De Linde VSO

What De Linde VSO does

De Linde VSO is a publicly funded Dutch secondary special education school (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) located in Deventer, Overijssel, serving approximately 90 students aged 12–20 with limited cognitive abilities across 8 named groups (Waag, Hanze, Brink, Worp, IJssel, Kowet, Boreel, Daventria). It is operated under Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten, a foundation of approximately 26 schools and ≈1,600 staff. The school employs roughly 40 staff including teachers, behavioural scientists, physiotherapists, and social workers, enabling a multidisciplinary delivery model that supports three learning routes (leerroutes 1, 2, 3) and a belevingsgericht LACCS-framework for the most severely limited learners.

The educational programme is built around four life domains — wonen (housing), werken (work), burgerschap (citizenship), and vrije tijd (leisure) — and is delivered through a three-tier internship architecture: internal stages, Leren-Op-Locatie (LOL) external placements at training centres (e.g., MatchPOinD), and external internships at 15+ partner organisations. A distinctive operational asset is the external learning location at wooncentrum De Bloemendal, where students operate inside a multi-stakeholder campus alongside care organisations (Woonzorg Nederland, Solis, Dimence, De Parabool, Hospice Deventer) and the practical-education school Arkelstein. On-site facilities include a professional kitchen, technology workshop, gymnasium, vegetable garden, and the Uitdeeltuin plant-sharing garden. Pedagogy is delivered through standard Dutch special-education tools (Social Schools app, Umbraco CMS); no proprietary AI/ML systems are deployed.

The school is funded through standard Dutch government educational financing routed via De Onderwijsspecialisten, supplemented by European Social Fund (ESF+ 2021-2027) subsidies; no tuition is charged to families. Admissions are gated by a toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (admission declaration) coordinated with municipal authorities. The school has been inspected by the Inspectie van het Onderwijs and received a "voldoende" (sufficient) baseline-quality rating, and holds Gezonde School certification in sport and movement. Operational footprint is a single Domestic market (Deventer and surrounding region), with no current product or geographic expansion beyond programmatic enrichment.

Name

De Linde VSO

Legal name

Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten

Website

https://vso.linde-deventer.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

De Linde VSO is a publicly funded Dutch secondary special education school in Deventer serving 90 students aged 12–20 with limited cognitive abilities through practice-oriented learning, multidisciplinary staff, and an internship ecosystem anchored at the De Bloemendal campus, under Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ)

Keywords

• Special secondary education
• Vocational special needs education
• Practice-oriented learning
• Workplace internship programmes
• Experience-based pedagogy

Headquarters

HQ city

Deventer

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: De Linde VSO is a public school funded through standard Dutch government educational financing (via De Onderwijsspecialisten). The school does not charge tuition fees to students/parents. Revenue is derived from government educational budgets and targeted subsidies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

De Linde VSO is a publicly funded secondary special education (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) school that delivers practice-oriented education to approximately 90 students aged 12–20 with limited cognitive abilities across 8 classes in Deventer, Netherlands. Its core offering is the VSO educational programme organised across learning routes 1, 2 and 3 — anchored by the LACCS experience-based framework and a three-tier internship model (internal stages, Leren-Op-Locatie external placements, and workplace internships with 15+ partner organisations) — designed to prepare students for independent living, employment, sheltered work, day activities, or MBO follow-up education across the four domains of housing, work, citizenship, and leisure.

Product overview

De Linde VSO is a secondary special education school offering a single unified educational program focused on preparing students aged 12-20 with limited cognitive abilities for active participation in society. The school provides practical, experience-based learning across four life domains: housing (wonen), work (werken), leisure (vrije tijd), and citizenship (burgerschap). The school has 90 students across 8 classes, with facilities including technical workshops, gymnasium, hospitality kitchen, vegetable garden, and an external learning location at 'De Bloemendal'. The educational offering includes internal internships, Leren-Op-Locatie (LOL) external internships, and external workplace internships, as well as the Uitdeeltuin (plant sharing garden) initiative where students gain practical and social skills. The school operates as part of De Onderwijsspecialisten foundation comprising approximately 30 schools in special education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stages (Internship Programme) A three-tiered internship programme that gives De Linde VSO students progressive workplace experience: (1) internal internships (first work-skills step), (2) Leren-Op-Locatie (LOL) external internships at training centres, and (3) external workplace internships at businesses and care institutions. Designed for students aged 12–20 with limited cognitive abilities to prepare for employment, sheltered work, day activities, or MBO follow-up education.
• VSO Onderwijsprogramma (VSO Education Programme) A secondary special education curriculum focused on practical learning that prepares students aged 12–20 with limited cognitive abilities for employment, sheltered employment, day activities, or MBO follow-up education trajectories, spanning three learning routes (leerroutes 1, 2, 3) across the four life domains of housing, work, citizenship, and leisure.
• Social Schools App A mobile application used by De Linde VSO to keep parents informed about daily activities, classroom events, and school updates; serves as the primary parent communication channel.
• Schoolgids (School Guide) An annual school guide publication containing all information about De Linde VSO's policies, programmes, and procedures, available as a PDF download on the school's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50% of students become members of a sports club (regular or G-sport)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KonnecteDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025KonnecteD is a work and learning company that collaborated with De Linde VSO to establish the Uitdeeltuin (Plant Sharing Garden) on the school grounds. The Uitdeeltuin provides students with an internal work placement where they develop practical and social skills, including receiving customers, labelling and caring for plants, and learning teamwork with community organisations.
• IJssellandschapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIJssellandschap partnered with De Linde VSO to create the Uitdeeltuin on the school grounds. IJssellandschap contributes to the environmental and landscape dimension of the project, helping students connect with nature and sustainability.
• De GroengeverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Groengevers (Team Groengevers) collaborated on the Uitdeeltuin project, which is part of the internal work placements for De Linde VSO students. The initiative demonstrates how education, nature, and community collaboration reinforce each other.
• Arkelstein - Etty Hillesum LyceumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArkelstein - Etty Hillesum Lyceum (a practical education school) collaborates with De Linde VSO at the shared De Bloemendal location. Students from both schools learn together in a multi-organisational campus setting. Additionally, Arkelstein students and De Linde VSO students jointly participate in the MBO-1 trajectory, attending classes together at Arkelstein and Aventus.
• AventuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAventus is an MBO (secondary vocational education) institution in Deventer. De Linde VSO students on the MBO-1 trajectory attend one day per week of MBO lessons at Aventus as part of their integrated study programme.
• Stichting De BuurtbrouwerijcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Buurtbrouwerij is a social enterprise at De Bloemendal residential centre. Student Esmee completed her supervised internship at De Buurtbrouwerij and was subsequently hired as an employee there — a notable transition from internship to employment directly from the school's programme.
• Fit Life 4UminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFit Life 4U served as one of the internship locations for student Feraaz, who pursued the Assistent Dienstverlening en Sport (Assistant Services and Sport) programme. The internship provided practical experience in the sports and services sector.
• ABS BathmenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABS Bathmen provided internship placement for student Feraaz as part of his Assistent Dienstverlening en Sport trajectory. Feraaz completed his internships at ABS Bathmen and Fit Life 4U before progressing to MBO-2.
• AV DaventriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAV Daventria is a local athletics club in Deventer. De Linde VSO students participated in athletics lessons and a clinic led by former Olympian Femke Pluim at AV Daventria. Martin Gerding from the G-group of AV Daventria also contributed throwing instruction. The club offers athletics training on Friday evenings (19:00–20:00) and is open to all.
• De ParaboolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Parabool is a care organisation at De Bloemendal wooncentrum. Students collect paper from residents, which De Parabool then processes for recycling. De Parabool also includes a Wasserette Was(t)goed laundry service, which contributed to the WensAmbulance fundraiser. The organisation offers day activities including a bakery, nursery, laundry, and textile workshop where De Linde VSO students can intern.
• Stichting Special Heroes NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Heroes is a national sports stimulation programme for children and young people with disabilities. De Linde VSO collaborates with Special Heroes on regular sports activities and the Healthy School programme. The school participates in events like sports days and clinics, and students receive Food Heroes and taste lessons through this partnership. More than 50% of the school's students are members of a sports club (regular or G-sport).
• Sabine Schopbarteld (Brugfunctionaris / Bridge Functionary)coreOthersSabine Schopbarteld serves as the school's bridge functionary (brugfunctionaris), helping students and families navigate support services, subsidies (e.g., from Stichting Leergeld for sports), and administrative processes related to care and participation.
• KonnecteD (Werk- en leerbedrijf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKonnecteD is a work and learning company. The school presented KonnecteD as an exhibitor at the Toekomstmarkt (Future Market) event. Students who complete the VSO programme sometimes transition to KonnecteD for further employment support. The organisation is part of the De Bloemendal campus ecosystem.
• Het GroenbedrijfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHet Groenbedrijf (Green Company) is a green sector work organisation in Deventer. The school presented Het Groenbedrijf at the Toekomstmarkt. Het Groenbedrijf provides internship and employment opportunities for students interested in outdoor and horticultural work. Lammert Smit from Het Groenbedrijf gave a presentation to students about green sector careers.
• MatchPOinDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatchPOinD is a training centre in Deventer. The school uses MatchPOinD as a Leren-Op-Locatie (LOL) external work placement where students learn and apply employee skills in a practical setting and carry out production-oriented work activities.
• ZozijncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZozijn is a care organisation offering day activities at locations including Atelier Avonturijn (a creative workshop for painting, papier-mâché, modelling, and mosaics) and Ivoor Groen en Dier (a combined animals and plants facility). De Linde VSO organises a stage-caroussel (internship carousel) enabling students to experience different workplaces, with Zozijn locations serving as internship sites.
• JP van den Bent stichtingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe JP van den Bent stichting is a care organisation that offers out-of-school care for students who need it, and provides internship and employment pathways. The school presented this organisation at the Toekomstmarkt and students have transitioned to its day activities and care facilities after completing their VSO programme.
• ReubeZorgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReubeZorg was presented as a partner at the Toekomstmarkt, offering care and support services for students in transition from school to adult services.
• Schoonmaakbedrijf AalbersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchoonmaakbedrijf Aalbers is a cleaning company in Deventer that participates in the Toekomstmarkt, offering insights into cleaning sector careers for students.
• WensAmbulance Oost-NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWensAmbulance Oost-Nederland is a foundation that fulfils wishes for bedridden individuals. Residents and students at De Bloemendal organised fundraising activities (raising €5,268.30) to support the WensAmbulance, demonstrating the school's commitment to citizenship education and community engagement.
• Wasserette Was(t)goed van De ParaboolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wasserette Was(t)goed is a laundry service operated by De Parabool at De Bloemendal. It participated in the WensAmbulance fundraising by collecting and donating bottle deposits.
• Femke Pluim (Former Olympian pole vaulter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFemke Pluim is a former Olympian and pole vaulter who delivered a free athletics clinic at AV Daventria for De Linde VSO students. The clinic was won as a prize when De Linde VSO staff achieved second place in 'De Strijd der Scholen' competition.
• Cees Holtkamp (Pastry Chef)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCees Holtkamp, a professional pastry chef, visited De Linde VSO to give a masterclass on making gevulde koek (Dutch stuffed cookies) in the school's new professional kitchen. This event celebrated the opening of the school's new large kitchen facility.
• Stichting LeergeldminorOthersStichting Leergeld is a foundation that provides subsidies to help children participate in sports and leisure activities. The school's bridge functionary assists families in applying for these subsidies, enabling students to join sports clubs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kentalis: National Dutch special education provider focused on learners with hearing, language, and communication needs; operates a broad portfolio of SO/VSO schools across the country, serving as a large incumbent in adjacent special-education niches.
• Koninklijke Auris Groep: National Dutch special education provider offering SO/VSO and MBO pathways for learners with hearing, language, and developmental needs; broader portfolio than De Linde VSO but operates in the same publicly funded VSO ecosystem.
• Bartiméus: National Dutch special education and care organisation focused on students with visual impairment and multiple disabilities; a major incumbent in the broader special-education sector with overlapping pedagogy and funding model.

Others

• Stichting Special Heroes Nederland: National sports and lifestyle stimulation programme for children with disabilities; an ecosystem partner of De Linde VSO that delivers Food Heroes, taste lessons, and athletics clinics rather than competing for students.

Direct peers

• Arkelstein (Etty Hillesum Lyceum): Practical-education (pro) school that shares the De Bloemendal educational location with De Linde VSO; co-delivers the MBO-1 trajectory with Aventus and operates the same multi-organisation campus model for students needing practice-oriented learning.
• Pactum Scholengroep: Dutch foundation operating multiple schools for special primary and special secondary education, including VSO, across the Achterhoek/Liemers region; comparable mission, funding model, and student population to De Linde VSO.
• Vitus Zuid: VSO school in the Eindhoven region serving students aged 12-20 with learning/behavioural needs; offers a comparable mix of practical learning routes, internships, and transition pathways, differing primarily by geographic catchment.
• Stichting de Opbouw: Dutch special education provider offering VSO and SO programmes with a similar practice-oriented, transition-to-work focus; comparable student cohort and government-bekostigd funding model.
• Aventus: MBO (secondary vocational education) institution in Deventer where De Linde VSO students on the MBO-1 trajectory attend one day per week of integrated classes; the natural downstream progression destination for VSO graduates.
• De Linde SO: Sister school for special primary education operated by the same De Onderwijsspecialisten foundation and co-located in Deventer; serves the upstream pipeline of students who transition into De Linde VSO.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/onderwijsspec
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeOnderwijsspecialisten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vso-de-linde

Compliance3 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 De Linde VSO