Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON)

What Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON) does

Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON) is a Dutch non-profit community organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in Utrecht that operates a national network of more than 50 secondary schools (primarily VWO) focused on science orientation across all subjects and grade levels. Through the pedagogical combination of 'onderzoekend leren' (inquiry-based learning) and 'leren onderzoeken' (learning to research), WON equips students with academic skills and an academic attitude—curiosity, nuance, and critical thinking—and supports teachers with professional development frameworks such as the Academisch Referentiekader and Prof. Juliette Walma van der Molen's 'Talenten Voeden' model. Each member school designates a WON coordinator, and the network is supported by national and regional coordinators, with program administration outsourced to Buro Hebe.

WON's core product surface consists of the WON-bibliotheek (a member-only digital library of teaching materials and project templates), the WON Online platform (hosting scientist-student interactive sessions), a series of animated research-skills videos produced with Bord & Stift, and a SPOC ('Onderzoekend Leren') teacher training course. Distribution is community-led via peer referrals, school visits ('kijkje in de keuken'), and annual manifestations at venues such as OBA Amsterdam and Tilburg University. The organization collaborates with a broad ecosystem of Dutch and Belgian universities (Utrecht, Radboud, VU, UvA, RUG, Twente, Tilburg, TU Eindhoven, Leiden, Antwerpen) and ancillary partners such as Debat Unie, DNA Labs, AstroPlant, and SenseMakers.

WON's business model is non-profit subscription-based: member schools pay affordable, transparent membership fees with no profit motive, and operational scale is intentionally lean (7 employees plus outsourced program support). Revenue figures, growth metrics, and detailed financials are not publicly disclosed. The organization is currently engaging with the Dutch Ministry of Education (OCW) and SLO on the potential formal recognition of a WON-specific exam subject, which would represent a regulatory shift from voluntary affiliation to curricular standardization.

Name

Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON)

Legal name

Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON)

Website

https://wonakademie.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON) is a Dutch non-profit community network of 50+ secondary schools that delivers science orientation curricula, a digital teaching-materials library, and teacher professional development to prepare VWO students for academic research and critical inquiry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education Curriculum & Science Orientation Network

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & STEM Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC), Research & Science Fair Competitions (Science Fairs, Research Symposiums) (EDAMAGAL)

Keywords

• Science orientation education
• Inquiry-based learning network
• School community membership
• Teacher professional development
• Research skills curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School Membership Fees: WON is organized as a not-for-profit community of schools. Schools pay membership fees to join and participate in the WON network. The fees are described as affordable and transparent with no profit motive. Program support is outsourced to Buro Hebe.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WON is a national not-for-profit community of Dutch secondary schools that gives science orientation a prominent place in the curriculum through 'onderzoekend leren' (inquiry learning) and 'leren onderzoeken' (learning to research). Schools gain access to a members-only digital library of teaching materials, an academic reference framework, online SPOC courses, teacher professional development, and student research manifestations with direct engagement between students and scientists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WON Community School Membership A recurring school-network membership that gives a Dutch secondary school access to the WON community, including the digital library, academic reference framework, teacher professional development, and student manifestations. Designed for school boards of VWO (and other) secondary schools seeking to embed science orientation in their curriculum.
• WON-bibliotheek (Digital Library) A members-only digital library platform providing WON member schools with teaching materials, project examples, assessment frameworks, exam-program templates, and inspirational resources. Schools access the library via login credentials.
• SPOC 'Onderzoekend Leren' (Inquiry-based Learning) An online professional development course (Single Private Online Course) on inquiry-based learning ('onderzoekend leren') for teachers at WON member schools. Fundable through the Nationaal Programma Onderwijs (NPO).
• WON Research Skills Videos (WON-filmpjes over onderzoeksvaardigheden) A series of animated educational videos teaching students research skills such as formulating a research question, choosing research methods, experiment design, interviewing, surveys, literature study, and observation. Developed with Bord & Stift.
• WON Online / WON Online XXL An online platform and event series enabling interactive dialogue between scientists and secondary-school students. WON Online XXL events feature scientists from various fields presenting their work and engaging students across multiple WON schools.
• WON Manifestations (Regional and National) Annual regional and national student research manifestations where WON students present their research projects for review and prizes, hosted at venues such as OBA Amsterdam and Tilburg University. Examples include the 2019 and 2022 regional/national editions.
• WON Docentendagen (Teacher Days) Annual national in-person teacher professional development days for WON teachers, featuring workshops, networking, and the 'Talenten Voeden' teacher materials.
• Academisch Referentiekader (Academic Reference Framework) A WON-developed framework defining academic skills and competencies, used as the foundation for curriculum design and potential examination programs in WON schools. Member schools use this as a shared reference for designing inquiry-based and research-based learning pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Schools report improved profile thesis (profielwerkstuk) quality and levels after implementing WON programs.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOBA hosts the annual national WON manifestation at its Oosterdok location in Amsterdam, providing a prestigious venue for student research presentations and enabling collaboration on science education events.
• Buro HebecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProgram support for the WON steering committee and member schools is outsourced to Buro Hebe. Buro Hebe manages the WON program bureau, handles communications ([email protected]), phone support (0850 703 422), and coordinates day-to-day operations.
• Universiteit UtrechtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWON collaborated with the University of Utrecht on the 'Leergang Onderzoeksvaardigheden' (Research Skills Course) for teachers. The university also hosts WON manifestations and provides scientific expertise.
• Radboud Universiteit NijmegencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Radboud Docenten Academie is involved in WON's academic framework development. Dr. Petrie van der Zanden conducted her PhD research at Radboud on student success factors, directly supporting WON's educational philosophy.
• VU AmsterdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner in the WON external partners network, indicating collaboration on science orientation activities.
• Universiteit van Amsterdam (UVA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner in the WON external partners network, indicating collaboration on science orientation activities.
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner in the WON external partners network.
• Universiteit TwenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner. Prof. Juliette Walma van der Molen from Universiteit Twente developed the 'Talenten Voeden' framework used in WON's teacher development programs.
• Tilburg UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts regional WON manifestations at its campus, providing venues and scientific expertise for student events.
• TU EindhovenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner in the WON external partners network.
• Universiteit LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner. The iGEM student team from Leiden collaborated with WON, presenting their synthetic biology research at the 2019 WON manifestatie.
• Universiteit AntwerpenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a university partner in the WON external partners network.
• Debat UnieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDebat Unie conducts debate workshops during WON manifestatie events, supporting the development of critical thinking and argumentation skills among WON students.
• AstroPlantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstroPlant ran a workshop at the 2019 WON manifestatie on space exploration and plant biology, connecting students to real scientific research.
• DNA LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNA Labs conducted a CSI-lab workshop at the 2019 WON manifestatie, giving students hands-on experience with DNA research techniques.
• SenseMakers AmsterdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenseMakers Amsterdam conducted workshops at WON events where students built and programmed weather stations, integrating technology and environmental science.
• Maakplaats 021minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collaboration partner based at the OBA that contributes to WON manifestatie events with maker workshops for students.
• Scientists and Researchers (WON Wetenschappers Online)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWON invites scientists from various disciplines to give online presentations to students and engage in dialogue. Featured scientists include Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen (behavioral science), Prof. Dr. Diederik Gommers (intensive care), Marij Swinkels (public administration), Prof. Dr. Emiel Krahmer (AI/writing bots), and Prof. Dr. Merel Keijzer (language science), among many others.
• Mariet Vrancken (De Arena)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent developer who co-designed the WON-SPOC (Single Private Online Course) on inquiry-based learning ('onderzoekend leren'), providing professional development for teachers across WON schools.
• Liesbeth Borms (CEGO/KU Leuven)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert from KU Leuven's CEGO institute involved in designing the WON-SPOC online professional development course for teachers.
• Nationaal Programma Onderwijs (NPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch National Education Program provides funding that schools can use for teacher professional development, including the WON-SPOC course. WON positions its programs as evidence-based interventions aligned with NPO priorities.
• Ministerie van OCWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is involved in the exploration of recognition of a WON-specific exam subject, with representatives from OCW and SLO participating in working group meetings.
• SLO (Stichting Leerplan Onderwikkeling)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLO participates in the exploration of a WON-specific exam subject, contributing to the design framework for potential curriculum integration.
• LitLab (Universiteit Utrecht)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLitLab is a digital laboratory for literary research at secondary school, developed at Universiteit Utrecht. WON collaborates with LitLab to involve WON teachers in an academic approach to literature education.
• Jan Renkema (Emeritus Hoogleraar Tekstkwaliteit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmeritus professor of text quality and author of the 'Schrijfwijzer', collaborating with the Rythovius College (WON school) on developing an academic writing module for 5 vwo students.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• JonahEdu / Stichting Bèta onderwijs advies: Stichting Bèta Onderwijs Advies is a Dutch foundation supporting STEM education in secondary schools through teacher professional development and curriculum advice. It is comparable to WON's SPOC and teacher-day programs in the Dutch STEM education niche.

Direct peers

• VHTO: VHTO is a Dutch national organization focused on increasing the participation of girls and women in bèta, techniek, and IT. Like WON, it operates as a national non-profit network partnering with Dutch schools and universities to stimulate STEM engagement, with similar community-driven GTM and school-membership model.
• Wetenschapsknooppunt (Science Hub Network): Wetenschapsknooppunt is a Dutch network connecting primary and secondary schools with universities for science education. It is comparable to WON in its mission to bridge schools and scientists, with regional hubs and university partnerships across the Netherlands.
• Platform Talent voor Technologie (PTvT): Platform Talent voor Technologie is a Dutch national partnership program coordinating STEM initiatives across schools, companies, and knowledge institutions. It is a direct peer to WON in serving Dutch secondary schools with STEM orientation programming at a national scale.

Others

• SLO (Stichting Leerplanontwikkeling): SLO is the Dutch national expertise center for curriculum development. It is a partner of WON (both collaborate on a possible WON exam subject) and is comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant influencing Dutch secondary school curriculum design.
• European Science Engagement Association (EUSEA): EUSEA is a European network of science engagement and communication organizations. WON's role as a Dutch node in the European science-education community places it adjacent to EUSEA's broader interoperability of national STEM-education networks.
• Stichting Natuur & Milieu: Stichting Natuur & Milieu is a Dutch environmental organization that runs school programs and educational campaigns on sustainability. It overlaps thematically with WON on science orientation, particularly in inquiry-based learning about environmental subjects.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting CITO: CITO is a Dutch educational testing and assessment organization deeply embedded in Dutch secondary education. While not a direct competitor, it is comparable to WON as a non-profit institution shaping Dutch curriculum and assessment, with potential overlap in supporting academic skills development.
• NEMO Science Museum: NEMO is the largest Dutch science museum and a major provider of science education programs for Dutch schools through workshops, demonstrations, and curriculum materials. It addresses the same K-12 STEM education market as WON but as a broad incumbent with a physical venue and a wider portfolio.

Regional players

• Universiteit van Nederland: Universiteit van Nederland is a Dutch online platform featuring university scientists giving accessible talks, comparable to WON Online in connecting scientists with secondary school audiences. It serves the same Dutch market but operates independently of the school-membership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wetenschapsorientatie-nederland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wetenschapsoriëntatie Nederland (WON)