What Diversion does

Diversion is a Dutch social research and consulting organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at Max Euweplein 36, Amsterdam, operating as Diversion Holding B.V. The company's core capability is making sensitive societal topics discussable through a combination of peer education (training young role models to share lived experience), action research (cyclical investigate-act-reflect-improve methodology), dialogue facilitation for polarization-prone subjects, and citizen participation programs. Its service stack includes an Onderzoeksbureau (Research Bureau), Actieonderzoek (Action Research), Dialoog en Participatie, Burgerparticipatie, Jongerenparticipatie, Leerlingparticipatie, peer-education delivery, and teacher training (Dialoogtraining voor Docenten). Productized programs include MoneyWays (financial literacy, co-developed with Nibud since 2012), Luister Eens (mental-health destigmatization, including the Luisterspel launched April 2023), MDT/Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (nationwide youth civic service commissioned by the Ministry of OCW), DichterBijNieuws (media literacy with Netwerk Mediawijsheid), SamenSpraak (gender-equity research with the Ministry of Social Affairs), De VoorleesExpress (language-development volunteer program active 15+ years), Wie Grijpt In? (legal-state education with the Public Prosecution Service), Ontwikkelnetwerk Herstel (support network for toeslagenaffaire victims, transitioned out September 2024), and Servicepunt Emancipatie (Amsterdam knowledge hub for 180+ emancipation organizations).

Name

Diversion

Legal name

Diversion Holding B.V.

Website

https://diversion.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Diversion is a Dutch social research and consulting firm, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Amsterdam, that helps Dutch government ministries, municipalities, and educational institutions make sensitive societal topics discussable through peer education, dialogue facilitation, and action research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Research and Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Social research consulting
• Dialogue facilitation services
• Peer education programs
• Citizen participation research
• Societal policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Klein Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Project Funding: Diversion generates revenue through commissioned projects from Dutch government ministries, municipalities, and public institutions. These include research projects, dialogue facilitation services, and program implementation contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Diversion is a Dutch social research and consulting organization that makes sensitive and polarizing societal topics discussable. It delivers commissioned research, dialogue and participation facilitation, peer education, action research, advisory, and training services to government ministries, municipalities, and educational institutions, and runs a portfolio of named societal programs such as MoneyWays, Luister Eens, MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd), DichterBijNieuws, SamenSpraak, and De VoorleesExpress.

Product overview

Diversion is a Dutch social research and consulting organization that operates as a multi-service platform rather than a single software product. The organization offers research services, dialogue and participation facilitation, peer education programs, and training services. Core offerings include the Underzoeksbureau (Research Bureau) for societal issues, Actieonderzoek (Action Research) combining research with direct intervention, and Dialoog en Participatie (Dialogue and Participation) services. Diversion delivers educational programs such as MoneyWays (financial literacy), Luister Eens (mental health destigmatization), and MDT (youth civic service). The organization also provides specialized participation services including Burgerparticipatie, Jongerenparticipatie, and Leerlingparticipatie, along with training programs like Dialoogtraining voor Docenten. Key projects include DichterBijNieuws (media literacy), SamenSpraak (gender equality research), De VoorleesExpress (language development), and Ontwikkelnetwerk Herstel (recovery network for childcare benefits scandal victims).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MoneyWays: Peer education program for financial literacy education in schools, developed together with Nibud.
• Luister Eens
• De VoorleesExpress
• MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd)
• DichterBijNieuws
• SamenSpraak
• Wie Grijpt In?

Products and services

• Onderzoeksbureau maatschappelijke vraagstukken (Research Bureau for Societal Issues)

Named customers7 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

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Netwerk MediawijsheidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership for DichterBijNieuws project focused on bridging the gap between media and citizens, and increasing news literacy among Dutch citizens.
• NibudcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Long-standing partnership since 2012 for development of MoneyWays financial education program, working together on financial literacy for Dutch youth.
• Ministerie van OCWcoreOthersMDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd) is a program of the Ministry of Education, developed in collaboration with young people, societal organizations, schools, municipalities, and other ministries.
• MIND Young AcademystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Luister Eens (Listen Carefully) project focused on destigmatizing mental health issues.
• Open UpstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Luister Eens project on mental health awareness.
• Afdeling Buitengewone ZakencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of SamenSpraak project on gender equality in the workplace, commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
• MultitudecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-implementer of SamenSpraak project on gender equality in the workplace.
• Openbaar MinisteriecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Wie Grijpt In? educational program on the Dutch legal system and youth civic engagement.
• SLOstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with SLO to publish a toolbox for student participation in secondary education in 2015.
• LAKSstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for organizing student participation for updating examination programs.
• OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free library cards for youth as part of VoorleesExpress program.
• Hey, het is okéminorOthersPartner for educational materials related to mental health.
• Beeld en GeluidminorOthersPartner for educational materials and resources.
• MINDminorOthersPartner organization for mental health educational resources.
• Hogeschool van AmsterdamstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher training college partnership for developing Dialoog als Burgerschapsinstrument methodology.
• Hogeschool RotterdamstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher training college partnership for Dialoog als Burgerschapsinstrument methodology development.
• Tilburg UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for developing dialogue methodology for citizenship education.
• Katholieke Pabo ZwollestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeacher training college partnership for developing citizenship dialogue methodology.
• NoordhoffstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Noordhoff publishers for NU Burgerschap teaching method for mbo, integrating MoneyWays and Wie Grijpt In programs.
• Stichting LotgenotencontactcoreOthersOrganization run by and for victims of the childcare allowance scandal that took over the Ontwikkelnetwerk Herstel from Diversion in September 2024.
• Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (DMO/OHW)coreOthersClient for inventory research on dialogue forms regarding the history of the Indonesian archipelago and its impact on Dutch society.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kantar Public: Global public-sector research division of Kantar, serving governments with policy research, citizen consultation and program evaluation. Comparable on the policy research and citizen dialogue offering, but at much larger scale and broader geography.
• Ipsos Public Affairs: Global research firm with a public affairs practice providing policy research, citizen surveys and program evaluation to governments. Comparable on methodology and ministry-level clients, though not Dutch-specialist.

Direct peers

• Verwey-Jonker Instituut: Independent Dutch research institute focused on social issues, youth, families and vulnerable groups. Closely comparable as a Dutch social research provider to government clients with a similar methodology and topic portfolio.
• Kennisland: Dutch social innovation organization working on education, knowledge, and societal transitions. Comparable as a Dutch intermediary that develops programs and partnerships linking government with citizens and educators.
• Stichting Lezen & Schrijven: Dutch national foundation tackling low literacy through programs, research and partnerships with municipalities. Comparable for VoorleesExpress-style literacy interventions and government-funded program delivery.
• Pharos: Dutch expertise center on health disparities, providing research, training and interventions to government and community organizations. Comparable as a Dutch research-and-intervention consultancy on sensitive societal themes.
• Movisie: Dutch knowledge institute for social development, providing research, advice and training on societal issues to government and NGOs. Directly comparable as a Dutch social-research and consulting organization serving ministries and municipalities.
• Society Impact: Dutch consultancy focused on social impact measurement and societal projects for governments and nonprofits. Comparable as a Dutch consulting firm delivering commissioned social research and program support.
• Kennisplatform Integratie & Samenleving (KIS): Dutch knowledge platform on integration and society, commissioned by the Ministry of SZW to deliver research and dialogue. Directly comparable as a Dutch social-research and participation intermediary.

Emerging players

• Bureau de Helling: Dutch think tank focused on polarization, dialogue, and democratic participation. Comparable in dialogue methodology and government-facing research on sensitive social themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diversion
• Instagraminstagram.com/diversion_nl
• Xx.com/diversion_nl
• Facebookfacebook.com/DiversionNederland

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Diversion