Speelmakers BE

Name

Speelmakers BE

Legal name

Speelmakers CV

Website

https://speelmakers.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare and Education Consulting

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACAIAB

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Teacher Training & Professional Development

Keywords

• Play consultancy services
• Early childhood education
• Professional development training
• Childcare consulting
• Outdoor play programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and Professional Development: On-site training sessions (vorming) delivered at client locations. Topics include playful guidance attitude, adventurous play, outdoor play, loose parts, inclusive play, craft activities, play corners, and more. Sold per session per team/organization. Also offered as 3-session 'trajecten' (trajectories) for deep engagement.
2. Coaching and Process Guidance: Longer-term coaching engagements (begeleiding) lasting up to one year, with at least 6 half-day sessions. Positions Speelmakers as content coach guiding teams through transformation towards more play quality. Sold as fixed engagements per client organization.
3. Public Lectures: Lectures (lezing) delivered for parent groups, grandparents, and professionals. Listed events are open for individual registration (e.g., via Huizen van het Kind, Gezinsbond). Also booked privately for organisations, studiedays, or congresses. Priced per session.
4. Advisory Consulting: Short, targeted advisory engagements (advies) where Speelmakers comes on-site as an external expert, thinks along actively, and provides grounded advice with examples and tips. Sold per advisory session or short engagement.
5. Play Audits: Comprehensive audit services involving observations and surveys of children, caregivers, managers, and optionally parents. Deliverable is an extensive report with observations, insights, and concrete recommendations. Sold as a fixed-fee engagement.
6. Product/Concept Development: Development of custom play products, concepts, publications, or spaces — e.g., outdoor kitchens, play corners in cultural centres, work forms for staff. From brainstorming to execution. Sold as project-based engagements.
7. Speelexpert Certification Programme: A structured multi-month programme (3 live inspiration days + 1 year online learning environment access) sold at €550 per person (excl. VAT). Offered for out-of-school childcare (Speelexpert buitenschoolse opvang) and for baby/toddler care (Speelexpert baby en peuter). Recurring revenue through new cohorts each year.
8. Online Courses (Free and Freemium): Free online courses for parents (#iedereenspeelmaker) serve as top-of-funnel. Loose Parts Play box sales via loosepartsplay.be webshop generate e-commerce revenue. No paid online courses for parents are described.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Speelmakers BE is a Belgian play consultancy that helps childcare, education, and youth organizations improve play quality for children. The firm delivers on-site training, multi-session coaching, lectures, advisory sessions, play audits, and product/concept development. It also runs the structured Speelexpert certification programme for childcare professionals and offers free online courses plus a Loose Parts Play box product for parents and grandparents.

Product overview

Speelmakers BE is a Belgian-Dutch play consultancy offering professional services centered on increasing play opportunities for children. The core offering consists of six consultancy products — Vorming (training), Begeleiding (coaching), Lezing (lectures), Advies (advice), Audit, and Ontwikkeling (development) — which are delivered to organizations (childcare, schools, youth work) and families. Above these sit specialized named programs: two Speelexpert (Play Expert) professional training courses for out-of-school care and for baby/toddler settings, delivered via a combination of live sessions and an online learning environment. Thematic programs cover Onbeperkt Spelen (inclusive play for children with disabilities), Zomerscholen (summer schools), Buiten Spelen (outdoor play), and Spelen op School (play at school). A consumer-facing sub-brand, Iedereen Speelmaker, provides free online courses and guidance for parents and grandparents. The company also operates a dedicated loose parts play portal at loosepartsplay.be. The portfolio does not include a software product; all offerings are human-delivered consultancy, training, and educational content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vorming (Training) Interactive on-site training sessions delivered at client locations for childcare and education teams, covering playful guidance, adventurous play, outdoor play, loose parts, inclusive play, craft activities, and play corners. Sold per session or as 3-session trajectories.
• Begeleiding (Coaching) Intensive multi-session coaching engagement (minimum 6 half-days over up to one year) where Speelmakers acts as content coach guiding organizations through transformation toward more play quality, covering play vision, BOA decree compliance, play space design, and playful supervision.
• Lezing (Lectures) Public or private lectures on play topics (e.g., 'Everyday Play Pleasure', 'The Power of Play', 'Adventurous Outdoor Play', 'Help, I'm Bored') delivered for parent groups, grandparents, professionals, schools, study days, and congresses. Priced per session.
• Advies (Advisory) Short, tailored advisory engagements where Speelmakers visits as an external expert to think along with the client on play space setup, play systems, scheduling, and team dynamics, providing grounded advice with examples and tips. Sold per advisory session.
• Play Audit Comprehensive audit involving observations and surveys of children, caregivers, managers, and optionally parents. Deliverable is an extensive report with observations, insights, and concrete recommendations on space, infrastructure, staff roles, materials, play vision, and parent communication.
• Ontwikkeling (Product/Concept Development) Project-based development of custom play products, concepts, publications, or spaces (e.g., outdoor kitchens, play corners in cultural centres, work forms for staff) from brainstorming through to execution.
• Speelexpert Buitenschoolse Opvang (Certification Programme) Structured multi-month professional certification programme for coordinators, pedagogical coaches, and supervisors in out-of-school care. Includes 3 live inspiration days plus 1 year access to an online learning environment with 3+ hours of video and 35+ printable worksheets. Priced at €550 per person (excl. VAT).
• Speelexpert Baby en Peuter (Certification Programme) Training programme co-developed with oMvormiNg for pedagogical coaches, childcare workers, and teachers working with babies and toddlers. Combines 5 live exchange sessions with a 1-year online learning environment covering play vision, practical scenarios, and team coaching. Priced at €550 per person (excl. VAT).
• Loose Parts Play Box A 'ton vol loose parts' (box of loose parts) sold via the loosepartsplay.be webshop for home use, supporting loose parts play methodology at home.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50 professionals trained in Speelexpert Baby en Peuter over 3 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vlaamse Dienst Speelpleinwerk (VDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeelmakers originated from VDS and describes VDS as its 'bevoorrechte speelpartner' (privileged play partner). Both organisations share the same vision on play and jointly spread this across Flanders and Brussels. VDS focuses on speelpleinwerk (playground work) as a unique youth work form, while Speelmakers supports all other sectors. This is a foundational relationship rooted in shared history and mission, not a commercial contract.
• Goe Gespeeld!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoe Gespeeld! is a network organisation advocating for children's right to play. Speelmakers describes itself as a 'trots lid' (proud member) of this network. The partnership involves shared advocacy and raising the public profile of play as a children's right.
• MateriaalMagazijnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMateriaalMagazijn is a VDS initiative — a webshop for quality play materials serving Flemish and Brussels play initiatives. Speelmakers is a partner and early supporter ('fan van het eerste uur'). No commercial terms described; the partnership appears to be mutual endorsement and cross-promotion.
• oMvormiNgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for the Speelexpert Baby en Peuter programme. oMvormiNg co-organises a special online/evening edition of this training starting January 2026, making the programme accessible to practitioners who cannot attend in-person daytime sessions. Speelmakers provides content; oMvormiNg handles logistics and promotion for its audience.
• Centrum Inclusieve Kinderopvang (zorgregio Roeselare)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 6th edition (2026-2027) of the Speelexpert Baby en Peuter programme. The edition is hosted in Hooglede (Dominiek Savio) and the exchange sessions focus specifically on inclusion, drawing on the centre's expertise in inclusive childcare.
• VVSG (Vlaamse Vereniging voor Steden en Gemeenten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations: (1) Speelmakers contributes to Speelbank.be, VVSG's online play activity database; (2) Speelmakers delivered sessions on the VVSG Kinderopvangcaravan (mobile training circuit) for BKO and baby/toddler teams; (3) VVSG's Vormingsfonds enables free training for local government childcare teams. A broad, multi-faceted partnership spanning content, training delivery, and access.
• Onderzoekscentrum Pedagogie in PraktijkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the 'Verbindend Spelen' (Connecting Play) project with 13 childcare centres in Stad Antwerpen. Nele Flamang (author of 'Als je van spelen leren kan') delivered the kick-off lecture. Speelmakers provided training and coaching; the research centre provided pedagogical expertise and evaluation framework.
• Jantje BetonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch partner organisation referenced in a blog article about Dutch playground culture. Speelmaker Pleun participated in a Jantje Beton project in the Netherlands. Jantje Beton is a Dutch foundation promoting outdoor play for children. The relationship appears to be knowledge-sharing and cross-border networking rather than a formal commercial partnership.
• Kind & GezinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferenced as a partner for events and content. Speelmakers delivered sessions at the Kind & Gezin BOENK trade fair and contributed content for the Speelbank (supported by Kind & Gezin). Speelmakers also uses Kind & Gezin as a reference for childcare sector relevance.
• GezinsbondminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing collaboration on public lectures. The Gezinsbond hosts and promotes Speelmakers lectures on topics like 'Avontuurlijk spelen' and 'Help, ik verveel mij' for their member parents. Speelmakers provides content and presenter; Gezinsbond handles registration and venue.
• Provincie Oost-VlaanderenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organised the green and adventure playground project at Campus GO! in Zelzate. The province provided funding and institutional support; Speelmakers provided play expertise and facilitation for the multi-session engagement with teachers.
• Loose Parts Play (loosepartsplay.be)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoosepartsplay.be is a dedicated website and brand launched by Speelmakers, covering the loose parts play methodology. It includes a webshop selling loose parts boxes, free resources, webinars, and a Speelexpert course on loose parts. While presented as a separate brand, it is operated by the same team and represents an extension of Speelmakers' service ecosystem.
• Exzekoo/MentesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeelmaker Fanny contributed to a podcast by Exzekoo/Mentes on outdoor play, extending Speelmakers' reach into the professional podcast audience of this organisation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• MOEV (Beweging en Sport vzw): Flemish umbrella organisation promoting movement, sport, and active play in schools and youth settings. Overlaps with Speelmakers on outdoor and physical play themes within the same Flemish institutional ecosystem but serves a broader movement-and-sport remit.

Direct peers

• Jantje Beton: Dutch foundation promoting outdoor play for children. Referenced as Speelmakers' Dutch partner (Pleun Schaeffer participated in a Jantje Beton project). Comparable as a national-level play advocacy and training organisation serving the Dutch market — the natural Netherlands-side counterpart.
• Play England: English national body advocating for children's play and delivering training programmes to schools, childcare providers, and local authorities. Comparable in role (training + advocacy + policy) and target customer base (UK local authorities and childcare organisations).
• Goe Gespeeld!: Belgian network organisation advocating for children's right to play. Speelmakers is a 'proud member' of Goe Gespeeld! Both share advocacy goals and overlap on promoting play quality across Flemish childcare and education — closest peer on mission and ecosystem positioning.
• Play Wales: Welsh national play organisation providing training, consultancy, and resources to improve play opportunities for children. Closest analogue to Speelmakers in Western Europe — small specialist organisation delivering training, advice, and policy support for play quality.
• Play Scotland: Scottish national play training and advocacy body that delivers training, resources, and policy work on play quality. Comparable to Speelmakers in scope (training + advocacy + policy) but operating at a national level in the UK — a useful international benchmark for scaling.
• Vlaamse Dienst Speelpleinwerk (VDS): Flemish umbrella for playground work (speelpleinwerk). Speelmakers originated from VDS and remains its 'privileged play partner'. VDS operates in adjacent playwork territory and shares mission, audience, and credibility — a founder/sibling organisation with deep structural overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Kaboom!: Large US nonprofit building playspaces and advocating for play equity. While much bigger and US-focused, Kaboom! represents the scaled international analogue for Speelmakers' mission of improving children's play opportunities through training, advocacy, and direct intervention.
• Pedagogische Begeleidingsdiensten (Flemish pedagogical advisory services): Network of pedagogical advisory services for Flemish primary and secondary schools providing broad pedagogical guidance. Speelmakers' Spelen op School programme targets the same school audience with a narrower play-quality focus — an adjacent incumbent in the Flemish pedagogical support landscape.

Emerging players

• VBJK: Flemish expertise centre for childcare and family policy. Provides research, training, and policy support to Flemish childcare operators — overlapping with Speelmakers' institutional customers and on themes such as quality, inclusion, and pedagogical practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/speelmakers

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 Speelmakers BE