Het Kunstlaboratorium

What Het Kunstlaboratorium does

Het Kunstlaboratorium, operating commercially under the brand Professor Loep, is a privately held, founder-led cultural education micro-enterprise based at Hof van Cartesius, Vlampijpstraat 94, Utrecht, Netherlands. Founded by Gerdy de Kruijk around 2010, the company delivers STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) maker education grounded in Inquiry-based, Design-based learning and Reggio Emilia pedagogy. It serves primary schools (PO), secondary and vocational institutions (VO/MBO), childcare facilities, and families with children, operating across seven interrelated revenue streams: on-site school programs (modules such as Elektramagie, Tinkeraars, Groene Bijtjes, Bende van het Bos, KunstEnMakers, Bouwmeesters), birthday parties (Kinderfeest) at its own venue, party kit rentals (Feestkist), after-school courses (Club Kunstlab, Tinkerclub), vacation programs (Kunstlab XXL), parent-child workshops (SamenMakers, Familiemakers), and mobile ateliers via three converted cargo bikes (Kunstlabfiets). Programs are aligned with Dutch educational core objectives (kerndoelen 12, 33, 37, 41, 42, 44, 45, 54, 55) and emphasize process-oriented making with real tools from kindergarten age.

The company is bootstrapped with no external investors and is organized around a small core team of three (Gerdy, Peter, Janneke) supplemented by a network of freelance project workers, some of whom have collaborated for over 12 years. The business runs on a direct-to-customer go-to-market motion: services are delivered either at the company's own Het Kunstlab & Tinkerplek creative maker spaces in Utrecht, on-site at schools and institutions, or via the Kunstlabfiets at external events. Pricing is unit-based and small-ticket (€125 per school lesson hour, €149.50-165.50 for birthday parties, €70-275 for course series, €117.50 for party kit rental, €157.50-175 for vacation programs), with U-pas and Jeugdfonds payment options supporting access for lower-income families. Distribution is direct with no intermediaries, marketed through the company website (professorloep.nl), email newsletter, direct outreach to schools, and referral word-of-mouth.

The underlying technology is essentially pedagogical and physical: a 15-year curriculum library, real child-sized tools and materials, two physical maker spaces, three mobile cargo-bike ateliers, and a pedagogy framework that does not rely on software, AI, or digital platforms. The company is privately owned by founder Gerdy de Kruijk (KVK 51660504), has no disclosed revenue, no patents, no app, no API, and no AI/ML components.

Name

Het Kunstlaboratorium

Legal name

Het Kunstlaboratorium

Website

https://professorloep.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Het Kunstlaboratorium, operating as Professor Loep, is a Utrecht-based cultural education venture delivering STEAM-based maker education programs to Dutch primary schools, secondary/vocational institutions, and families through in-person workshops, birthday parties, vacation programs, and mobile cargo-bike ateliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Maker Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO), Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH)

Keywords

• Maker education services
• STEAM education workshops
• Children's creative programs
• School cultural education
• Maker space experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs for Schools: Lessons delivered at primary schools, childcare facilities, and VO/MBO institutions. Programs include Elektramagie, Tinkeraars, Groene Bijtjes, Bende van het Bos, KunstEnMakers, and Bouwmeesters modules. Also offers custom project development.
2. Children's Birthday Parties: In-person creative birthday parties at their location lasting 1.5-2 hours with themed activities (e.g., Waanzinnige Boomhut, Bosbeesten, Lichtjeslab, Wonderland, De Vliegeniers). Includes party kit rental for home celebrations.
3. After-school Clubs & Workshops: Ongoing courses (Club Kunstlab, Tinkerclub) and one-time workshops (MaakAtelier, BuitenAtelier, SamenMakers) for children and families at their creative maker spaces.
4. Vacation Programs (Kunstlab XXL): Multi-day vacation program for children during school holidays. Each holiday has a new theme with activities spanning art, technology, and nature. Functions as alternative to holiday childcare (BSO).
5. Party Kit Rental: Rental of themed party boxes (Feestkisten) for home celebrations. Boxes include all materials and instructions for 8 children, approximately 2 hours of activities. Themes include Natuurprint, Racecoureurs, Maskerade, and Proefjeslab.
6. Kunstlabfiets Mobile Service: Mobile outdoor atelier service using converted cargo bikes. Can serve 10-20 children at external events and locations.
7. Familiemakers Sessions: Family maker sessions where families can create together using tools and materials from the creative space, with guidance from staff.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Het Kunstlaboratorium (operating under the brand Professor Loep) delivers STEAM-based maker education and creative making experiences for children aged 4+ in the Netherlands. The core offerings include on-site cultural education programs for primary schools, secondary education (VO/MBO), and childcare facilities, plus consumer-facing products from their own creative maker spaces in Utrecht: children's birthday parties, after-school clubs (Club Kunstlab, Tinkerclub), vacation programs (Kunstlab XXL), parent-child workshops (SamenMakers, Familiemakers), single-session workshops (MaakAtelier, BuitenAtelier), rental party boxes (Feestkist), and a mobile atelier service (Kunstlabfiets). All programs use a process-oriented pedagogy combining Inquiry-based Learning, Design-based Learning, and Reggio Emilia principles, with full curriculum alignment to Dutch kerndoelen.

Product overview

Het Kunstlaboratorium operates as a unified creative maker space ecosystem with a portfolio of interconnected services for children and families. The core offering centers on in-person making experiences combining art, technology, and nature based on STEAM pedagogy. Main product lines include: Onderwijs (school-based education programs), Kunstlab XXL (vacation programs), Club Kunstlab & Tinkerclub (ongoing after-school clubs), SamenMakers & Familiemakers (parent-child workshops), Kinderfeest (birthday parties at venue), Feestkist (rental party boxes for home use), and Kunstlabfiets (mobile maker space). All offerings share the same pedagogical approach of process-oriented making, hands-on tinkering, and creative exploration without predetermined outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Het Kunstlab: Creative makerspace for children offering courses, workshops, and birthday parties in art, technique, and nature.
• De Tinkerplek
• Kunstlabfiets

Products and services

• Onderwijs / Cultuureducatie (Primary School Education Programs) STEAM-based cultural education programs delivered on-location at primary schools and childcare facilities, comprising modules such as Elektramagie (electricity/electronics), Tinkeraars (ecology/sustainability/craft), Groene Bijtjes (nature/energy/sustainability), Bende van het Bos (nature/experiment/story/art), KunstEnMakers (artists/makers/inventors), and Bouwmeesters (construction/vehicles/architecture). Programs are aligned with Dutch educational core objectives (kerndoelen 12, 33, 37, 41, 42, 44, 45, 54, 55) and 21st century skills, and are designed for primary schools and childcare facilities seeking engaging, hands-on maker education.
• VO/MBO Educatie (Secondary/Vocational Education Workshops) Workshops for secondary schools (VO) and vocational training institutions (MBO) focused on sustainability, creativity, art, and technology, including modules such as Makkelijk & Duurzaam, LED mode, Elektrakunst, and R-circuit. Designed for secondary and vocational institutions seeking engaging creative/technical education.
• Kinderfeest (Children's Birthday Parties) In-person creative birthday parties held at the Het Kunstlaboratorium location (Het Kunstlab), lasting 1.5-2 hours, featuring themed making activities such as Waanzinnige Boomhut, Bosbeesten, Lichtjeslab, Wonderland, and De Vliegeniers. Designed for parents seeking a creative, hands-on birthday experience for children.
• Feestkist (Party Box Rental) Rental party boxes for hosting creative birthday parties at home. Boxes include all materials and instructions for 8 children with approximately 2 hours of activities, with themes including Natuurprint, Racecoureurs, Maskerade, and Proefjeslab. Includes a deposit-based rental model. Designed for parents who prefer to host at home.
• Kunstlab XXL (Vacation Program) Multi-day vacation program for children during school holidays, with new themes each holiday featuring activities spanning art, technology, and nature (e.g., Missie Helden, Machinefabriek, Boekkunst, Racecoureurs Zeepkist, Klankmachines). Functions as an alternative to holiday childcare (BSO). Inclusive of lunch, snacks, materials, and goodybag. Designed for parents seeking creative holiday childcare for children.
• Club Kunstlab (After-School Maker Club) Ongoing after-school art, technology, and nature course program for children aged 6-12, meeting weekly with various themes and skill development across a series of lessons. Designed for parents seeking recurring creative enrichment for their children.
• Tinkerclub (Teen Maker Club) Multi-week maker club for children aged 10+ working on design projects with themes such as Textiellab and Elektralab, focusing on specific techniques and materials. Designed as a bridge from Club Kunstlab to more advanced, technique-focused making.
• SamenMakers (Parent-Child Workshops) Parent-child creative making workshops for families with children aged 3-6 or 6-12, featuring monthly rotating themes such as Wonderland, Poppenbende, Lichtjeslab, and Vogelhuis. Designed for parents seeking shared creative experiences with young children.
• MaakAtelier (Single-Session Maker Workshops) Single-session workshops for makers aged 10+ focusing on specific techniques and materials such as Papier Kunst and Pegboard Kunst. Designed for children seeking focused, technique-driven creative sessions.
• BuitenAtelier (Outdoor Atelier) Outdoor creative workshops held in the garden with rotating themes such as Dierenverblijven and BuitenKeuken, focusing on nature-based making activities. Designed for children seeking outdoor creative experiences.
• Familiemakers (Family Maker Sessions) Flexible family making sessions where families can use all tools and materials in the creative space with instructor guidance, choosing from projects such as Wonderwand, Knuffelbende, Pling Plong Machine, or Totempaal. Designed for families seeking a longer (2.5-hour) flexible creative session.
• Kunstlabfiets (Mobile Art Lab Bike Service) Mobile outdoor atelier service using converted cargo bikes to bring maker activities to external locations and events, accommodating 10-20 children per session. Three operational Kunstlabfietsen are available. Designed for schools, event organizers, and other groups seeking on-location maker programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aligned with Dutch educational kerndoelen 12, 33, 37, 41, 42, 44, 45, 54, 55

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Het Hof van CartesiusminorOthersThe main creative spaces (Het Kunstlab & Tinkerplek) are located at the Hof van Cartesius site in Utrecht, a creative entrepreneurship campus that houses various makers and creative businesses.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Tinkering School: Founder-led maker-education program for children built around hands-on tinkering and process-oriented making. Closely comparable on pedagogy (Reggio Emilia-inspired tinkering/maker education) and on target audience, though operating in a different (primarily US) geography.

Broad incumbents

• NEMO Science Museum: Major Dutch science museum operating wide-ranging STEAM school programs, workshops, and children's experiences. Overlaps on school STEAM delivery and on consumer educational experiences, but operates at much larger scale and as a museum rather than a focused creator-led maker studio.
• KiwiCo: Established maker/STEAM brand delivering activity kits and content for children across age groups. Overlaps on the creator-of-makers concept (children building with real tools/materials), but operates as a subscription e-commerce brand rather than local in-person delivery.
• Steve Spangler Science: US-based hands-on science education brand offering school workshops, science kits, and educator training. Comparable on hands-on STEAM pedagogy and school/workshop delivery model, though at significantly larger scale and in a different geography.
• Beeld en Geluid: Dutch media museum offering school programs and educational workshops on media, technology, and culture. Overlaps in school-procurement STEAM/tech programming but at much broader institutional scale and with a media/technology rather than hands-on making focus.

Direct peers

• Stichting Kunstgebouw: Dutch cultural-education foundation providing arts/culture programming for schools and children, including workshops and curriculum-aligned projects. Comparable on school-facing creative-education delivery and Dutch cultural-curriculum alignment.
• Mad Science Netherlands: Dutch franchise delivering STEAM/science workshops and on-site school programs for primary-school-aged children. Closely comparable on target customer (primary schools), product format (curriculum-aligned STEAM workshops), and GTM (direct school outreach plus consumer events).

Regional players

• Cultuurhuis Amersfoort: Regional cultural-education provider in a neighboring Dutch city offering workshops, courses, and children's creative programming. Comparable product mix (creative workshops for kids and families), serves a different but adjacent geography.
• Stichting NME Utrecht: Local Utrecht-based nature and environmental education foundation delivering school programs and children's activities in the same geography. Competes for the same municipal-procurement and school-side demand, with a nature/environment lens versus Het Kunstlaboratorium's broader STEAM/maker pedagogy.

Others

• Bibliotheek Utrecht: Local library network running educational and creative programming for children and families in Utrecht. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but overlapping on family-facing weekend/holiday programming and Utrecht-region footfall.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/professor-loep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Kunstlaboratorium