Het Kroonpad

What Het Kroonpad does

Het Kroonpad is a publicly funded special education school (speciaal onderwijs) located in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, serving approximately 131 students aged 4-18 with physical, intellectual, or multiple disabilities, as well as long-term ill students. Operated since 1998 as part of the De Onderwijsspecialisten foundation — a network of 30 specialized schools across Gelderland — the institution delivers curriculum across 7 learning routes (leerroute 1-7) and operates 14 groups including primary-aged clusters of 8-14 students, two VSO (continuing special education) groups, and De Meerwaarde, an education-care arrangement for 10 homebound students aged 4-13 housed at 's Heeren Loo's premises. Core methodology includes the LACCS framework for students with severe multiple disabilities (covering Lichamelijk welzijn, Alertness, Contact, Communication, and Stimulerende tijdsbesteding), supported by assistive technology such as speech computers with eye-tracking and the Scholaris digital student monitoring system.

The school is co-located within the Het Kristal complex alongside two regular primary schools (De Vliegenier and De Diamant), De Zonnehoek (a peer special education school), an elderly residential tower, a sports hall, and a swimming pool used for hydrotherapy. Operational integration with healthcare partners — Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten (on-site therapy rooms, speech/physical/occupational therapy, psychological diagnostics), De Passerel (extended day care), and 's Heeren Loo (De Meerwaarde operation) — creates an education-care-rehabilitation stack delivered under one roof. Enrollment is gated by an admission certificate (toelaatbaarheidsverklaring) issued by the regional Samenwerkingsverband Passend Onderwijs Apeldoorn. The school's revenue derives entirely from Dutch government funding routed through this samenwerkingsverband framework based on student enrollment and support needs; no tuition is charged.

Het Kroonpad employs 71 staff (per disclosed figures) and reports strong educational outcomes, including 100% one-year destination retention of graduates (exceeding the 75% target), 100% target-level reading attainment, and 91% mathematics target-level attainment. The institution holds the Vignet Gezonde School certification, serves as a Rutgers Lentekriebels ambassador for relational and sexuality education, and in 2024 had an experience expert nominated for the Hermen J. Jacobs-prijs. Current director Ellen Oostenrijk has led the school since October 2019. Enrichment programming (Atelier with visual arts and music teachers, Schoolplein14 sports facilities via Cruyff Foundation, Special Heroes sports participation, Introdans dance collaborations) extends the core educational offering.

Name

Het Kroonpad

Legal name

Het Kroonpad

Website

https://kroonpad.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Het Kroonpad is a publicly funded Dutch special education school in Apeldoorn, serving 131 students aged 4-18 with physical, intellectual, or multiple disabilities across 7 learning routes and integrated education, care, and rehabilitation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Programs & Classrooms (Autism, Emotional/Behavioral, Intellectual/Developmental, Multi-Disability) (EDAJAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Special needs schooling
• Developmental disability education
• Vocational special education
• Inclusive special education

Headquarters

HQ city

Apeldoorn

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded education: Het Kroonpad is a publicly funded special education school. The school receives funding based on the number of students and their support needs. Education is free for parents; funding comes from the Dutch government through the samenwerkingsverband (educational partnership) system.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Het Kroonpad is a special education school providing primary special education (SO) and secondary special education (VSO) for students aged 4-18 with physical, intellectual, or multiple disabilities in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. The school delivers integrated education, developmental care, and on-site therapy services through seven differentiated learning routes, plus the De Meerwaarde continuing education program and the LACCS developmental stimulation framework, all under the De Onderwijsspecialisten foundation.

Product overview

Het Kroonpad is a specialized education institution offering special education (SO) for students with physical, intellectual, or multiple disabilities and continuing special education (VSO) for students with severe multiple disabilities. The school operates 13 groups with 7 learning routes, utilizing the LACCS development framework. Key offerings include the De Meerwaarde intensive care arrangement, speech computer technology with eye control, and therapy services (play therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy). The school also provides enrichment through music, sports, and creative activities programs, all coordinated with healthcare and rehabilitation services from partners like Klimmendaal and De Passerel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Speciaal Onderwijs (SO) Primary special education track for students aged 4-18 with physical, intellectual, or multiple disabilities, providing foundational academic, developmental, and care-based instruction in a specialized setting.
• Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) Secondary special education track continuing the educational pathway for students with physical, intellectual, or multiple disabilities, organized across seven differentiated learning routes matched to student profiles.
• De Meerwaarde Continuing education program for students with disabilities who remain at the school beyond standard VSO leaving age, providing extended developmental, educational, and day-program pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students achieved target level in mathematics
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• De OnderwijsspecialistencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization: a foundation of 30 schools for special basic education, special education, and special secondary education across Gelderland regions including Arnhem, Overbetuwe, Zuidwest-Veluwe, Liemers, Achterhoek, and the city triangle Ede, Apeldoorn and Deventer. All schools share the goal of giving students a full place in society.
• Klimmendaal RevalidatiespecialistencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehabilitation center for children, youth, and adults with physical disabilities. They create a joint plan for education, care, and rehabilitation with the school. Rehabilitation specialists provide care and support at the school including therapy rooms, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological diagnostics. Includes revalidation arts, physician assistant, orthopedagogue, and school nurse.
• De PasserelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant partner for care within education. Also provides extended day care. The school has a prescribed time for providing care, but sometimes a child needs more care time, which is arranged together with parents.
• Het KristalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn meeting place in the Zuidbroek district of Apeldoorn where different organizations work together: two regular primary schools (De Vliegenier and De Diamant), two special education schools (Het Kroonpad and De Zonnehoek), a residential tower for elderly, and a meeting place. There is a large sports hall and swimming pool. Creates opportunities for inclusive education and shared activities.
• De ZonnehoekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial education school sharing the Het Kristal building with Het Kroonpad. Together they developed a shared green schoolyard with inclusive play equipment, officially opened in 2021. Joint activities include music, sports, and creative activities.
• Samenwerkingsverband Passend Onderwijs ApeldoorncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership that determines which students receive special education placement and at which school. Ensures every student has an appropriate placement near home. Het Kroonpad is part of this partnership.
• Eben Haëzerschool in TeugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular primary school with clear Christian identity. Partner in 'symbiosis trajectory' where Het Kroonpad student Rogier attends one day per week in the regular kindergarten class. An example of inclusive education collaboration.
• Special HeroesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sports program that encourages students to move more and to join sports clubs. The school has participated in Special Heroes activities including sports days in Arnhem with wheelchair hockey and tennis.
• 's Heeren LoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCare institution. Together with Het Kroonpad, they operate De Meerwaarde - an education-care location for 10 students aged 4-13 on 's Heeren Loo's terrain. Started September 2019 to provide appropriate support for homebound students with no suitable options in Apeldoorn. Goal is for students to eventually return or flow through to special education, day treatment, or day activities.
• GigantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution. Together with Gigant and De Zonnehoek, developed a music, creation, and sports mix offering that students can use after school hours.
• Gemeente ApeldoornminorOthersLocal municipality. The school provides declarations for students who cannot travel to school without special transport. The municipality funds special transport. The school also received subsidies from the municipality's Green Playgrounds scheme and provincial subsidies for the shared schoolyard.
• Provincie GelderlandminorOthersProvincial government that provided subsidy funding for the shared green schoolyard project between Het Kroonpad and De Zonnehoek.
• De VliegenierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular primary school in Het Kristal building. Partner in inclusive education activities.
• De DiamantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular primary school in Het Kristal building. Partner in inclusive education activities.
• IntrodansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance company. Eight-time collaboration with De Onderwijsspecialisten. Students performed on the big stage of Amphion theater with 80 students in 'Special Forces' dance performance.
• Cruyff FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Schoolplein14 (Schoolyard14) facilities - lines and color surfaces on the ground and wall to encourage outdoor games and natural movement.
• Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid (SZW)minorOthersMinistry that administers the European Social Fund (ESF+) subsidy 2021-2027 for promoting connection between vocational education/VSO and the labor market or further education. Used for extended internship guidance, branch-specific courses, and professionalizing practical subjects.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bartimeus: A Dutch organization providing education, care, and support for people with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Comparable in serving students with complex disabilities in a specialized education context, with similar integration of education, care, and rehabilitation services.
• Koningin Emmaschool: A Dutch special education school where Het Kroonpad's director Ellen Oostenrijk began her career as a trainee in 1998. Operates with similar special education model and serves comparable student populations, making it a directly comparable peer in the Dutch special education landscape.
• Kentalis: A leading Dutch special education organization providing education and care for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and those with communication disorders. Comparable in operating model (specialized education, government-funded, small class sizes, similar Dutch regulatory environment) but serving a different disability population.
• Visio: A Dutch organization supporting people who are blind or visually impaired, including education services. Comparable in providing specialized education to students with sensory disabilities in a Dutch government-funded context, though focused on visual impairment rather than the broader disability spectrum Het Kroonpad serves.
• De Zonnehoek: A fellow special education school housed in the same Het Kristal complex in Apeldoorn. Operates with a similar mission, partnership model, and student population as Het Kroonpad, including a shared green schoolyard, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Others

• 's Heeren Loo: A major Dutch care organization supporting people with intellectual disabilities and complex care needs. Operates De Meerwaarde jointly with Het Kroonpad, an education-care location for 10 homebound students. While not a school, it serves overlapping populations and is a key strategic partner.
• Klimmendaal Revalidatiespecialisten: A Dutch rehabilitation center for children, youth, and adults with physical disabilities, and a core partner of Het Kroonpad. While not a school itself, Klimmendaal provides on-site therapy rooms and specialists (physical, occupational, speech, psychodiagnostics), making it integral to Het Kroonpad's integrated care model.
• Pluryn: A Dutch organization providing care, education, and support for children, youth, and adults with disabilities. Operates in the adjacent ecosystem with overlapping student populations, with stronger focus on residential care and youth services than K-12 education.
• Philadelphia: A Dutch care organization supporting people with intellectual disabilities. While not a school, Philadelphia operates in the adjacent ecosystem serving some of the same student populations as Het Kroonpad, particularly those in transition from education to adult care services.

Broad incumbents

• De Onderwijsspecialisten: Parent foundation of Het Kroonpad, operating 30 schools for special basic education, special education, and special secondary education across Gelderland. As the broader operating entity, it provides the institutional scale, shared resources, and network in which Het Kroonpad operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/onderwijsspec
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeOnderwijsspecialisten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/het-kroonpad

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Het Kroonpad