Jong Leren Eten

What Jong Leren Eten does

Jong Leren Eten (JLE) is a Dutch national government program, not a private enterprise, founded in 2017 as an initiative of the Ministry of Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur (LVVN) in coordination with the Ministry of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (VWS) and the Ministry of Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (OCW). The program operates as a national coordination and matching layer for food education (voedseleducatie) targeting children and youth aged 0–18 across childcare (kinderopvang/BSO), primary education (PO), secondary education (VO), and vocational education (MBO). It is administered through a national program bureau (Programmabureau) housed at the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) in The Hague and employs approximately 18 staff alongside a network of 24 regional brokers (JLE-makelaars) — two per Dutch province, one from the health domain and one from the sustainability domain.

The product portfolio is experiential rather than technology-based and includes school gardening (moestuinieren), cooking and tasting lessons (koken en proeven), farm education excursions (boerderijeducatie), GO Voedselwijs for specialized education, and the De Schoolkantine Challenge. Supporting tools include regional Menukaarten, Praatplaten discussion charts, and the online Stimuleringsbijdrage 'Lekker naar Buiten!' application pathway via Mijngezondeschool.nl. The underlying technology is a web platform (CMS), email newsletters, LinkedIn/YouTube channels, Piwik PRO and Google Analytics for web stats, and TeamLeader as broker CRM — there is no proprietary software platform.

The business model is grant-funded: approximately 100% of program financing comes from the Dutch national government (LVVN with VWS/OCW) with a small provincial contribution. The program is free for end-user schools and childcare centers, and provides up to €1,500 per school location (max €7,500 per multi-location school) in stimulus contributions for food-education activities. Revenue is therefore better understood as annual program appropriation rather than commercial ARR, and the principal counterparties are government ministries rather than paying customers. Distribution runs through broker-mediated matchmaking, the Mijngezondeschool.nl self-service portal, Gezonde School/GGD advisor referrals, and recurring national events (Kok in de Klas, Week van de Schooltuin, Week van Ons Eten, Burgermeestersontbijt).

Name

Jong Leren Eten

Legal name

Jong Leren Eten

Website

https://jonglereneten.nl

Company type

Public

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jong Leren Eten is a Dutch national government program launched in 2017 under the Ministry of LVVN that coordinates food education for children aged 0–18 across schools and childcare, using 24 regional brokers in all 12 provinces and a free, ~100% publicly funded model anchored in the Gezonde School framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Education Program

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL), In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

Keywords

• Food education program
• School gardening
• Cooking education
• Child nutrition programs
• Experiential learning

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague (program HQ / national coordination)

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Jong Leren Eten is funded nearly 100% by the Dutch national government — primarily the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LVVN), in coordination with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). A small portion comes from provincial policy budgets. The program is free for schools and childcare centers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jong Leren Eten is a Dutch national government program that coordinates and funds food education for children and youth aged 0-18 in childcare, primary, secondary, and vocational education. It connects schools and childcare centers with certified food education providers (moestuincoaches, cooking guest teachers, farm educators) through 24 regional brokers across all 12 provinces, and offers programs in school gardening, cooking, farm excursions, specialized education, and school canteen challenges. The program is free for end-user institutions and provides financial stimulus contributions of up to €1,500 per school location.

Product overview

Jong Leren Eten is a government program (initiated by the Ministry of LVVN, coordinated by RVO) that brings together schools, childcare, partners, and governments to help children and young people (0-18 years) develop skills to make healthy and sustainable food choices. The program offers a portfolio of educational products and services including: Moestuinieren (school garden program), Koken en Proeven (cooking and tasting lessons), Boerderijeducatie (farm education excursions), GO Voedselwijs (specialized education food program), De Schoolkantine Challenge, and the Stimuleringsbijdrage Lekker naar Buiten! financial contribution program. These offerings are supported by a network of 24 JLE-brokers, certified Moestuincoaches, and Gastdocenten Koken across the Netherlands. The program operates through regional support, resources like Menukaarten and Praatplaten, and an experiential learning approach that addresses cognitive, practical, and attitudinal development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Moestuinieren (School Garden Program) Educational program where children learn to sow, care for, and harvest vegetables and herbs in a school garden, working with seasonal crops and following growth processes. Targets schools and childcare centers.
• Koken en Proeven (Cooking and Tasting) Cooking lessons and taste education where children learn to prepare simple, healthy dishes, master basic cooking techniques, and explore flavors. Targets primary, secondary, and vocational schools.
• Boerderijeducatie (Farm Education) Educational excursions to farms, market gardens, or food producers that give children insight into the food chain. Targets schools and childcare centers.
• GO Voedselwijs (Specialized Education Food Program) Food education specifically designed for specialized education, helping children develop food skills in an adapted learning environment. Targets schools for specialized education.
• De Schoolkantine Challenge A challenge for students to create healthy and sustainable snacks for the school cafeteria. Targets schools.
• Stimuleringsbijdrage Lekker naar Buiten! A financial contribution program for childcare and schools to implement food education activities including gardening, cooking, and excursions. Schools can apply for up to €1,500 per location (max €7,500 per multi-location school).
• JLE-makelaars (Brokers) Network A network of 24 JLE-brokers across the Netherlands (one from the health domain and one from the sustainability domain per province) acting as initiator, stimulator, and guide for schools and childcare centers.
• Moestuincoaches (Garden Coaches) Certified coaches trained by Velt and IVN Natuureducatie who guide schools in gardening and food education, providing didactic work with children and advising on garden design.
• Gastdocenten Koken (Cooking Guest Teachers) Trained cooking instructors who provide inspiring cooking lessons and teach students about nutrition and taste.
• Jong Leren Eten Program A government program that brings together schools, childcare, partners, and governments to help children and young people (0-18 years) develop skills to make healthy and sustainable food choices through experiential learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows food education has a positive effect on behavior — on knowledge and skills, on eating behavior (e.g., vegetable and fruit consumption), and when combined with exercise, on health outcomes including BMI.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur (LVVN)coreOthers · 1 January 2017The Ministry of LVVN is the primary initiating and funding body of Jong Leren Eten. The program was launched in 2017 under the umbrella of the National Food Agenda (Nationale Voedselagenda). LVVN provides nearly 100% of the program's funding, in coordination with VWS and OCW.
• Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)coreOthersThe national program bureau (Programmabureau) of Jong Leren Eten is housed within RVO. RVO handles the operational management, administration, and coordination of the program on behalf of the Ministry of LVVN.
• Gezonde SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGezonde School is a national program led by VWS and RIVM, GGD-GHOR Nederland, and education councils, with the ambition of embedding healthy lifestyle in school DNA. Jong Leren Eten food education is a key component of the Voeding (Nutrition) theme within the Gezonde School framework. Both programs share the goal of helping children make healthy and sustainable food choices.
• Gezonde KinderopvangcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGezonde Kinderopvang is a national program coordinated by RIVM and Voedingscentrum under the ministries of VWS and SZW, focused on healthy child development in childcare settings. Jong Leren Eten collaborates to provide food education activities within the childcare context.
• VoedingscentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Voedingscentrum (Nutrition Center) provides the scientific and independent nutritional guidelines that underpin Jong Leren Eten's educational content, including the Schijf van Vijf (Wheel of Five) dietary guidelines. Jong Leren Eten aligns its food education with these guidelines.
• JOGG (Jongeren op Gezond Gewicht)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJOGG works with schools, parents, sports clubs, businesses, governments, and healthcare providers to create an environment where children grow up with a healthy image of food and exercise. JOGG-regisseurs at the municipal level support the Jong Leren Eten broker network, and the two programs collaborate on food education in schools.
• IVN NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVN connects Jong Leren Eten with nature and environmental education (NME) expertise and the Groene Revolutie Schoolpleinen program. IVN-trained moestuincoaches (garden coaches) are a key delivery resource for Jong Leren Eten's school gardening activities.
• GDO (Gemeenten voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling) / NME NetwerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDO's NME-diensten network provides local organizations that motivate citizens toward sustainable society through communication, education, and participation. The network connects schools and childcare centers with food education resources at the local level.
• SmaaklessencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmaaklessen is an approved food education program for primary schools that provides taste education lessons. It is referenced as a key educational program within the Jong Leren Eten ecosystem, and its content is coordinated with Jong Leren Eten's approach (e.g., Kok in de Klas events).
• Alliantie SchooltuinenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliantie Schooltuinen (School Gardens Alliance) supports school garden initiatives across the Netherlands and collaborated with Jong Leren Eten Gelderland on the Schooltuinfestival 2026. The alliance provides resources and coordination for school garden programs.
• Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (VWS)coreOthersThe Ministry of VWS collaborates with LVVN on the Jong Leren Eten program, providing cross-ministerial support and ensuring alignment with public health objectives related to nutrition and healthy eating among youth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smaaklessen: Approved taste-education program for Dutch primary schools; an explicit partner/channel within Jong Leren Eten's ecosystem and a directly comparable food-education curriculum delivered to PO schools.
• JOGG (Jongeren op Gezond Gewicht): Dutch municipal program tackling childhood overweight through schools, sports clubs, and local governments; JLE brokers are partly embedded with JOGG-regisseurs, making it the closest structural peer for healthy-youth programming.
• IVN Natuureducatie: Dutch nature and environmental education organization that trains the moestuincoaches delivering JLE's school-garden activities; comparable as a national NME network delivering experiential learning to schools.
• Alliantie Schooltuinen: National alliance promoting school gardens; jointly delivered Schooltuinfestival events with JLE Gelderland and a directly comparable provider in the school-gardening sub-segment of food education.
• Gezonde School: National Dutch school-health framework led by VWS/RIVM, GGD-GHOR, and education councils; JLE food education is one of its themed pillars, making it the closest policy-aligned peer for school-based healthy-lifestyle programming.
• EU-Schoolfruit / Schoolfruitregeling: EU-co-financed Dutch program providing free fruit and vegetables to primary schools alongside education; directly comparable in targeting PO schools with nutrition exposure and is a partner in JLE's broader school-food ecosystem.
• Gezonde Kinderopvang: RIVM/Voedingscentrum-coordinated national program for healthy lifestyles in childcare; JLE collaborates with it, and the two are directly comparable as government-coordinated, framework-driven youth-health programs.

Broad incumbents

• Voedingscentrum: Dutch independent authority on nutrition that supplies the Schijf van Vijf guidelines underpinning JLE; comparable as a broader, government-aligned nutrition-information incumbent that overlaps with JLE's educational remit.

Emerging players

• FoodCorps: US nonprofit connecting children to healthy food through schools using service-member 'FoodCorps members' — directly comparable to JLE's broker/coach-mediated school food-education model, though operating in a different geography.
• Garden to Table: New Zealand charity running school garden and kitchen classroom programs; comparable as an experiential food-education delivery model for primary-aged children outside the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0OSBvYo83qn5eCe-7tiNmA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jong-leren-eten

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Jong Leren Eten