and EU research dissemination (PROCLAIM, Democracy in Action). The company does not build technology products; its core deliverables are live events, classroom presentations, workshops, and campaign execution.

The company employs a small core team (approximately 10 staff including co-founders Dylan Ahern and Jochem Jordaan) supplemented by a variable freelance presenter workforce. It generates revenue through project-based commissions from Dutch government bodies (Ministry of Interior Affairs, Ministry of Defense, multiple municipalities), European institutions (European Commission Representation, European Parliament), and Horizon Europe research consortia. Event booking and freelance presenter fees (€200-250/day) provide a smaller supplementary revenue stream. The GTM motion is event-driven and community-led, combining direct sales to schools and government with proactive outreach through social media and earned media coverage in outlets such as NOS, NRC, Trouw, and Radio 1.

Operational geography is primarily the Netherlands, with selective EU-level exposure through Horizon Europe projects and European Parliament collaborations. De Kiesmannen operates without disclosed equity funding, growth capital, or holding company structure, and is funded entirely through project commissions. No M&A, ownership changes, or external investment rounds are evidenced in the input data.

Name

De Kiesmannen

Legal name

De Kiesmannen

Website

https://dekiesmannen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

De Kiesmannen is a Dutch creative bureau, founded in 2017 and based in Amsterdam, that designs and delivers civic education programs, theater shows, and academies to engage young people aged 16-30 in democracy, primarily serving Dutch government ministries, municipalities, and European institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Public Speaking & Debate Programs (Live/Recorded) (EDAMAOAD), Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Civic education programs
• Youth political engagement
• Democratic participation
• Educational theater shows
• Social innovation campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Primary revenue stream from commissioned projects by government bodies including European Commission, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior Affairs, and Dutch municipalities for educational programs, campaigns, and civic engagement initiatives.
2. EU Research Projects: Participation in Horizon Europe research projects (Democracy in Action, PROCLAIM) providing funding for research on democracy, youth participation, and online radicalization.
3. Event Production & Booking Fees: Revenue from producing and presenting shows, club nights, and theater events, including booking fees for presentations at schools, theaters, and public venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

De Kiesmannen is a creative agency that designs and delivers civic education programs, live theater shows, and national campaigns aimed at engaging young people (16-30) in democracy. Its core offerings are commission-based services including interactive classroom lesson programs (Lesprogramma's), political academies, large-scale public events (EuropaNacht), and European-level research dissemination projects, all delivered through in-house production and a freelance presenter network.

Product overview

De Kiesmannen is a creative agency for societal innovation that develops a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on civic education and youth participation in democracy. The core offerings consist of: (1) Interactive Shows such as De Grote Verkiezingsshow and EuropaNacht that make elections and European topics accessible through theater and entertainment; (2) Educational Programs (Lesprogramma's) including Kleur Bekennen, Europese Influencers, Bondgenoten?!, and the EPAS program that bring political literacy to MBO and secondary schools; (3) Academy Programs such as The Next Step Academy and De Kiesmannen Academie that provide extended training and mentorship for young people wanting to enter politics; (4) Campaigns like Europadag: Onbegrensd Ontdekken commissioned by the European Commission; and (5) Research Projects including PROCLAIM and Democracy in Action that study democratic resilience and youth participation. The company operates as a service-based organization rather than a software product platform, delivering these programs through live events, educational sessions, workshops, and partnerships with governments, schools, and cultural institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• De Grote Verkiezingsshow Interactive theater show that brings elections to life for young audiences by combining journalistic commentary with humor, music, and satire to translate key themes and party positions into an accessible format.
• EuropaNacht Annual European club night held on Europe Day (May 9) celebrating European values through shows, talks, art, and music featuring diverse speakers, artists, and DJs at Paradiso, Amsterdam.
• Europese Influencers Interactive educational program in which young people discover how the European Union works through sketches, role-playing, and debate, learning how they can influence European democracy.
• Kleur Bekennen Educational program in which young people discover their political position and what they stand for through current themes, statements, and interactive exercises.
• Bondgenoten?! Educational program on Peace & Security in a Digital World, developed in partnership with the Atlantic Commission, exploring geopolitics and hybrid threats including disinformation for MBO students.
• The Next Step Academy Program for MBO students (18-30 years) who want to become politically active, providing workshops on presenting, debating, and opinion-forming with political mentorship. Runs 8 sessions over 6 months per cohort.
• De Kiesmannen Academie Ten-week program in which 20 young changemakers (aged 18-28) develop personally, journalistically, and socially while learning to create campaigns for societal change.
• European Parliament Ambassador Schools (EPAS) European Parliament education program that helps schools actively engage young people in European democracy, delivered in the Netherlands with support and advisory services from De Kiesmannen.
• Europadag: Onbegrensd Ontdekken National campaign commissioned by the European Commission Representation in the Netherlands to bring Europe Day to municipalities and provinces, making European cooperation tangible and local through a toolkit and culture guide.
• Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen '26 Lesprogramma Election-period lesson program covering local politics for MBO students across 40+ schools throughout the Netherlands during the 2026 municipal elections, plus election debates with party leaders.
• PROCLAIM European research project (Polarization, Radicalization and Extremism Online) investigating hidden online hate speech and AI technologies for democratic resilience, with De Kiesmannen responsible for communication and dissemination.
• Democracy in Action Horizon Europe research project exploring how art, culture, and activism bring democracy to life across Europe, with De Kiesmannen organizing dissemination and educational translation.
• European Youth Event (EYE2021) Co-production and presentation of EYE2021 live from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, including responsibility for developing the format and hosting the opening and closing ceremonies for over 10,000 young attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached over 40 MBO schools and delivered 100+ lessons during 2026 municipal elections
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• YUSUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026YUSU (Youth for Urban Society) is a co-organizer of EuropaNacht 2026, collaborating with De Kiesmannen to create an annual European club night event on Europe Day (May 9) at Paradiso.
• Europese Commissie Vertegenwoordiging in NederlandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026European Commission Representation in the Netherlands commissioned De Kiesmannen to develop and execute the 'Onbegrensd Ontdekken' (Boundlessly Discover) campaign for Europe Day 2026, bringing the campaign to municipalities and provinces nationwide.
• Atlantische CommissiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Atlantic Commission partnered with De Kiesmannen to develop the 'Bondgenoten?!' educational program on peace, security, and disinformation for MBO students. The Commission provides content expertise while De Kiesmannen delivers engaging presentations.
• DPI (Creative Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Creative agency that collaborated with De Kiesmannen to develop the toolkit and culture guide with formats and activities for the Europadag campaign.
• Also StudiominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Production studio that collaborated with De Kiesmannen to produce the campaign video for Europadag 'Onbegrensd Ontdekken'.
• Universiteit UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership with Utrecht School for Governance and Management focusing on societal impact, education, and research. Jointly developing research, providing student internships at the intersection of democracy and societal innovation.
• Universiteit LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-term research collaboration with Leiden University as part of ongoing academic partnerships for democracy research.
• Tilburg UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-term research collaboration with Tilburg University as part of ongoing academic partnerships for democracy research.
• Democracy in Action ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Horizon Europe research project bringing together European partners to research how art, culture, and activism can bring democracy to life. De Kiesmannen participates as dissemination and communication partner.
• PROCLAIM ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Horizon Europe project (Polarization, Radicalization and Extremism Online) involving 10 universities, research institutes, and civil society organizations. De Kiesmannen handles communication and dissemination, translating research into accessible campaigns and educational programs for youth.
• Europees ParlementflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024De Kiesmannen supports and advises schools in the Netherlands with the European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS) program, helping schools engage students with European democracy.
• Europees ParlementflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-production and presentation of EYE2021 (European Youth Event) live from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with De Kiesmannen responsible for opening and closing ceremonies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• CNE — Centre for Non-Formal Education: Belgian/European non-formal education provider focused on youth civic education and democratic participation programs across Europe. Comparable for its non-formal civic education methodology targeting youth, similar to De Kiesmannen's lesprogramma and academy approach.
• The Missing Chapter Foundation: European foundation running intergenerational civic engagement programs and events such as Imagine. Comparable for its EU-wide focus on engaging younger and underrepresented audiences in democratic dialogue, similar to De Kiesmannen's EuropaNacht and academy formats.

Broad incumbents

• European Movement International: Pan-European umbrella organization promoting European integration and citizen engagement with EU affairs. Comparable as a larger, EU-level player running civic engagement and EU-awareness campaigns that overlap with De Kiesmannen's Europese Influencers and Europadag work.
• European Youth Forum: Brussels-based umbrella platform of European youth organizations advocating for youth political participation and running EU-level civic engagement programs. Comparable as a larger, pan-European player in the same youth-democracy engagement space De Kiesmannen operates in at the national level.
• Beeld en Geluid: Dutch media museum and knowledge center offering educational programs on media literacy, disinformation, and journalism for schools. Comparable as a larger, established Dutch institution delivering media-and-democracy education to secondary students, including disinformation programming overlapping with De Kiesmannen's Bondgenoten?!.

Direct peers

• Kennisland: Dutch foundation working on societal innovation in education and civic learning, often partnering with schools and governments. Comparable as a Dutch organization developing educational programs and pilots at the intersection of civic engagement and learning innovation.
• ProDemos — House for Democracy and Rule of Law: Dutch non-profit focused on political education and democratic engagement for schools, students, and citizens. Most direct comparable in the Netherlands — both deliver civic education programs to secondary and vocational students, run teacher trainings, and engage with municipalities on democratic participation.
• De Argumentenfabriek: Dutch organization that develops structured thinking, debate, and decision-making formats for organizations and schools. Comparable for its development and delivery of debate/critical-thinking programs and workshops in Dutch educational and governmental contexts.
• Stichting Nederlands Debat Instituut: Dutch debate education organization running debate training, tournaments, and educational programs in schools. Comparable as it shares the debate/public-speaking training format for Dutch secondary and MBO students and operates school-based civic skill programs.
• Studio Europa: Dutch/EU-focused organization engaging citizens — particularly youth — with European themes through programs, debates, and events. Comparable as it runs European-democracy engagement programming in the Netherlands with overlapping youth audience and topic areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dekiesmannen
• Instagraminstagram.com/dekiesmannen
• TikToktiktok.com/@dekiesmannen

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 Kiesmannen