What Wijkmakers does

Wijkmakers is an independent Dutch foundation (onafhankelijke stichting) established in 2021 in Groningen, Netherlands, operating as an academy for village and neighborhood development. It delivers structured educational programs — most prominently the Leergang Wijkontwikkeling (a 10-module training program running October to June at €3,600 per participant, max 15) and the Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling (a three-day program at €795 excl. VAT) — alongside the Werkplaats, a collaborative workshop format where multidisciplinary teams work on real societal problems submitted by partner organizations. The organization runs a recurring calendar of community events including wijkwandelingen (neighborhood walks), Sociaal Atelier workshops, Wijkmakers Jong networking events, and lecture series.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and non-proprietary: Wijkmakers uses a TYPO3/Nimut-based content-managed website, Mailchimp for newsletter distribution, and standard social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram). There is no custom platform, no app, no API, and no described data or AI infrastructure — the value proposition is delivered entirely through in-person programming, facilitation, and convening rather than software.

The business model combines direct participant fees (Leergang, Masterclass, Sociaal Atelier) with in-kind and financial contributions from a network of more than 20 strategic partner organizations spanning the municipality of Groningen, housing corporations (Nijestee, De Huismeesters, Patrimonium, Lefier, Woonborg, Wierden en Borgen), welfare and healthcare providers (WIJ Groningen, Lentis, UMCG, WerkPro), knowledge institutions (Hanzehogeschool), energy and area-development firms (WarmteStad, MWPO, BPD, KAW, Van Wijnen, Grunneger Power), and police. Customer segments are professionals working in neighborhood and village development — primarily municipal staff, housing corporation employees, welfare workers, healthcare professionals, and community developers — with residents and local initiators as a secondary segment. Distribution is email-based registration supplemented by partner referrals; the organization is governed by an unpaid board, with daily operations led by a programmaleider and zakelijk leider.

Name

Wijkmakers

Legal name

Wijkmakers

Website

https://wijkmakers.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wijkmakers is an independent Dutch foundation providing education, training, and collaborative workshops for neighborhood and village development professionals in the Groningen region, serving municipal staff, housing corporations, welfare and healthcare organizations through structured programs and a cross-sectoral partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Education and Training

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Neighborhood development training
• Community education programs
• Professional learning tracks
• Area development masterclass
• Local community facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Education and training programs: Wijkmakers charges fees for structured educational programs including the Leergang Wijkontwikkeling (€3,600 per participant) and Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling (€795 per participant). These are multi-session programs delivered in-person across Groningen.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wijkmakers is an independent Dutch foundation that runs an academy for village and neighborhood development, delivering paid professional learning programs (such as the multi-module Leergang Wijkontwikkeling and the Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling), community-of-practice activities, and on-the-ground neighborhood projects for housing corporations, municipalities, welfare organizations, and residents in the Groningen region. Its work is organized around three pillars — meeting, learning, and doing — and combines formal training with practical interventions in local neighborhoods.

Product overview

Wijkmakers is an independent foundation established in 2021, operating as an 'Academie voor dorps- en wijkontwikkeling' (Academy for Village and Neighborhood Development) in the municipality of Groningen. The organization functions as a single unified offering built around three interconnected pillars: the Wijkmakers Academie (educational academy), the Werkplaats (collaborative workshop for solving complex societal problems), and a rotating calendar of activities. The core educational product is the Leergang Wijkontwikkeling, a 10-module training program that develops neighborhood developers. The Werkplaats brings together multidisciplinary teams to work on seemingly unsolvable neighborhood challenges. Additional offerings include masterclasses (such as Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling), neighborhood walks, networking events like Wijkmakers Jong, lecture series, and the Sociaal Atelier workshop series. The organization serves professionals from housing corporations, municipalities, welfare organizations, and residents involved in neighborhood initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leergang Wijkontwikkeling: A ten-module learning program for neighborhood developers covering topics such as systems thinking, future thinking, stakeholder analysis, and leadership.
• Wijkmakers Werkplaats
• Leeratelier Sterke Dorpen & Wijken
• Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling
• Wijkmakers Jong

Products and services

• Leergang Wijkontwikkeling Multi-module professional learning program on neighborhood development delivered over an extended period to cohorts of professionals from housing corporations, municipalities, welfare organizations, and other partner institutions in the Groningen region; priced at €3,600 per participant.
• Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling Short-form intensive masterclass on area and neighborhood development for professionals, priced at €795 per participant.
• Wijkmakers Jong Program aimed at young professionals and emerging practitioners active in neighborhood development, providing a dedicated learning and networking track within the foundation's broader activities.
• Werkplaats Community-of-practice workshop format that brings together professionals and residents to work on neighborhood projects, supporting the "doen" (doing) pillar of the foundation.
• Sociaal Atelier Program format focused on social and creative neighborhood interventions, offered as part of Wijkmakers' community development activities in Groningen.
• Leeratelier Learning atelier format combining study and reflection sessions for participants engaged in neighborhood development practice.
• Wijkwandelingen Guided neighborhood walks used as a learning and engagement method to surface local dynamics, designed for professionals and residents participating in Wijkmakers programs.
• Zomerkennissessie Annual summer knowledge session convening partners and participants around current themes in neighborhood development.
• Lezingen en columns (Lectures and columns) Public-facing lectures and editorial columns delivered by Wijkmakers on neighborhood development topics, used to disseminate knowledge and engage broader audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• At least 13 new Wijkmakers graduated in June 2023 (first cohort); multiple subsequent cohorts graduating annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Het ZuiderlichtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Het Zuiderlicht is an advisory cooperative focused on complex questions of strategy, leadership, and organizational development. Firmant Joost Trienekens (from Het Zuiderlicht) joined the Wijkmakers board as secretary in April 2026. The firm contributes strategic program expertise and connections to government and semi-public organizations.
• Gemeente GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Groningen is a founding partner of Wijkmakers. It contributes strategic alignment with city neighborhood policy, sends municipal staff to participate in programs, and contributes question sets for the Werkplaats collaborative problem-solving sessions.
• KAWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAW (an architecture and urban planning firm) is a core partner contributing expertise in area development and neighborhood renewal. KAW staff write columns and contribute to program content.
• NijesteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNijestee is a housing corporation (woningcorporatie) and founding partner. It contributes participants to Leergang and other programs, and provides real-world neighborhood challenges from its housing stock for collaborative problem-solving.
• WIJ GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIJ Groningen is a welfare and social service organization (beschermd wonen, maatschappelijke opvang) contributing social domain expertise and participants to Wijkmakers programs.
• De HuismeestersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Huismeesters is a housing corporation contributing participants and neighborhood challenges to Wijkmakers programs.
• LentisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLentis is a mental healthcare provider contributing healthcare/social domain expertise and participants to programs focused on living environment and wellbeing.
• Hanze Groningen (Hanzehogeschool)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanze University of Applied Sciences contributes students and research capacity to Wijkmakers. The Wijklab initiative places students in neighborhoods for research projects (e.g., Beijum study on play and movement). Columns are also written by Hanze researchers (e.g., Jeannette Nijkamp, lector Gezonde Stad).
• Christelijke Woningstichting PatrimoniumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrimonium is a Christian housing foundation contributing housing sector expertise and participants to Wijkmakers programs.
• GoeieBuurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoeieBuurt is a neighborhood-focused organization contributing community development expertise to Wijkmakers.
• De Wijk De WereldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Wijk De Wereld is a community organization contributing grassroots neighborhood development perspectives and participants.
• Politie (Police Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe police contribute safety and liveability domain expertise, and send officers to participate in neighborhood development programs.
• WarmteStadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarmteStad is an energy cooperative/organization contributing expertise on the energy transition in neighborhoods to Wijkmakers programs.
• Lefier GroningenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLefier is a housing corporation contributing housing sector participants and neighborhood challenges.
• UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMCG contributes healthcare and public health expertise to neighborhood development discussions in Wijkmakers programs.
• WerkPro GroningenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWerkPro is a work integration organization contributing social domain expertise and participants focused on employment and neighborhood participation.
• WoonborgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWoonborg is a housing foundation contributing participants and neighborhood renewal challenges.
• MWPOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWPO is a real estate developer and partner co-developing the Masterclass Gebiedsontwikkeling with Wijkmakers, using the Niemeyer terrain as a live case study. MWPO staff (Inge Sibma, Jan Theo van der Beek, Marieke Venema) serve as instructors and program co-creators. Inge Sibma is also chairperson of the Wijkmakers board.
• Van WijnenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Wijnen is a construction company contributing building and development expertise to Wijkmakers programs.
• Wierden en BorgenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWierden en Borgen is a housing foundation contributing housing and neighborhood development expertise.
• Spot TVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpot TV is a local media partner contributing storytelling and multimedia capabilities to Wijkmakers activities.
• Grunneger PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrunneger Power is a community energy initiative contributing energy transition expertise to Wijkmakers programs.
• BPD Bouwfonds GebiedsontwikkelingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPD (Bouwfonds gebiedsontwikkeling) is a large-area developer contributing area development expertise and participants.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kennisland: Amsterdam-based foundation that develops learning programs and knowledge networks across social and public-sector domains. Comparable in that it operates as an independent foundation building structured learning interventions and convening cross-organizational communities of practice.
• Platform31: Dutch knowledge platform focused on urban and regional development, housing, and societal challenges, producing research, networks, and learning programs for public-sector and partner professionals. Directly comparable in function: knowledge-brokering and capacity-building across municipal, housing, and welfare actors.
• Pakhuis de Zwijger: Amsterdam-based independent platform that convenes urban professionals around city-making themes via programs, debates, and events. Highly comparable to Wijkmakers in operating model — non-profit platform aggregating cross-sector expertise for urban development practice — though operating at larger scale and in Amsterdam.
• Society Impact: Dutch foundation supporting social innovation and impact-driven entrepreneurship through learning programs and networks. Comparable as an independent Dutch foundation building structured capacity-building programs around social-impact themes.
• De Verre Bergen: Rotterdam-area foundation funding and convening urban and social innovation initiatives. Comparable as a regional Dutch foundation operating at the intersection of civic capacity-building, place-based development, and cross-sector partnerships.

Emerging players

• LSA Bewoners: Dutch organization supporting resident-led initiatives and citizen participation in neighborhood development. Comparable in addressing neighborhood-level civic capacity-building, but focused on resident-led (rather than professional) development and operating at national scale.
• Kracht in NL: Dutch organization strengthening resident-led initiatives in neighborhoods. Partially comparable to Wijkmakers in addressing neighborhood-level capacity gaps, with overlapping partner types but a citizen-activist rather than professional-developer target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Movisie: National knowledge institute for the social domain, producing research, training, and advisory services for municipalities, welfare organizations, and care providers. Overlaps with Wijkmakers in the welfare/community-development training space but operates nationally and at broader social-domain scale.
• Het Nieuwe Instituut: National museum and institute for architecture, design, and digital culture in Rotterdam. Comparable in addressing the intersection of spatial planning, architecture, and societal development, but operating at significantly larger national scale and with a cultural-institution mandate rather than community-embedded training.

Others

• VNG: Association of Dutch municipalities representing local government interests. Thematically connected through municipal capacity-building and neighborhood policy, but VNG is a sector-wide governmental association rather than a foundation delivering training programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wijkmakers
• Instagraminstagram.com/wijkmakers

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 Wijkmakers