De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening

What De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening does

De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening (Stichting de Kern) is a Dutch non-profit foundation providing social work and community support services to residents across 11 municipalities in the Overijssel and Flevoland regions (Dalfsen, Deventer, Hardenberg, Hellendoorn, Kampen, Ommen, Raalte, Staphorst, Urk, Zwartewaterland, Zwolle). The organization is part of the Dimence Groep and operates alongside WijZ welzijn as a single social-services division within that group. Its service portfolio covers general social work (algemeen maatschappelijk werk), school-based social work, corporate social work, social legal advisory (sociaal raadslieden), group training, online self-help modules, and specialized programs including the 'Waar is Wally?' GP-practice referral pathway, prostitution support services, domestic violence reporting code (Meldcode), and youth referral index (Verwijsindex Jongeren).

The underlying technology stack is modest: a content and information website (stdekern.nl) supported by an external digital self-help training platform delivered via a third-party infrastructure (tolkie.nl assets), plus operational integrations with GP practice IT environments through embedded social worker placements. The organization also runs an extensive group-work curriculum covering children (Kids Skills, KIES, Step Up!, Rots en Water, Mindset), youth (Mind en Move, ACT Young Adults), adults (ACT, Bijzonder Geweldig, Opnieuw Verbinden, Vrouwengroep), and peer support groups (bereavement, post-COVID, partner-loss). Distribution combines direct in-person counseling, embedded placements in schools and workplaces, GP-practice integration, and online self-serve modules.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through municipal commissioning under multi-year contracts; end-user services are free at point of use. De Kern supplements commissioned work with healthcare partnership arrangements (notably with HCDO and individual GP practices) and corporate social work engagements with regional employers. Headcount stands at approximately 109 staff, anchored at the Zwolle headquarters (Burgemeester Roelenweg 9). Published customer satisfaction is 8.9/10 across 2,405 Tevreden.nl reviews.

Name

De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening

Legal name

Stichting de Kern

Website

https://stdekern.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening is a Dutch non-profit foundation providing free social work, school social work, corporate social work, and group training to residents across 11 municipalities in Overijssel and Flevoland, funded by municipal commissioning and part of Dimence Groep.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Work Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Social work services
• Community welfare support
• Municipal social services
• Youth support programs
• Psychosocial counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Zwolle

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Commissioning: De Kern is commissioned by municipalities to provide social support services to residents. Each municipality makes specific agreements about how inhabitants are supported. This is the primary revenue source.
2. Healthcare Partnerships: Services provided in partnership with healthcare providers including GP practices, where social workers work from within GP practices as part of integrated care arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening is a Dutch non-profit foundation that delivers community social-work services to residents of 11 municipalities in Overijssel and Flevoland. Its offerings include general social work, school-based social work, corporate social work, social legal advisory (sociaal raadslieden), group training programs, financial and administrative assistance, and an online self-help training platform. Specialized programs include 'Waar is Wally?' (GP-embedded social work), youth referral coordination, domestic-violence reporting support, and sex-worker assistance. All services are free to end users and funded through municipal commissioning.

Product overview

De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening is a social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community support services across multiple municipalities in the Netherlands. The organization provides core services including general social work, school-based social work, corporate social work, and social legal advice. The portfolio includes digital services (Online Zelfhulptrainingen platform), specialized programs (Waar is Wally? connecting GPs to social workers, Prostitutie Hulpverlening, Meldcode for domestic violence), and extensive group training programs. The group work offerings span multiple target groups: children (Kids Skills, KIES, Step Up!, Rots en Water, Mindset, Sociale Vaardigheidstraining), youth (Mind en Move, ACT Young Adults), adults (ACT - Leven vanuit je Kracht, Assertiviteitstraining, Bijzonder Geweldig, Opnieuw Verbinden, Vrouwengroep, Leven vanuit je Kracht), and specialized support groups (Lotgenotengroep Rouw, Rouwgroep voor Nabestaanden, Post Covid Groep). All services are coordinated with municipalities as primary clients. The organization is part of the Dimence Groep and works closely with WijZ welzijn within that group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Algemeen Maatschappelijk Werk (General Social Work)

Quantifiable outcome

• 8.9/10 average customer satisfaction score from 2405 reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Huisartsen Coöperatie Deventer en Omstreken (HCDO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018HCDO partnered with De Kern to create the 'Waar is Wally' project, establishing social workers as fixed contact persons for GP practices. This innovative model has since been rolled out across multiple municipalities in Overijssel.
• Dimence GroepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Kern is part of the Dimence Groep, a larger healthcare and welfare organization. Within this group, social services form one division with WijZ welzijn, providing a low-threshold connection to welfare work.
• Gemeente DeventercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Deventer partnered in the 'Waar is Wally' project and hosts the Voor Elkaar Teams Deventer collaboration with Raster, MEE IJsseloevers, Solis, and De Kern.
• WijZ welzijncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithin the Dimence Groep, De Kern's social services division works together with WijZ welzijn as a single division, creating synergies in welfare services provision.
• Voor Elkaar Teams Deventer (Raster, MEE IJsseloevers, Solis)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-organization collaboration for comprehensive social support close to residents in Deventer. De Kern provides social work expertise within this integrated team.
• Municipal Governments (Dalfsen, Deventer, Hardenberg, Hellendoorn, Kampen, Ommen, Raalte, Staphorst, Urk, Zwartewaterland, Zwolle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipalities are the primary commissioners of De Kern's services. Each municipality makes specific agreements about how to support residents, providing the main funding for social work activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Humanitas DMH: Humanitas is a large national Dutch social services organization providing community support, social work, and welfare services across multiple regions. It operates as a broader incumbent with overlapping social work and welfare programs and a similar municipal commissioning model.
• Dimence Groep: Dimence Groep is De Kern's parent organization, a diversified healthcare and welfare group in Overijssel. While not a direct competitor, it sets the strategic and financial context for De Kern and operates adjacent mental health and welfare divisions.
• Kwintes: Kwintes is a major Dutch social services provider offering supported living, social work, and welfare support across multiple regions. It serves overlapping client populations including those with psychosocial needs and is funded through similar municipal and care commissioning structures.
• Leger des Heils (Salvation Army Netherlands): The Salvation Army Netherlands operates nationwide social services including social work, debt counseling, and support for vulnerable populations. It overlaps with De Kern's maatschappelijk werk and financial/administrative support offerings but at much greater national scale.

Direct peers

• WijZ welzijn: WijZ welzijn is De Kern's sister organization within the Dimence Groep, providing welfare work in the same Overijssel region. It directly operates in adjacent service categories (community welfare, well-being) and shares De Kern's municipal commissioning model and target population.
• Raster (Wijkteams Deventer): Raster provides social district team work in Deventer, collaborating with De Kern in the Voor Elkaar Teams Deventer partnership. Both organizations deliver maatschappelijk werk and welfare services to residents in overlapping Overijssel municipalities under municipal commissioning.
• Solis Welzijn: Solis is a welfare organization in the Deventer/Overijssel area, partnering with De Kern in the Voor Elkaar Teams Deventer collaboration. It delivers adjacent welfare services and maatschappelijk werk in shared municipalities.
• MEE IJsseloevers: MEE IJsseloevers provides support to people with disabilities and chronic conditions in the Overijssel/IJssel region, collaborating with De Kern in Deventer's Voor Elkaar Teams. It addresses an overlapping client base with non-medical social support services.

Emerging players

• Entrea Lindenhout: Entrea Lindenhout provides youth-focused social work, family support, and youth welfare services across multiple Dutch regions. It overlaps with De Kern's Verwijsindex Jongeren and school social work offerings.

Others

• Sociaal Werk Nederland: Sociaal Werk Nederland is the national industry association for Dutch social work organizations, including maatschappelijk werk providers like De Kern. It is comparable as an ecosystem participant representing and supporting similar organizations rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/de-kern-maatschappelijke-dienstverlening

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 De Kern Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening