Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) De Spinaker

What Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) De Spinaker does

VSO De Spinaker is a public secondary special education school (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) located in Den Helder, North Holland, Netherlands, operating under the Stichting Ronduit Onderwijs foundation based in Alkmaar. It serves approximately 80 students aged 12 to 18 who have received a VMBO recommendation and require additional support due to learning difficulties, behavioral issues, or other special needs that preclude full participation in regular secondary education. The school operates within a regulated Dutch framework, with enrollment gated by a Toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (TLV) issued by the Samenwerkingsverband Kop van Noord-Holland VO following multidisciplinary assessment.

The school's core offerings include multiple tracks: VMBO Basis-Kader, MAVO (VMBO Theoretische Leerweg), specialized TOM-klassen (Traject Op Maat) for internalizing students, Entree Opleiding MBO1, an internship program (Stage/BPV), and a VSO Diploma program. Each student receives an individualized Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplan (OPP) within six weeks of enrollment. In August 2025, the school expanded its mandate by launching OpMaat Den Helder, a small-scale education-care arrangement for up to 12 youths with complex reintegration needs. Classes are capped at 14 students with a dedicated mentor who also serves as the primary teacher, and the school employs an orthopedagogue, anti-bullying coordinator, and confidential counselor to support student welfare.

The institution is a non-profit subsidized by Dutch government educational funding allocations for special needs education, supplemented by an ESF+ (Europees Sociaal Fonds) 2021-2027 subsidy from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment earmarked for internship guidance and practical subject development. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Its customer base is effectively a single segment (students aged 12-18 with VMBO recommendations and their families in the Kop van Noord-Holland region, including Den Helder and Texel), and acquisition is driven by community referral through the Samenwerkingsverband and primary schools rather than commercial marketing.

Name

Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) De Spinaker

Legal name

VSO De Spinaker Den Helder

Website

https://vsodenhelder.despinaker.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VSO De Spinaker is a publicly funded Dutch special secondary education school in Den Helder serving approximately 80 students aged 12-18 with VMBO recommendations and additional learning or behavioral support needs, operating under Stichting Ronduit Onderwijs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (61171), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDANAHAJ

Special Education & Learning Differences Learning Centers (Dyslexia/ADHD/IEP Support)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Small-Group Tutoring & Learning Centers

SECONDARYEDAJAKAB

IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Special Education Services

SECONDARYEDAKANAM

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAJAEAJ

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Alternative & At-Risk K–12 Education (Continuation, Recovery, Juvenile)

Keywords

• Special secondary education
• VMBO special education
• Special needs schooling
• Vocational preparation programs
• Individualized learning plans

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Helder

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: VSO De Spinaker operates as a publicly funded special education school under Stichting Ronduit Onderwijs. Revenue comes from government educational funding allocations for special needs education.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

VSO De Spinaker is a publicly funded Dutch secondary special education school (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) serving approximately 80 students aged 12-18 with VMBO recommendations who need extra support due to learning difficulties or behavioral issues. The school delivers differentiated tracks (VMBO Basis-Kader, MAVO/Theoretische Leerweg, TOM-klassen for internalizing students, Entree Opleiding MBO1) alongside practical subjects, mandatory Stage/BPV internships, an individualized Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplan per student, and a small-scale OpMaat Den Helder education-care arrangement for up to 12 youths needing re-integration support.

Product overview

VSO De Spinaker is a single unified educational institution offering voortgezet speciaal onderwijs (secondary special education) for students aged 12-18. The school provides differentiated instruction through multiple tracks: VMBO Basis-Kader, MAVO (VMBO Theoretische Leerweg), and Traject Op Maat (TOM) classes for internalizing students. Additional programs include an Entree Opleiding MBO1 for vocational preparation, the OpMaat Den Helder education-care arrangement for youth requiring re-integration support, and a VSO Diploma program for students in labor or day care outflow profiles. The school combines theoretical education with practical subjects (technology, cooking, physical education, crafts) and mandatory internship programs (Stage/BPV). Each student receives an individualized Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplan (OPP) guiding their educational pathway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VSO De Spinaker - Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs Secondary special education program for students aged 12-18 with VMBO advice who cannot cope in regular secondary education. Provides small classes (max 15 students), personal mentoring by a fixed mentor-teacher, and individualized education programs (OPP). Offered free of charge as a publicly funded Dutch VSO institution under Stichting Ronduit Onderwijs.
• TOM-klassen (Traject Op Maat) Specialized classes within VSO De Spinaker designed for internalizing students (those with inward-directed emotions/behaviors) at VMBO Basis-Kader or MAVO level. Provides a tailored learning environment for students who need extra support managing internal emotional challenges.
• VMBO Basis-Kader Standard VMBO education track at basis and kader levels for VSO De Spinaker students who can handle more expressive classroom environments, with classes capped at 14 students.
• MAVO (VMBO Theoretische Leerweg) VMBO theoretical learning path (MAVO) at VSO De Spinaker for students capable of handling the theoretical curriculum, capped at 14 students per class.
• Entree Opleiding MBO1 Entry-level vocational training program (MBO level 1) offered at VSO De Spinaker for students requiring additional preparation before transitioning to mainstream vocational education (MBO). Classes capped at 14 students.
• Stage/BPV Programma Internship and work placement (Stage/Beroeps Praktijk Vorming) program for VSO De Spinaker students, combining internal school-based internships with external company placements, supported by mentors and practical supervisors, with funding partly from ESF+ subsidies.
• VSO Diploma Programma VSO school diploma program for students in day care or labor-outflow profiles, requiring a portfolio, 95% attendance, and an exam interview. Administered in partnership with Scholen aan Zee for the 'Dienstverlening en Producten' profile practical exams.
• Ontwikkelingsperspectiefplan (OPP) Individual development perspective plan created within six weeks of enrollment for each VSO De Spinaker student, outlining educational goals, support agreements, and the career pathway based on the student's abilities and needs.
• OpMaat Den Helder Small-scale education-care arrangement (launched August 2025) for up to 12 youths from Den Helder and surrounding area with complex needs, focused on intensive collaboration with youth care services to support re-integration into education. Housed at the De Spinaker Den Helder location.
• Praktijkvakken (Practical Subjects) Practical subjects offered at VSO De Spinaker, including technology (techniek), cooking (consumptief/koken), physical education (bewegingsonderwijs/gym), and crafts (handvaardigheid), taught by specialized teachers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students prepared for successful transition to follow-up education or employment

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scholen aan ZeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholen aan Zee collaborates with VSO De Spinaker for administering practical exams as part of the VMBO state examination program. The school offers the profile 'Dienstverlening en Producten' with practical exams conducted in partnership with Scholen aan Zee.
• Samenwerkingsverband Kop van Noord-Holland VOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school partnership issues TLV (Toelaatbaarheidsverklaring) certificates required for enrollment. MDO (multidisciplinary meetings) are organized by the partnership to assess whether students' support needs match the school's capabilities. The partnership also supports the OpMaat program and maintains the ouder- en jeugdsteunpunt for parent guidance.
• Ouder- en Jeugdsteunpunt Kop van Noord-HollandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent parent and youth support point providing advice and information about passend onderwijs (appropriate education) for parents in the region. Works independently from schools to help parents navigate the educational system.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Auris Onderwijs: Dutch foundation operating special education schools, including VSO programs for students with hearing/language needs, with comparable small-scale classes and individualized development plans.
• Yulius Onderwijs: Dutch organization providing special education and youth care services, including VSO tracks comparable to De Spinaker, serving multiple regions in the Netherlands with similar small-class and individualized-planning models.
• Kentalis Onderwijs: Netherlands-based special education provider for students with hearing, language, and communication needs, operating VSO tracks with small classes and personalized learning plans analogous to De Spinaker's model.
• De Hondsrug VSO: Regional Dutch VSO school offering secondary special education with small classes and individualized trajectories, comparable to De Spinaker in size, target population, and VMBO-focused curriculum.

Others

• Samenwerkingsverband Kop van Noord-Holland VO: Regional Dutch school partnership that issues TLV eligibility certificates and coordinates MDO placement for VSO referrals; functions as the regulatory gateway and referral pipeline for De Spinaker rather than a competitor.
• Scholen aan Zee: Partner school network collaborating with De Spinaker on VMBO state examinations, illustrating a Dutch regional VSO/VMBO peer ecosystem with overlapping student populations and practical-exam delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Ronduit Onderwijs: Parent foundation of De Spinaker operating multiple primary and secondary schools across North Holland, providing shared governance, back-office, and resource pooling relevant to understanding the school's operating context.
• CED Group: Dutch organization providing educational support, assessment, and special-needs consulting services to schools and school partnerships; comparable as a broader special-education ecosystem player though not a direct VSO operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/voortgezet-speciaal-onderwijs-vso-de-spinaker

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Voortgezet Speciaal Onderwijs (VSO) De Spinaker