Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje

What Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje does

Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje is a family-owned Dutch watersport and hospitality operator headquartered in a 1780 monumental farmhouse on Lake Fluessen in Elahuizen, Friesland. The company is one of the oldest sailing schools in the Netherlands and has been run by the Weerman family for nearly 20 years (founded in its current form in 2006). It operates from a single site with approximately 30 employees, a private harbor, and a fleet of 12 polyvalken sailing boats alongside motorboats, a charter boat, a speedboat, and an aak. The 60-person group accommodation is the operational hub, with all activities delivered on or around the property.

The core product portfolio comprises residential youth sailing camps (ages 8–14 and 14–18, with CWO diploma progression), multi-day school camps (notably for Group 8 classes), and group accommodation rental in the farmhouse. These are extended by a broad menu of add-on modules — banana boat, RIB rides, waterskiing and wakeboarding, lasergame on an island, archery tag, fierljeppen (Frisian pole-vaulting), Solex tours, skûtsjesilen, eel-smoking workshops, and mobile BBQ catering — combined into customizable group arrangements that span family outings, bachelor parties, corporate events, meetings (capacity 25), and team building (capacity 100).

Revenue is generated through per-booking pricing for camps and accommodation (€1,500–€3,100/week depending on season, with published 2026 rates) and quote-based pricing for custom group arrangements, boat rental, and catering. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the company's Dutch website with online registration and quote-request forms, supplemented by organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, TikTok), newsletter marketing, and word-of-mouth. Customer logos span enterprise (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), government (Provincie Fryslân), education (Vrije School Michaël Bussum, Stedelijk College Eindhoven, Gemini College), and nonprofit/association segments, indicating a diversified domestic-Dutch revenue base concentrated in a single rural venue.

Name

Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje

Legal name

Stekelbaarsje

Website

https://stekelbaarsje.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned Dutch sailing school and hospitality business operating from an 1780 monumental farmhouse on Lake Fluessen in Friesland, offering youth sailing camps, school camps, group accommodation, boat rental, and customizable activity packages to schools, families, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watersport Instruction and Hospitality

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Marinas (71393)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJAJAG

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Marine & Water Experiences (Boat Tours, Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing)

SECONDARYTHAAALAB

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Adventure & Ecotourism Equipment Rental & Guiding Services

Keywords

• Youth sailing camps
• Group accommodation rental
• Watersport school camps
• Sailing instruction services
• Boat rental services

Headquarters

HQ city

Elahuizen, Friesland

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sailing Camps (Jeugdzeilkampen): Residential sailing camps for children (8-14 years) and teenagers (14-18 years) during summer weeks, including accommodation, meals, sailing instruction, and activities. CWO diplomas offered.
2. School Camps (Schoolkampen): Multi-day watersport school camps for groups, particularly Group 8 (final year of elementary school), including full-board accommodation, activities, and instruction.
3. Group Accommodation Rental: Rental of monumentale farmhouse accommodating up to 60 guests. Various rental periods (weekend, long weekend, week) with 2026 rates ranging from €1,500-€3,100 depending on season. Additional costs include tourist tax (€2/person/night) and cleaning (€195).
4. Boat Rental: Rental of 12 polyvalken sailing boats from their own harbor. Additional boats available including motorboats and charter boat.
5. Group Arrangements: Custom group packages including bachelor parties, family outings, corporate events, team building activities. Activities include sailing, fierljeppen, archery tag, lasergame, solex tours, eel smoking workshops, and more.
6. Meeting Facilities: Meeting venue rental in monumentale farmhouse for up to 25 persons, with facilities including beamer, flip-over, WiFi, and coffee service. Available per half-day or full day.
7. Catering Services: Catering options including self-catering (use of professional kitchen), fully catered meals, BBQ, and mobile smoker service on islands in the Fluessen lake.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje is a Dutch sailing school and watersport hospitality business operating from a monumental 1780 farmhouse directly on Lake de Fluessen in Elahuizen, Friesland. It sells residential sailing camps for children (up to 14 years) and teenagers (14+ years) with CWO diploma instruction, multi-day school camps, group accommodation for up to 60 guests, boat rental from its own harbor, and customizable group arrangements including corporate events, team building, bachelor parties, and family outings.

Product overview

Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje is a multi-activity watersport and hospitality company operating as a single unified offering centered around its sailing school and group accommodation in Elahuizen, Friesland. The core product portfolio consists of sailing camps for children and teenagers (Zeilkamp), school camps, and the group accommodation facility. These are supplemented by diverse add-on modules including group activity arrangements (Groepsarrangementen), adventure water sports (Over het water scheuren, Banaanvaren, Rib varen, Waterskiën, Wakeboarden), traditional Frisian experiences (Skûtsjesilen, Fierljeppen, Palingroken), outdoor games (Lasergame, Archery Tag), land activities (Solex tour), and business services (Vergaderlocatie, Bedrijfsuitje, Teambuilding). The company also offers boat rental (Bootverhuur) and catering services as independent offerings. All activities and services are centered around the group's 1780 monumentale farmhouse accommodation with direct access to Lake Fluessen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth sailing camp — children (up to 14 years) Residential watersport sailing camp for children up to 14 years old, providing certified sailing instruction with CWO diploma progression, full-board accommodation, evening activities, and themed programming during Dutch school holidays.
• Youth sailing camp — teenagers (14+ years) Residential watersport sailing camp for teenagers from 14 years old, offering advanced sailing instruction and CWO diploma certification opportunities during school holidays.
• School camp (Schoolkamp) Multi-day residential watersport school camp for primary and secondary school groups, including full-board accommodation, sailing instruction, team-building activities, and evening programs, with specific programs for Group 8 students.
• Group accommodation (Groepsaccommodatie) Rental of a monumental 1780 farmhouse group accommodation directly on Lake Fluessen in Elahuizen, accommodating up to 60 persons across 14 rooms, with bar, professional kitchen, dress-up attic, ping pong, and entertainment facilities. Includes tourist tax (€2 per person per night) and cleaning (€195).
• Boat rental (Bootverhuur) Independent rental of sailing boats from the company's own harbor at Lake Fluessen, including a fleet of 12 polyvalken sailing boats with optional deck tent rental, plus motorboats and a charter boat.
• Group arrangements (Groepsarrangementen) Customizable group activity packages combining water sports (sailing, skûtsjesilen, banana boat, RIB rides, waterskiing, wakeboarding), land activities (fierljeppen, archery tag, lasergame, solex tours), and catering for families, friends, bachelor parties, and corporate events.
• Meeting venue (Vergaderlocatie) Meeting venue rental in the monumental farmhouse for up to 25 persons, equipped with beamer, flip-over, WiFi, and coffee service, available per half-day or full-day.
• Team building (Teambuilding) Team building programs for groups up to 100 persons combining water sports, team games, and competitive sailing races such as skûtsjesilen.
• Corporate outing (Bedrijfsuitje) Corporate outing packages featuring adventurous water and land activities with catering options and optional overnight stays in the group's accommodation.
• Bachelor/Bachelorette party (Vrijgezellenfeest) Bachelor and bachelorette party packages featuring water sports, land activities, catering, and overnight accommodation options for groups celebrating upcoming marriages.
• Catering services (Catering & Verzorgde maaltijden) Catering services including breakfast, lunch, BBQ, smoked eel experiences, fully catered meals, mobile smoker service on islands in the Fluessen lake, and self-catering use of the professional kitchen, with custom menus prepared by local entrepreneurs.

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Zeilbootverhuur Friesland: Regional boat rental and charter company in Friesland offering sailing boat rentals and tours on Frisian lakes. Overlaps on the boat rental and sailing experience component, but more focused on rental-only without the lodging and camp business.

Broad incumbents

• Landal GreenParks: Major Dutch holiday park brand with properties offering watersport activities, family accommodations, and corporate events. Comparable on group accommodation and watersport experiences, but operating at national scale with substantially larger facilities.
• Roompot Vakanties: Dutch holiday park and accommodation operator with parks in Zeeland and other coastal regions. Comparable on group accommodation and Dutch family tourism, less on dedicated sailing instruction.
• Watersportverbond: Royal Dutch Watersport Association, the national governing body. Comparable as the umbrella organization promoting sailing instruction, CWO certifications, and Dutch watersport — relevant ecosystem player though not a direct commercial competitor.
• Center Parcs: Large Dutch holiday park operator offering family accommodations, watersports, and group activities. Overlaps on group accommodation, family activities, and watersport experiences, but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• Zeilschool Pean: Frisian sailing school and watersport camp on Tjeukemeer offering similar youth sailing camps, school camps, and group bookings. Direct comparable in service mix, customer segments, and regional positioning.
• Marin Parc: Dutch sailing school and watersport camp offering instruction, boat rental, and group arrangements. Direct comparable in the Dutch sailing school and camp category.
• Zeilschool De Morra: Frisian sailing school providing youth sailing camps, instruction, and group arrangements on Frisian lakes. Closest direct comparable in geography, target age segments, and activity portfolio.
• SailCamp: Dutch sailing camp operator offering multi-day youth sailing camps across the Netherlands. Overlaps directly on youth sailing camps, certificates, and accommodation bundles.

Others

• Scouting Nederland: Major Dutch youth organization that organizes water-based camps and activities. Comparable in being a buyer/competitor for youth watersport camp bookings, particularly for groups like NGK Amersfoort and Provincie Fryslân documented as 't Stekelbaarsje customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Stekelbaarsje
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1Fnv8Ir80bYyfDEWqxIE8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/zeilschool.stekelbaarsje
• Instagraminstagram.com/zeilschooltstekelbaarsje
• TikToktiktok.com/@stekelbaarsje
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeilschool-t-stekelbaarsje

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Zeilschool 't Stekelbaarsje