Onderwijsgroep Galilei

What Onderwijsgroep Galilei does

Onderwijsgroep Galilei is a Dutch public secondary education foundation (Stichting Openbare Onderwijsgroep Galilei) headquartered in Brielle, South Holland. Established in 2006 through the merger of public secondary schools in Brielle, Hellevoetsluis, and Spijkenisse, it operates five schools covering the full Dutch secondary education spectrum — from praktijkonderwijs (practical education) through vmbo, mavo, havo, vwo, and gymnasium — plus two Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) locations serving newcomer students aged 12-18. The constituent schools are De Ring van Putten (Spijkenisse), Helinium (Hellevoetsluis), Maerlant (Brielle), mycollege (Spijkenisse), and Praktijk College (Spijkenisse/Brielle), supported by a Regionaal Expertise Centrum (REC) that delivers NT2 (Dutch as a second language) and trauma-sensitive pedagogy expertise to schools across the region. Galilei's catchment comprises the Nissewaard and Voorne aan Zee municipalities in the Voorne-Putten region.

Galilei operates entirely on publicly funded Dutch government lumpsum financing from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), with no tuition charged to students. Its core technology stack is conventional EdTech rather than proprietary AI: mycollege has deployed the Kunskapsskolan personalized learning concept (Learning Portal, personal coaches, iPad-in-loan) since 2018, while the group uses CookieFirst for GDPR-compliant cookie consent, Wis Collect for parent invoicing, Meesterbaan for vacancy posting, and EasyCruit for recruitment management. Pedagogical IP includes the VUT instructional model (Vooruitkijken-Uitvoeren-Terugblikken) used at ISK and a four-step Quality Cycle (plannen-uitvoeren-evalueren-verbeteren) applied across all schools. Leadership comprises Bestuurder Juliette Bouw, school rectors/directors, and a Raad van Toezicht chaired by Linda Snippe-van der Velde; municipal councils of Nissewaard and Voorne aan Zee hold statutory appointment rights over supervisory board members.

The organization's go-to-market is enrollment-based rather than sales-led: students enter via the standard Dutch VO enrollment system, with each school maintaining its own website (deringvanputten.nl, helinium.nl, maerlant.eu, my-college.nl, praktijk-college.nl) for top-of-funnel reach. Galilei is expanding its REC mandate from ad-hoc to structural knowledge delivery, supported by a Gelijke Kansen Alliantie subsidy application and a joint research project with Muzus under the Regiodeal Zuid-Hollandse Delta. The 2025-2029 strategic plan 'Richting aan ruimte' signals continuity in mission (public, inclusive secondary education across the ability range) and introduces AI-readiness as a forward-looking commitment, though no AI product has been deployed as of the input data.

Name

Onderwijsgroep Galilei

Legal name

Stichting Openbare Onderwijsgroep Galilei

Website

https://galilei.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Onderwijsgroep Galilei is a Dutch public secondary education foundation operating five schools and two ISK programs across the Voorne-Putten region, delivering government-funded education from praktijkonderwijs to gymnasium to students aged 12-18 in Nissewaard and Voorne aan Zee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Secondary Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Public secondary education
• Secondary education services
• Dutch secondary schools
• Newcomer language education
• Education foundation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brielle

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

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 Education Funding: As a public education organization (openbaar onderwijs), Galilei is funded through government funding from the Dutch Rijksoverheid (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science - OCW). Funding is based on student enrollment numbers and covers operational costs including staffing, facilities, and educational materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Onderwijsgroep Galilei delivers publicly funded secondary education through five schools in the Voorne-Putten region, covering the full Dutch ability spectrum from praktijkonderwijs (practical education) through vmbo, mavo, havo, and vwo up to gymnasium. The organization also runs two Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) locations for newcomer students aged 12-18, providing intensive Dutch (NT2) language education and integration support, and operates a Regionaal Expertise Centrum (REC) that shares NT2, trauma-sensitive, and language-rich pedagogy with schools across the region.

Product overview

Onderwijsgroep Galilei is an educational organization (not a technology company) operating five public secondary schools in the Voorne-Putten region of the Netherlands, spanning from practical education (Praktijk College) to pre-university education (vwo/gymnasium). The schools are De Ring van Putten (Spijkenisse), Helinium (Hellevoetsluis), Maerlant (Brielle), mycollege (Spijkenisse), and Praktijk College (Spijkenisse/Brielle). The group also operates an Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) for newcomer students. Additionally, a Regionaal Expertise Centrum (REC) supports schools in the region with expertise on Dutch as a second language (NT2), trauma-sensitive education, and language-rich teaching. The schools share common values and offer educational levels from praktijkonderwijs through gymnasium, with mycollege specifically using the Kunskapsskolan personalized learning concept.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• De Ring van Putten: Public secondary school (mavo, havo, vwo) in Spijkenisse, celebrating 50 years in 2025. Focus on talent development and preparing students as active world citizens.
• Helinium
• Maerlant
• mycollege
• Praktijk College
• Internationale Schakelklas (ISK)
• Regionaal Expertise Centrum (REC)

Products and services

• De Ring van Putten Public secondary school in Spijkenisse offering mavo, havo, and vwo (BRIN 19DH). Emphasizes giving every student space to develop in their own way, supporting talent and guiding students in educational choices. Celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
• Helinium Public secondary school in Hellevoetsluis offering vmbo, mavo, havo, and vwo (BRIN 12RB). Core values are safety, freedom, and technology in a modern learning environment focused on helping students discover who they are.
• Maerlant Public secondary school in Brielle offering vmbo, mavo, havo, and vwo (BRIN 11ZH). Moved into a new, modern building in 2012 featuring a spacious atrium; emphasizes connection, growth, and student ownership of learning.
• mycollege Public secondary school in Spijkenisse offering vmbo and mavo (BRIN 23AP). Uses the Kunskapsskolan educational concept with personalized learning: each student works at their own pace and level with a personal coach, supported by a Learning Portal and iPad.
• Praktijk College Practical education school with locations in Spijkenisse (BRIN 18VA) and Brielle (BRIN 18VA02). Focuses on learning by doing in a safe and stimulating environment, emphasizing hands-on experience, independence, and building self-confidence for students who need extra support.
• Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) International Transition Class for newcomer students aged 12-18 who (still) do not speak Dutch, with locations in Spijkenisse and Hellevoetsluis. Provides intensive Dutch (NT2) language education, literacy/alfabetisering, study-skills development, and citizenship/career-orientation instruction, with the goal of smooth transition to further education, integration, or work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Smooth transition to follow-up education or employment for ISK students
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RPO RijnmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with RPO Rijnmond (samenwerkingsverband van scholen en lerarenopleidingen in de regio) for teacher training and professional development. Provides three-year guidance trajectory for starting teachers (starting docenten) and enables students to do internships at Galilei schools while completing their teacher training.
• KunskapsskolancoreStrategic or Co-development Partnermycollege has been using the Kunskapsskolan educational concept since 2018 for personalized learning. In 2023, mycollege joined the international Kunskapsskolan partner schools community. The concept includes a Learning Portal, personal coaching, and student ownership of learning goals.
• Regiodeal Zuid-Hollandse DeltaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regional Expertise Center (REC) received support from Regiodeal Zuid-Hollandse Delta to conduct research on the transition of ISK students to mbo (vocational education). Research conducted together with research bureau Muzus.
• MuzusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch bureau conducting study on ISK student transition to mbo, with funding from Regiodeal Zuid-Hollandse Delta. Conducted pizza-sessions with former ISK students to gather experiences and insights.
• Gelijke Kansen Alliantie (GKA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe REC submitted a subsidy application to the Gelijke Kansen Alliantie (GKA) of the Ministry of Education (OCW) to sustainably improve newcomer student guidance in secondary education in the Nissewaard region. Focus on learning tables, NT2 key figure training, and network strengthening.
• AVG ConceptsminorOthersOrganization that provides a Functionaris Gegevensbescherming (FG/Data Protection Officer) for Galilei. The FG ensures AVG/GDPR rules are correctly implemented through research, advice, and reporting, and maintains contact with the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens.
• VertrouwensUnieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing external confidential advisors (externe vertrouwenspersonen) for Galilei schools. Offers independent, professional support for students, parents, and staff experiencing undesirable behavior, discrimination, or sensitive situations.
• Huis voor KlokkenluidersminorOthersExternal body providing information about rights and protection for whistleblowers. Referenced in Galilei's Klokkenluidersregeling (whistleblower policy) for employees reporting serious misconduct.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stichting Openbaar Onderwijs Utrecht (Openbaar Utrecht): Public-education foundation operating schools in Utrecht region. Comparable as openbaar voortgezet onderwijs foundation with OCW lumpsum funding, multi-school portfolio, and municipal oversight.
• ISK Rotterdam: International Schakelklas provider for newcomer students aged 12-18 in Rotterdam. Closely comparable to Galilei's ISK programs in mission, NT2 curriculum focus, and target population.
• Quadraam: Dutch regional secondary-education foundation operating multiple schools in the Arnhem/Nijmegen region. Highly comparable in structure (foundation, multiple schools, OCW-funded, regional monopoly on public secondary education) and scale.
• Dunamare Onderwijsgroep: Regional secondary-education foundation serving Haarlem and surrounding municipalities. Closely comparable in mission (openbaar voortgezet onderwijs), multi-school model, and reliance on OCW lumpsum funding.
• Stichting LVO: A large Dutch regional public-education foundation operating secondary schools across Limburg. Directly comparable as a multi-school public voortgezet onderwijs foundation with regional monopoly characteristics, similar lumpsum OCW funding model, and overlapping governance structure.
• Stichting Het Groene Hart: Dutch regional secondary-education foundation operating schools in the Groene Hart region (Zuid-Holland). Directly comparable as a public, multi-school voortgezet onderwijs foundation serving a similar Dutch sub-region.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting ZAAM (Zelfstandige Amsterdamse Scholen): Large Dutch foundation for primary, secondary and special education in Amsterdam. Comparable as a multi-school public education foundation in the Randstad, though broader (primary + secondary) and larger than Galilei.
• SALTO scholen (Stichting Openbaar Voortgezet Onderwijs Amsterdam): Major Dutch openbaar secondary-education foundation serving Amsterdam. Directly comparable governance and funding model (openbaar, OCW lumpsum), but operates at much larger scale and within a metropolitan context.
• Stichting Carmelcollege: Largest Catholic secondary-education foundation in the Netherlands with schools nationwide. Comparable as a multi-school voortgezet onderwijs foundation, though denominational (not openbaar) and considerably larger in scale.

Others

• Kunskapsskolan: Swedish education company providing the personalized-learning concept (Learning Portal, personal coaching) implemented at Galilei's mycollege since 2018. Comparable as the strategic pedagogical and technology partner enabling Galilei's most differentiated school offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onderwijsgroep-galilei

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 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 Onderwijsgroep Galilei