VBJK

What VBJK does

VBJK vzw is a Belgian non-profit expertise center (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) headquartered in Ghent, founded in 1979 and operating with approximately 26 employees. Its mandate is innovation in basic services for young children aged 0-12, spanning childcare for babies and toddlers, out-of-school care, family support, and preschool education. The organization works via projects, research, and policy advice, in collaboration with the field (practitioners, policymakers, and researchers), on quality and innovation in the Flemish ECEC sector.

VBJK's core deliverables are content- and methodology-based rather than software. Proprietary assets include the WANDA reflection method (co-developed with Arteveldehogeschool and internationally disseminated), the MeMoQ self-evaluation instrument, Kennispockets (compact learning materials built on 15 core competencies for childcare workers), the Kindertijd magazine launched in 2021, and project platforms such as Trampoline and KOALA (supporting 18 anti-poverty projects across Flanders and Brussels). With effect from 1 April 2026, VBJK formally took on the organization and development of the Flemish Kennis- en Innovatiecentrum voor het Jonge Kind, funded by agentschap Opgroeien and partnered with Universiteit Gent and KU Leuven.

The business model is government-commissioned research and project work (professional services), with primary funding from agentschap Opgroeien, Kind & Gezin, and VGC, supplemented by European grants (Erasmus+, ESF, AMIF). Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, combining commissioned projects, learning networks, conferences, study days, and publication dissemination via the VBJK website. VBJK holds the Qfor quality label and the Epos 'Goede Praktijk' quality label, and reaches an international footprint through Erasmus+ projects across the Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Norway, Latvia, Slovenia, Portugal, and Denmark.

Name

VBJK

Legal name

VBJK vzw

Website

https://vbjk.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VBJK vzw is a Belgian non-profit expertise center in Ghent that drives innovation in early childhood education and care (0-12 years) through commissioned research, project work, and policy advice for Flemish government bodies and European partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Program Monitoring & Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Services (EDACAKAL)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Childcare research
• Pedagogical methodology
• ECEC policy advice
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ghent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government commissioning and project funding: VBJK operates primarily as a non-profit research and advisory organization. Core funding comes from commissioned research and project work for government bodies including agentschap Opgroeien, Kind & Gezin, and the Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie (VGC). Additional funding from European sources including Erasmus+ and the Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VBJK is an expertisecentrum (center of expertise) that works on innovation in basic provisions for young children (0-12 years), including childcare for babies and toddlers, out-of-school care, family support, and pre-primary education. The organization delivers its work through projects, research, and policy advice in collaboration with the field, producing practical tools, pedagogical methods, publications, films, and training materials for childcare practitioners and policymakers in Flanders and Brussels.

Product overview

VBJK is an expert center (vzw/non-profit organization) working on innovation in basic services for young children (0-12 years), including childcare, out-of-school care, family support, and preschool education. VBJK's portfolio includes: Kennispockets (compact learning materials for childcare workers), the Kindertijd magazine (Flemish childcare publication), the Wanda methodology (group reflection method), and various projects such as Trampoline and KOALA. VBJK also operates a Documentation Center and, as of April 2026, took over the Knowledge and Innovation Center for Young Children. The organization operates through projects, research, and policy advice in collaboration with the field.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kennispockets Compact learning materials that translate foundational knowledge about working with children aged 0-12 and families into a concrete, clear, and attractive format, available for order by childcare practitioners and organizations.
• Kindertijd Magazine A Flemish subscription magazine for the childcare sector, covering news, insights, and developments in early childhood education and care, available by subscription.
• WANDA Reflection Method A proprietary group reflection methodology for ECEC practitioners that combines appreciative inquiry with practice analysis (Waarderen, Analyseren, Data Action), supporting collective reflection among childcare professionals and disseminated internationally through European projects.
• Documentation Center A resource and documentation center operated by VBJK in collaboration with Kind & Gezin, providing publications, films, and reference materials on early childhood education for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 KOALA projects supported across Flanders and Brussels, each with a 10-year mandate to create structural extra childcare places and child-parent activities for poverty reduction.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kind & Gezin (Child & Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBJK has a formal partnership agreement with Kind & Gezin, the Flemish public institution for child welfare. On request from Kind & Gezin, VBJK conducts specific research and initiates projects with well-defined mandates. Research results and project findings provide the content input needed for Kind & Gezin to develop sound policy. VBJK also proactively proposes to explore certain themes, drawing on its national and international insight into evolutions in practice and research.
• Universiteit Gent (Ghent University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBJK is a partner of Universiteit Gent. The Knowledge and Innovation Center for the Young Child, operating within VBJK vzw, is a partner of both Universiteit Gent and KU Leuven. Jan De Mets is also involved with the Diversity and Learning Support Center at Ghent University.
• KU LeuvencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Knowledge and Innovation Center for the Young Child is a partner of KU Leuven alongside Universiteit Gent.
• ArteveldehogeschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBJK collaborated with Arteveldehogeschool to develop the WANDA reflection method (Waarderen, Analyseren, Data Action) for group reflection in Flemish childcare. Together they tested and refined the method with groups in family daycare and out-of-school care before international dissemination.
• Karel de Grote HogeschoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarel de Grote Hogeschool organizes the bachelor programme Pedagogie voor het Jonge Kind in Antwerp. VBJK and the sector advocated for this programme based on Jan Peeters' 2008 doctoral research 'De Warme Professional'.
• Erasmus HogeschoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus Hogeschool organizes the bachelor programme Pedagogie voor het Jonge Kind in Brussels. VBJK was involved in advocating for this programme.
• Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie (VGC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn commission from the VGC (Flemish Community Commission), VBJK collaborates with Brussels childcare organizations and Huis van het Kind on respect for diversity and multilingualism, pedagogical quality and accessibility, transition to pre-primary education, and new forms of childcare and leisure for school-age children.
• City of GhentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBJK and the City of Ghent share experiences in pedagogical support. The city and VBJK appear to be natural partners in ECEC projects. VBJK was involved in hosting the ISSA Conference 2017 together with the City of Ghent and Ghent University.
• ISSA (International Step by Step Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISSA is an associated partner in the SEED project and a partner in the TOY for Inclusion project. VBJK collaborates with ISSA on international knowledge exchange in early childhood education.
• ICDI (International Child Development Initiatives)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICDI (Netherlands) is the coordinator of the SEED project and a partner in the TOY for Inclusion project. VBJK develops and supports the Wanda training component within these international projects.
• Vlaams WelzijnsverbondminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn the QualFDC Erasmus+ KA2 peer learning project, VBJK works together with the Vlaams Welzijnsverbond focusing on competence strengthening of family day care in Flanders.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vbjk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 VBJK