Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard

What Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard does

Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard is a non-profit public library network operating 11 branch locations across the Hoeksche Waard municipality in the Netherlands. It is registered under Dutch Chamber of Commerce number 24394861, holds ANBI (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) status, and is governed by the Governance Code Cultuur through a two-tier structure: a Management Team led by directeur-bestuurder Marieke Montenarie with Sandra Kraak responsible for Policy & Quality, and a four-member Supervisory Board chaired by Bert Tuk. The organization delivers physical and digital lending services, early-literacy programming (BoekStart), language and digital-skills training (DigiTaalhuis, IDO), a maker space (Hoeksch MaakLokaal), assistive-technology lending (SlimoTheek), and a coding club (CoderDojo), alongside cultural and community programming at the historic Oude Raadhuis flagship in Oud-Beijerland.

The technology stack is built around the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) national Wise platform for catalog management, lending workflows, and digital collection access, supplemented by the Bibliotheek Wise mobile application (OCLC, available on iOS and Android) for member self-service. The library integrates third-party digital content platforms including Comics Plus via LibraryPass (27,000+ English-language comics, graphic novels, and manga), Online Bibliotheek for e-books, Yoleo for children's reading, Superboek for accessible reading, and EasyAccount Plus for print services. Hardware assets include a 3D printer, laser cutter, vinyl cutter, and heat press in the MaakLokaal, plus lending kits (Bee-Bot, Makey Makey, Arduino, Micro:bit) deployed via MaakLokaal on the Go.

The business model is grant- and subsidy-funded rather than revenue-driven. Core funding flows from the municipal subsidy of Gemeente Hoeksche Waard, with supplementary grants from Stichting Lezen, Stichting Lezen & Schrijven, Het Cultuurfonds, VSBfonds, and the European Social Fund. End-user pricing is intentionally minimal: membership is free for children aged 0-18, youth subscriptions became fine-free in June 2023, and adult subscriptions became fully fine-free in January 2026. Marginal fee revenue comes from printing services (EUR 0.10 black-and-white, EUR 0.20 color per A4 page) at Oud-Beijerland Centrum. The library derives no material income from subscription fees, and growth is not commercial in nature but rather a function of program expansion and partner breadth.

Name

Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard

Legal name

Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard

Website

https://bibliotheekhoekschewaard.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard is a Dutch non-profit public library network operating 11 branches across the Hoeksche Waard municipality, delivering physical and digital lending, early-literacy programs, maker-space services, digital-skills training, and assistive-technology lending funded primarily by municipal subsidies and cultural grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAEAGAC

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYBPAIACAO

Public Libraries & Information Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYEDAAAFAA

Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYEDAEAGAF

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

SECONDARYMPAJAIAE

Library & Education Audiobook Distribution (Public Libraries, Schools, Academic)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Audiobook Publishing & Distribution

SECONDARYEDAEAGAE

Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Library, Media Center & Learning Space Operations

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platform
• Community literacy programs
• Maker space workshops
• Digital government assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Numansdorp

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard operates a multi-branch public library system providing physical and digital lending services across 11 locations in the Hoeksche Waard municipality. Its offerings include book and media lending, digital collections (e-books, Comics Plus), maker-space access, language and digital literacy programs, and a smart-living technology lending service (SlimoTheek).

Product overview

Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard operates as a multi-location public library system serving the Hoeksche Waard municipality with 11 branch locations. The core offering centers on physical and digital lending services (books, media, e-books) accessible through the Wise app and online catalog. Digital collections include Comics Plus for comics/manga and Online Bibliotheek for e-books. The library extends beyond traditional lending to offer educational and community services: the Hoeksch MaakLokaal maker space with 3D printing and digital fabrication; the SlimoTheek assistive technology lending program; DigiTaalhuis for language and literacy support; and IDO (Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid) for digital government assistance. Specialized programs include BoekStart early literacy, CoderDojo coding clubs, and MaakLokaal on the Go mobile maker kits. The historic Oude Raadhuis location also functions as a community venue hosting a cafe (De Waterstal) and wedding ceremonies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oude Raadhuis: Historic building housing the main library branch in Oud-Beijerland, also featuring De Waterstal café and wedding ceremony services
• Hoeksch MaakLokaal
• DigiTaalhuis
• SlimoTheek
• BoekStart

Products and services

• Bibliotheek Wise App

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ residents supported with digital skills annually through IDO
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Gemeente Hoeksche WaardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner providing core funding and strategic alignment. Library fulfills public cultural mandate for the municipality.
• BoekStartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational early literacy program. Library distributes BoekStart packages to newborns and promotes reading from infancy.
• Welzijn Hoeksche WaardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial welfare organization collaborating on community programs including DigiTaalhuis and language support.
• ZorgwaardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization partnered on SlimoTheek initiative for assistive technology lending to elderly and vulnerable populations.
• Stichting LezencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational reading foundation providing subsidies and expertise for reading promotion programs.
• Stichting Lezen & Schrijven (Taalhuis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation combating illiteracy. DigiTaalhuis is part of national Taalhuis network.
• Humanitas HWsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitas community organization participates in language and digital skills programs.
• Rabobank het HaringvlietsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal bank supports DigiTaalhuis with Digimaatjes volunteer program for digital assistance.
• Careyn jeugd en gezinsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth and family healthcare organization collaborates on early childhood reading programs.
• Het CultuurfondssecondaryOthersCultural fund providing grant funding for library programs and initiatives.
• VSBfondssecondaryOthersDutch cultural fund providing financial support for library activities and projects.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational library providing Wise platform infrastructure, digital collection access, and national program coordination.
• Historische Vereniging Oud-BeijerlandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal historical society housed in Oude Raadhuis, connecting local history with library services.
• Museum Hoeksche WaardsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional museum partnership under Historie in Bibliotheek program.
• Jong JGZ - ConsultatiebureausecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild health clinic collaboration for BoekStart coach visits and early literacy promotion.
• SeniorWebsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting digital literacy for seniors, integrated into IDO services.
• Da Vinci collegesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional college partnership for adult education and language programs.
• CSG De WaardsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary school participating in Bibliotheek op School program.
• ACIS (Primair en Voortgezet Onderwijs)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational consortium for primary and secondary education collaboration.
• Europees Sociaal Fonds (ESF)minorOthersEuropean Social Fund provided financial support for sustainable employability project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Large public library network serving Rotterdam, also in South Holland province. Operates a multi-branch system with comparable programs in digital inclusion, maker spaces, and educational outreach, and is funded under the same Dutch municipal library framework (WSNI).
• DOK Delft: Innovative Dutch public library that pioneered the 'library as third-place' concept with a strong focus on maker spaces, digital fabrication, and education. Highly comparable to Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard's MaakLokaal and community programming approach.
• Bibliotheek Aan Zet: Regional library cooperative serving multiple municipalities in the Netherlands, including the Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard context. Comparable as a multi-branch public library organization operating under the WSNI funding framework with similar service obligations.
• Bibliotheek Den Haag: Public library network for The Hague, also in South Holland. Operates multiple branches, runs digital skills and language programs, and functions as a community hub with cafés and event spaces - a direct regional peer in terms of service portfolio and governance model.
• Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA): Largest public library system in the Netherlands. Operates multiple branches across Amsterdam with extensive programming, cafés, workspaces, and digital services - a larger but operationally comparable peer within the Dutch public library framework.

Others

• Probiblio: Provincial support organization for libraries in North and South Holland, providing services, training, and innovation support to libraries including Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard. An ecosystem partner rather than a direct operator.
• OCLC: Provider of the Wise library management platform used by Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard for catalog, lending, and member services. A critical technology infrastructure partner for Dutch public libraries.
• NBD Biblion: Specialized Dutch organization providing book selection, metadata, and content services to public libraries. A supplier of collections and cataloging support for Dutch library systems including Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard.
• Stichting CPNB: Dutch foundation promoting reading through campaigns such as Kinderboekenweek and Nationale Voorleesdagen. An ecosystem partner that drives the reading-promotion activities that Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard delivers at branch level.

Broad incumbents

• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): The Dutch national library that supplies the Wise platform infrastructure, digital collections, and national program coordination to Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard. Comparable as a library operator but at national scale and as the policy/technology backbone for the entire Dutch public library system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/bibliotheekhw.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/BibliotheekHoekscheWaard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibliotheek-hoeksche-waard
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibliotheekhw

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Bibliotheek Hoeksche Waard