De Catharinaschool

What De Catharinaschool does

De Catharinaschool (SO/VSO Catharinaschool Heerlen) is a Dutch publicly funded special education institution serving students aged 4-18 with intensive support needs. It operates two main programs: Speciaal Onderwijs (SO) for ages 4-12 and Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) for ages 12-18, delivered across three physical campuses in Heerlen, Netherlands (Smidserweg 4, Bekkerveld 30, and Oude Lindestraat 37). The school is part of INNOVO, an umbrella organization of over 40 primary and special education schools in South and Central Limburg serving approximately 9,000 students with more than 1,000 employees, operating since 1914.

The school's offering combines specialized education with multidisciplinary care and support services. Core programs include the 'Brug naar Werk' (Bridge to Work) vocational training for VSO ZMLK students, Project Tandwiel (launched August 2014 in collaboration with Praktijkonderwijs Parkstad Limburg and VSO de Jan Baptist), the Gezonde School health program, and ESF-funded transition preparation with the Municipality of Heerlen. The supporting foundation 'Stichting Vrienden van de Catharinaschool' (established November 2017) facilitates internship placements via an annual Charity Dinner and funded a 9-person school bus.

Revenue is derived entirely from Dutch government per-pupil funding allocations channeled through INNOVO, supplemented by European Social Fund subsidies and municipality grants. There are no proprietary technology platforms; the service model is human-capital intensive, relying on orthopedagogues, speech therapists, internal counselors, approximately 30+ teachers, 40+ educational support staff, and specialist roles. A temporary enrollment stop was implemented for the SO department in September 2025 due to demand exceeding capacity, while VSO admissions remain open.

Name

De Catharinaschool

Legal name

SO/VSO Catharinaschool Heerlen

Website

https://so-catharina.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Catharinaschool is a Dutch publicly funded special education school (SO/VSO) in Heerlen serving students aged 4-18 with intensive support needs, operating three campuses under the INNOVO umbrella and offering multidisciplinary education, vocational training, and transition-to-work programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Special needs schooling
• Primary special education
• Secondary special education
• Work transition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Heerlen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Education: SO/VSO Catharinaschool is a publicly funded special education institution in the Netherlands. The school operates under the INNOVO umbrella organization, which manages over 40 schools funded through government educational budgets. Revenue is derived from Dutch government per-pupil funding allocations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

De Catharinaschool is a Dutch publicly funded special-needs school in Heerlen that delivers speciaal onderwijs (SO, ages 4–12) and voortgezet speciaal onderwijs (VSO, ages 12–18) to children and adolescents with intensive support needs. It supplements its core educational offering with programs such as Brug naar Werk, Project Tandwiel, Gezonde School, and an ESF co-funded project to support students' transition to work, civic skills, and healthy living.

Product overview

SO/VSO Catharinaschool is a special education institution offering two main programs: SO (Speciaal Onderwijs) for ages 4-12 and VSO (Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs) for ages 12-18, serving students with intensive support needs. The school provides specialized educational programs including Brug naar Werk (Bridge to Work) vocational training, Project Tandwiel collaboration with practical education, Gezonde School health certification, and ESF (European Social Fund) subsidized programs. All programs are designed to support students in developing toward maximum independence, personal agency, and active participation in society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Speciaal Onderwijs (SO)

Quantifiable outcome

• VSO students successfully prepared for day care, protected work, or independent living through a structured internship and vocational training pathway.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Praktijkonderwijs Parkstad Limburg (PPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSO Catharina collaborates with Praktijkonderwijs Parkstad Limburg (PPL) and VSO de Jan Baptist through Project 'Tandwiel', initiated on August 1, 2014. The project gives ZML students the opportunity to take lessons at PPL and gain learning experiences in a new and challenging environment. Since 2014, several students have successfully transferred to PPL. Each participant has a personal coach from Catharinaschool at PPL.
• VSO de Jan BaptistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSO Catharina collaborates with VSO de Jan Baptist and Praktijkonderwijs Parkstad Limburg (PPL) in Project 'Tandwiel'. The three schools' 'gears' mesh together to set trajectories in motion for the well-being of VSO students.
• Stichting 'Vrienden van de Catharinaschool'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in November 2017, the foundation supports all students of Catharinaschool. Its mission is to give all students more contact with society and to support the school with business contacts to facilitate internship and work experience placements. The foundation organizes an annual Charity Dinner to generate sponsorship funds, which have been used to purchase a 9-person school bus for students.
• Gemeente Heerlen (Municipality of Heerlen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Municipality of Heerlen cooperates with the European Social Fund (ESF) to provide subsidies that support VSO students in their transition to society, including preparation for work and social integration.
• Vista CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSO/VSO Catharina is an opleidingsschool (training school) that provides learning workplaces for students of Vista College (training for primary education support staff). Trainees work under supervision of class teachers on their assignments and may provide learning activities and instructions.
• INNOVO (Koepelorganisatie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINNOVO is the umbrella organization of over 40 schools of primary (special) education in South and Central Limburg, serving approximately 9000 students with more than 1000 employees. It has built on an educational tradition since 1914. SO/VSO Catharina is one of these schools. INNOVO provides administrative services ([email protected]) and centralized management for the network.
• GGD (Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst)minorOthersThe school provides information about GGD (municipal health services) youth health care on its website, supporting student well-being.
• Leergeld ParkstadminorOthersLeergeld Parkstad is referenced as an external organization that provides financial support to families, helping ensure all students can participate in school activities regardless of financial circumstances.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bartiméus: A Dutch foundation providing education, care, and support for visually impaired and multiply disabled individuals across the Netherlands. Comparable as a broader incumbent in specialized Dutch special education with multidisciplinary teams and publicly funded services.
• INNOVO: The umbrella organization of which Catharinaschool is part, operating 40+ schools across South and Central Limburg and serving ~9,000 students with 1,000+ employees. Directly comparable as a broader educational foundation encompassing SO/VSO, primary, and special basic education.
• Auris: A Dutch organization providing education and support for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and communication-impaired children and adults. Comparable as a broader Dutch incumbent in specialized K–12 education with multidisciplinary support and publicly funded per-pupil economics.
• Koninklijke Kentalis: A national Dutch special-education organization operating schools and services for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and language-disordered students. Comparable as a broader Dutch incumbent in specialized K–12 education with publicly funded revenue model and multidisciplinary staffing.
• Stichting LVO: A large Limburg-based educational foundation operating multiple secondary and special schools across the same province as Catharinaschool. Comparable as a broader incumbent in regional Limburg education with overlapping student populations and similar funding dynamics.

Direct peers

• Vista College: A regional MBO (vocational) college in Limburg and a named training-school partner (opleidingsschool) of Catharinaschool, providing trainee placements for primary education support staff. Comparable as a regional Limburg education provider in an adjacent segment.
• VSO de Jan Baptist: A VSO (continuing special education) school in the Limburg region that is a named collaborator with SO/VSO Catharinaschool on Project Tandwiel since 2014. Operates as a comparable SO/VSO provider serving students with intensive support needs in the same geography.
• Praktijkonderwijs Parkstad Limburg (PPL): A praktijkonderwijs (practical education) provider in Parkstad Limburg and the third named partner in Project Tandwiel, hosting ZML students from Catharinaschool for lessons and transitions. Comparable as a regional provider of practical, work-oriented education for students with learning differences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-catharinaschool

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about De Catharinaschool