What Van Maerlant does

Van Maerlant is a public vmbo (pre-vocational secondary education) school located at Onderwijsboulevard 1, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, serving approximately 185 first-year students annually across years 1-4 at the vmbo-kader (kaderberoepsgerichte leerweg, practical vocational) and vmbo-gt (gemengd-theoretische leerweg, theoretical/mixed) levels. The school employs approximately 90 staff and operates a distinctive "zone-onderwijs" (zone-based education) model in which cross-curricular teaching takes place in specialized zones throughout a purpose-built facility, paired with a two-mentor-per-class structure and peer tutoring (Tutorleren). Founded in 1980 and operating under the governance of Vereniging Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (OMO), the school is a nonprofit institution with no equity investors and no private capital involvement.

The school is funded primarily through Dutch government per-student financing, supplemented by ancillary streams including optional laptop rentals through The Rent Company (a 4-year monthly subscription program with service and insurance bundled) and revenue from the in-house Dienstencentrum Van Maerlant, which provides educational consulting and professional development services to roughly 100 other schools (Pro, VO, MBO, HBO) in the region. The technology stack is conventional K-12 infrastructure: the Magister student information system, an Office 365 environment branded DigiPlein, and a planned August 2026 migration to OMO's shared Gezamenlijke ICT-omgeving (GIO). Go-to-market is event-driven and geographically constrained, centered on open house events (January 31, 2026), snuffelstages (try-out days in February-March 2026), and participation in the centralized 's-Hertogenbosch regional admission process, with marketing supplemented by the school's website and social media channels. The Magister parent portal serves as the ongoing mid-funnel communication channel.

Beyond core teaching, Van Maerlant runs four "extra klassen" elective programs (Sportklas, Kunstklas, Mediaklas, Muziekklas), an annual Project Mont Ventoux charity cycling initiative (10th edition scheduled for June 15, 2026), an after-school S-Port sports program in collaboration with the municipality, and the Citytrainers certification initiative. The school is also a partner, with Bossche Vakschool, in Academische Opleidingsschool Den Bosch (AOSDB) for teacher training. In 2026, Ester van Eggelen is set to take over as general director from Marjo van IJzendoorn effective August 1, 2026, marking a notable leadership transition across the joint Bossche Vakschool / Van Maerlant / ISK / Spoor 10-14 cluster.

Name

Van Maerlant

Legal name

Van Maerlant

Website

https://vanmaerlant.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Van Maerlant is a public vmbo secondary school in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, serving approximately 185 first-year students annually through kader and theoretical pathways under a zone-based teaching model and OMO governance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

's-hertogenbosch

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Education: As a public secondary school, Van Maerlant is funded through government per-student funding. The school provides vmbo-kader and vmbo-gt level education to students in years 1-4.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Van Maerlant is a small-scale public vmbo secondary school in 's-Hertogenbosch offering the kaderberoepsgerichte leerweg (vmbo-kader) and gemengd-theoretische leerweg (vmbo-gt) to roughly 185 first-year students each year. It delivers education through a distinctive zone-onderwijs (zone-based teaching) methodology in a purpose-built facility, with two mentors per class and a deferred-career-choice philosophy. Beyond core academics, the school sells elective classes (sport, art, media, music), peer tutoring, after-school sports, and a charity Mont Ventoux project, and operates the Dienstencentrum providing consulting and professional development to other schools.

Product overview

Van Maerlant is a vmbo school (secondary education) in Den Bosch offering two educational levels: vmbo-kader (practical vocational) and vmbo-gt (theoretical/mixed). The school operates a distinctive 'zone-onderwijs' approach with cross-curricular, subject-overlapping education in a purpose-built facility. Beyond regular education, Van Maerlant offers specialized programs including four 'extra klassen' (sports, art, media/Reporters, music), a peer tutoring program (tutorleren), and the annual Mont Ventoux cycling project. The school also operates a 'Dienstencentrum' (Service Center) that provides educational consulting and professional development services to other schools across the region. Extra-curricular activities include S-Port after-school sports and the Citytrainers certification program. The organization is part of Vereniging OMO (Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• vmbo-kader (Kaderberoepsgerichte leerweg) Practical vocational pathway within vmbo preparing students for mbo level 3 and 4. Combines general education with practical, hands-on learning aimed at specific professions, and is offered to students in years 1-4 at Van Maerlant.
• vmbo-gt (Gemengd-theoretische leerweg) Combined theoretical pathway (mavo plus level) offering students the choice between a theoretical diploma, mixed diploma, or theoretical plus diploma, keeping all further educational options (mbo and havo) open.
• Extra Klassen (Sportklas, Kunstklas, Mediaklas, Muziekklas) Specialized elective classes running alongside the regular curriculum: sports class, art class, media class (The Reporters), and music class, focused on talent development in specific areas for Van Maerlant students.
• Tutorleren (Peer Tutoring) Peer tutoring program where upper-level students (tutors from grades 3-4) provide academic support to lower-level students (tutees). Tutors complete a training course and receive compensation for their teaching sessions.
• Project Mont Ventoux Annual project where approximately 25 students climb Mont Ventoux (1909m) in France to raise money for charity. Includes training, sponsorship, and team organization for participating Van Maerlant students.
• Dienstencentrum Van Maerlant (Service Center) Educational consulting service providing specialized support to other schools (pro, vo, mbo, hbo) at staff, student, and school levels. Offers professional development programs, coaching, training, and advisory services with expertise in pedagogical and didactical solutions; has served approximately 100 schools in recent years.
• S-Port Extra-curricular Sports After-school sports program offering activities such as rugby, Zumba, darts, basketball, tennis, sailing, and surfing, organized in collaboration with the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch for Van Maerlant students.
• Citytrainers (City Trainers Program) Program where students become certified sports activity organizers. Students complete 8 sessions plus an exam and need 15 hours of practical experience. Initiative of the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch.
• De Reporters (Media Class) Youth editorial team where students develop media skills including filming, vlogging, photography, podcasting, and interviewing, operating as the school editorial team for Van Maerlant.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% of students proceed to follow-up education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vereniging Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (OMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Maerlant operates under the governance of OMO (Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs). The OMO Board of Directors serves as the school authority, with the school leader reporting to the Board. OMO provides shared services including ICT infrastructure (GIO), HR support, and professional development through regional collaboration.
• Academische Opleidingsschool Den Bosch (AOSDB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Maerlant and Bossche Vakschool together form AOSDB, specialized in training and supervising student teachers. Schools have qualified workplace coaches (WPB) and school supervisors (SO).
• Samenwerkingsverband de MeierijminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is part of the regional cooperation for secondary education, ensuring Passend Onderwijs (Inclusive Education) for all students in the region through collaboration with schools, parents, students, and care providers.
• Reinier Gerritsma (Dienstencentrum Manager)minorOthersManager/educational advisor of Dienstencentrum Van Maerlant for educational professionalization services. Contact: [email protected]
• Gemeente 's-HertogenboschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality partners with the school for various initiatives including Citytrainers program, Bossche Educatieve Agenda (BEA), and various sports and cultural activities for students.
• Huis73minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution that provides music class instruction for the school's music class program, with students learning to sing, play instruments, and compose music together.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Carmel College (Het Hooghuis): A large Dutch secondary education foundation (where incoming director Ester van Eggelen previously worked). Comparable as a multi-school secondary network in a similar Dutch market with shared regulatory and funding dynamics, though broader than vmbo alone.
• Vereniging Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (OMO): The educational foundation governing Van Maerlant and multiple other secondary schools across the Netherlands. Comparable as the parent governance/network with shared services (GIO, HR, professional development) that shape Van Maerlant's cost structure and scaling potential.

Regional players

• International School 's-Hertogenbosch: Another secondary school in the 's-Hertogenbosch region drawing from the same central admission pool. Comparable as a regional alternative pathway for families in Den Bosch evaluating secondary options.
• Sint-Janslyceum 's-Hertogenbosch: A long-established secondary school in 's-Hertogenbosch serving a similar regional student catchment via the same central admission system. Comparable as a competing secondary provider in the same geographic market competing for the same cohort.

Direct peers

• Bossche Vakschool: Sister vmbo school in 's-Hertogenbosch operating under the same OMO network and historically sharing the same general director. It is the most direct comparator to Van Maerlant — same city, same governance structure, same student demographic, same funding model.

Others

• KW1C (Koning Willem I College): A large regional vocational college (MBO) in 's-Hertogenbosch that receives the majority of Van Maerlant's vmbo graduates. Comparable as the downstream continuation channel for Van Maerlant's students and as a regional education ecosystem partner.
• Dienstencentrum-affiliated schools (OMO network): The ~100 Pro, VO, MBO, and HBO schools that purchase professional development services from Van Maerlant's Dienstencentrum. They are customers and adjacent ecosystem participants rather than direct competitors, but they shape demand for the consulting arm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vm_montventoux2022
• Xx.com/maerlant
• Facebookfacebook.com/vmbovanmaerlant

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Van Maerlant