Zuid-West College

What Zuid-West College does

Zuid-West College (ZWC) is a publicly funded Dutch vmbo (preparatory secondary vocational education) school located at Beresteinlaan 627 in The Hague, Netherlands, operating under the governance of Stichting Lucas Onderwijs. The school serves approximately 65 staff and delivers all three vmbo learning pathways — basis (BL), kader (KL), and theoretische leerweg (TL/mavo) — to students aged 12-16 drawn primarily from the Den Haag, Rijswijk, and Westland catchment area via the BOVO Haaglanden municipal coordination framework. ZWC differentiates through a portfolio of specialized programs: the KompasKlas for students requiring extra learning support (max 16-18 students with dedicated mentors), the KoersKlas system offering dual-level instruction across basis/kader, kader/mavo, and mavo/havo configurations, the Mavo+ track (7 subjects vs. standard 6) with progression to havo, and an ISK department for non-Dutch-speaking newcomers with capacity for 120 students across 8 classes.

The school operates a uniquely Dutch program, T.O.P. (Talent, Orde en Preventie), a 4-year vmbo track focused on careers in police, security, customs, military, and fire services — the only such program in the Netherlands — with direct involvement from Politie Eenheid Den Haag and Brandweer Haaglanden. Upper-year students choose from vocational profiles in Zorg en welzijn, Economie en ondernemen, and Dienstverlening en producten (with ICT and Sport en veiligheid specializations). Supporting infrastructure includes ZW-uren (remedial tutoring and talent hours), structured mentorship, and Passend Onderwijs coordination.

ZWC's business model is government-funded via per-student allocations routed through Stichting Lucas Onderwijs; the school charges no tuition. GTM motion is community-led, relying on open days, information evenings, open lessons, campus tours, brochures, social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn), YouTube-produced virtual tours, and a weekly newsletter (ZWC-update), with digital enrollment via the Onderwijs Transparant platform. Technology stack is non-proprietary, consisting of Magister 6 (student information system) and Microsoft Teams. Operational quality is documented by school-reported pass rates of 97-100% across all vmbo levels in 2023-2024 and a 'voldoende' (sufficient) rating from the Dutch Education Inspectorate (2015-2016, examination quality 2019), with no further inspection visits required since 2019.

Name

Zuid-West College

Legal name

Zuid-West College

Website

https://zuidwestcollege.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Zuid-West College is a publicly funded Dutch vmbo secondary school in The Hague operating under Stichting Lucas Onderwijs, serving ~12-16 year-old students across basis, kader, and mavo pathways plus a unique T.O.P. security-career track and an ISK newcomer program, with no tuition charged to families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Vocational Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral/SEL-Integrated Academic Tutoring (Self-regulation, anxiety-informed study support) (EDANAFAK)

Keywords

• Vmbo secondary education
• Vocational education programs
• Newcomer language support
• Security career training
• Secondary school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: As a publicly funded secondary school (vmbo), Zuid-West College is financed by the Dutch government through its parent foundation, Stichting Lucas Onderwijs. Funding is based on student enrollment numbers and covers operational costs including staff salaries, facilities, and educational programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zuid-West College is a Dutch publicly funded vmbo secondary school offering differentiated education across basis (BL), kader (KL), and mavo (TL) learning pathways to approximately 126 first-year students per cohort from The Hague and Rijswijk. The school's portfolio includes the KompasKlas for students needing extra support, KoersKlas dual-level instruction, an ISK newcomer language program, vocational profiles (Zorg en welzijn, Economie en ondernemen, Dienstverlening en producten with ICT and Sport en veiligheid), the unique T.O.P. security-career program, and the Mavo+ track enabling transition to havo. Education is delivered free of tuition under Stichting Lucas Onderwijs governance, supported by ZW-hours (remedial and talent support), mentorship, and Passend Onderwijs coordination.

Product overview

Zuid-West College (ZWC) is a Dutch vmbo (preparatory secondary vocational education) institution offering a comprehensive educational portfolio across multiple pathways. The school provides three main educational levels: Basis (BL), Kader (KL), and Theoretische Leerweg/Mavo (TL). Core programs include the Kompasklas for students requiring extra support, the KoersKlas system offering dual-level instruction across basis/kader, kader/mavo, and mavo/havo configurations, and the TaalKlas for additional Dutch language support. The institution operates a unique ISK (Eerste Opvang Anderstaligen) department for newcomer students, and the T.O.P. Programma (Talent Orde en Preventie), which is exclusively available at ZWC in the Netherlands, preparing students for security and safety careers. In the upper years, students choose from four vocational profiles: Zorg en welzijn, Economie en ondernemen, Dienstverlening en producten (with ICT and Sport en veiligheid specializations), and the enhanced Mavo+ program enabling havo progression. Supporting services include ZW-Uren (talent and support hours), structured mentorship, and extensive student support systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kompasklas Specialized vmbo class for students with a basis or basis/kader recommendation requiring extra support, featuring maximum 16-18 students, a dedicated teacher-mentor, 1-on-1 coaching, an own classroom, and access to ZW-hours. Located in the KompasZone learning environment.
• KoersKlas Multi-level classroom structure offering instruction at two levels simultaneously across KoersKlas basis/kader, KoersKlas kader/mavo, and KoersKlas mavo/havo variants. Students receive grades on both levels, enabling discovery of best-fit educational level and level advancement.
• ISK (Eerste Opvang Anderstaligen) First reception program (Internationale Schakel Klasse) for non-Dutch-speaking newcomer students aged 12-16 who have been in the Netherlands for less than two years. Offers intensive Dutch language acquisition over 1-2 years with instruction in Dutch, mathematics, English, world orientation, arts, and sports, preparing students for vwo/havo, mavo, vmbo-kader, vmbo-basis, or MBO pathways. Capacity of 120 students across 8 classes.
• T.O.P. Programma (Talent, Orde en Preventie) Unique 4-year vmbo program preparing students for careers in police, security, customs, military, or marechaussee. Includes practical lessons, guest speakers from Politie and Brandweer, visits to police and fire stations (Brandweer Haaglanden, Politie Eenheid Den Haag partnerships), and preparation for MBO Orde en Veiligheid or Police Academy. Offered only at ZWC in the Netherlands.
• Zorg en welzijn Profiel Vocational vmbo profile preparing students for careers in hospitality, facilities, healthcare, nursing, cosmetics, childcare, and sports. Includes 7 hours weekly of vocational subjects on the Leerplein plus optional vocational electives.
• Economie en ondernemen Profiel Vocational vmbo profile preparing students for business careers including retail, banking, purchasing, visual merchandising, and warehouse operations. Features equipped workspaces including warehouse, shop, reception, and display areas.
• Dienstverlening en producten: ICT Vocational vmbo profile preparing students for ICT careers including helpdesk, programming, game design, media development, digital forensics, and network administration. Part of the Dienstverlening en producten orientation profile.
• Dienstverlening en producten: sport en veiligheid Vocational vmbo profile preparing students for careers in sports instruction, activity coordination, police, fire brigade, military, air force, and security services. Part of the Dienstverlening en producten orientation profile.
• Mavo+ Enhanced mavo program offering 7 subjects instead of the standard 6, with possibility to transition to havo after obtaining the mavo diploma. The KoersKlas mavo configuration allows the pathway to havo during years 1 and 2.
• ZW-Uren (Zuid-West Hours) Support and talent hours program offering ZW-ondersteuningsuren (remedial tutoring in Dutch, mathematics, and study skills) and ZW-talenturen (discovery activities ranging from music to boxing/swimming diploma). Talent hours delivered in partnership with Stichting MEION, Gemeente Den Haag, and Art-S-Cool.
• TaalKlas Language class for all levels offering extra attention for Dutch language development, available as part of the first-year class offerings.
• Mentoraat en Begeleiding Mentorship program assigning each student a mentor teacher who provides guidance, teaches multiple subjects, conducts mentor hours, and maintains parent communication. Includes access to a Coördinator Passend Onderwijs for additional support needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pass rates of 97-100% across all vmbo levels (basis, kader, mavo) in 2023-2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stichting Lucas OnderwijscoreOthersLucas Onderwijs is the parent foundation/organization that Zuid-West College belongs to. The foundation oversees multiple schools and provides centralized governance, financial management, HR support, policy development, and shared services. Vacancies for ZWC are published on the Lucas Onderwijs 'Werken bij' (work with us) website.
• 4OLS (Vierde Haagse Opleidingsschool)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner4OLS is a teacher training school partnership between 7 secondary schools (including ZWC) and 3 teacher training institutes (Hogeschool Rotterdam ICLON, Universiteit Leiden ICLON, and TU Delft SEC). The partnership trains student teachers (hbo and wo level) with 40-50% of their curriculum delivered in practice at partner schools. ZWC is one of the founding schools, with the first cohort starting in February 2020.
• JINCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZWC partners with JINC to provide 'snuffelstages' (work experience tasters) for first and second year students. JINC arranges visits to various companies in and around The Hague, helping students explore potential career paths and connect learning to the working world.
• Stichting MEIONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStichting MEION provides talent-hour activities (ZW-talenturen) at ZWC, offering after-school programs including music, theater, graffiti, architecture, boxing, and swimming diploma courses for students.
• Gemeente Den Haag (Municipality of The Hague)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of The Hague partners with ZWC to provide after-school sports programs (naschoolse sport) and school swimming lessons (schoolzwemmen) as part of ZW-talenturen. The municipality also supports the school's basketball and football teams through YETS Foundation.
• YETS FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYETS Foundation collaborates with ZWC to run the school's own basketball teams, providing extracurricular sporting opportunities for students.
• Art-S-CoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt-S-Cool contributes to ZWC's ZW-talenturen (talent hours) by offering creative arts programs such as graffiti and art workshops for students.
• BOVO HaaglandencoreOthersBOVO Haaglanden is the municipal coordination body for secondary school enrollment in The Hague and surrounding municipalities. ZWC participates in BOVO's coordinated enrollment system, which manages the allocation of students across schools in the region using the Onderwijs Transparant platform.
• OPDC Zuid-Holland WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPDC (Orthopedagogisch Didactisch Centrum) is a cross-school educational facility within the SWV VO Zuid-Holland West partnership. It serves students aged 12-18 who cannot be adequately supported at their home school. ZWC students placed at OPDC remain enrolled at ZWC, which retains responsibility for their education and supplies materials and assessments.
• Johan de Witt (ISK Intake)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISK enrollment at ZWC is coordinated through the intake process at Johan de Witt school, where initial assessments and placements for newcomer students are managed before students transfer to ZWC's ISK program.
• Brandweer HaaglandenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrandweer Haaglanden (The Hague Fire Department) partners with ZWC's T.O.P. program, providing practical training sessions where students learn firefighting techniques, building evacuation procedures, and first aid for injured persons as part of their security-sector career orientation.
• Politie Eenheid Den HaagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitie Eenheid Den Haag (The Hague Police Unit) partners with ZWC's T.O.P. program, hosting visits and providing practical exposure to police work, including use of equipment such as radios and handcuffs, camouflage training, and traffic management as part of the career orientation curriculum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Haags Montessori Lyceum: Haags Montessori Lyceum is a The Hague secondary school with a Montessori pedagogical profile covering vmbo through vwo, serving the same BOVO Haaglanden catchment and competing for primary-school leavers with a similar differentiated-learning value proposition.
• Segbroek College: Segbroek College is a The Hague secondary school offering vmbo, havo and vwo to the same BOVO Haaglanden catchment, competing with ZWC for the same primary-school leavers and operating a similar range of support and vocational profiles.
• Maerlant Lyceum: Maerlant Lyceum is a The Hague secondary school offering vmbo, havo and vwo tracks to the same regional catchment as ZWC, with a comparable scale and student-support orientation that makes it a direct peer for enrollment and operational benchmarking.
• Gymnasium Haganum: Gymnasium Haganum is a The Hague gymnasium co-founding 4OLS alongside ZWC, sharing teacher-training infrastructure and competing for the same Den Haag catchment, although its academic positioning is at the upper end of secondary education versus ZWC's vmbo focus.
• Sint-Maartenscollege: Sint-Maartenscollege is a The Hague secondary school and fellow founding member of the 4OLS teacher-training partnership, offering vmbo, havo and vwo tracks to the same Den Haag/Rijswijk catchment as ZWC. It is the most direct organizational peer given joint participation in 4OLS and BOVO Haaglanden.
• Johan de Witt Scholengroep: Johan de Witt is a The Hague secondary school that coordinates ISK intake for newcomer students feeding into ZWC's ISK department, making it a direct operational peer for the ISK value chain and a likely competitor for the same vmbo-track students in the BOVO Haaglanden catchment.
• Het Rijnlands Lyceum: Het Rijnlands Lyceum is a well-established The Hague secondary school covering vmbo through vwo in the same regional catchment, making it a comparable operating model and a direct competitor for BOVO Haaglanden enrollment.
• Dalton Den Haag: Dalton Den Haag is a The Hague secondary school following the Dalton pedagogy, serving vmbo to vwo students in the same BOVO Haaglanden catchment and competing for the same primary-school feeder group as ZWC.

Regional players

• Christelijk Lyceum Delft: Christelijk Lyceum Delft is a South Holland secondary school covering vmbo through vwo near The Hague; it is comparable on academic scope and operational model but sits in the Delft sub-region of the broader South Holland catchment rather than directly inside BOVO Haaglanden.

Broad incumbents

• Lucas Onderwijs sister schools (Stichting Lucas Onderwijs portfolio): Stichting Lucas Onderwijs operates multiple secondary schools across the region under the same governance umbrella as ZWC; these sister schools share centralized HR, finance and policy support and represent the closest portfolio peers for benchmarking ZWC's operating model within its own foundation.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zuidwestcollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zuidwestcollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/zuidwestcollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@zwc627?lang=nl-NL

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Zuid-West College