cultuurhuis Wherelant

What cultuurhuis Wherelant does

Cultuurhuis Wherelant is a non-profit foundation (Stichting) headquartered in Purmerend, Netherlands, founded in 1983. It operates as the regional center for art and culture education in the Waterland region, delivering 155 courses and workshops across drawing, painting, sculpting, ceramics, glass fusing, photography, printmaking, illustration, digital design, and integrated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) instruction. The organization serves seven distinct segments: children aged 6-14, youth aged 12-18, adults, seniors aged 60+, people with intellectual disabilities, people with mental health challenges (GGZ), and primary/secondary/special schools across Purmerend, Beemster, and Waterland. Programs are delivered by approximately 100 professional artist-teachers (10 staff plus ~70 freelancers plus volunteers) at the Van IJsendijkstraat 403 headquarters, the Techniekloods technical facility at Spinnekop 1, and directly at 31 partner schools.

The business model is a hybrid of fee-for-service and subsidized public-benefit delivery. Revenue streams include individual course and workshop fees (with options such as Cursussnackbar at €10 per 1.5-hour session, school workshops at €80 per hour, and senior activities at €7 from January 2026), municipal subsidies from Gemeente Purmerend for Wherelant Ateliers, Wherelant NEXT, and Atelier voor Twee, the national CmK (Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit) subsidy scheme for which Wherelant serves as the municipality's lead applicant for 2025-2028, school partnership contracts, and welfare-organization co-financing from Spurd, Clup Welzijn, Reakt, and Waterlandswelzijn. Accessibility mechanisms include PurmerendPas acceptance for low-income residents and free programs such as PurVak holiday activities for children and Wherelant NEXT for youth. Specialized sub-brands target vulnerable populations: KunstWerkt! (mental health), Atelier voor Twee (dementia/Parkinson), Kunstgenoten in Beweging (seniors), and Photography Speciaal (intellectual disabilities).

The organization maintains ANBI (Public Benefit Organization) status, CBCT COR certification (April 2023), and is embedded in a network of 94 cooperation partners spanning cultural institutions (Theater de Purmaryn, Muziekschool Waterland, Bibliotheek Waterland, NKT Theaterschool, Purmerends Museum), welfare and healthcare organizations, and municipal/provincial government. In November 2025 the foundation signed an intent agreement with Gemeente Purmerend and The Mudita creative youth hub to relocate to a city-center facility at Kalversteeg (former ABN-AMRO building), with municipal council approval on February 19, 2026 and an expected move no earlier than mid-2028. The foundation's stated strategic intent is to make art education accessible across age, ability, and income through community-embedded programming.

Name

cultuurhuis Wherelant

Legal name

Stichting Cultuurhuis Wherelant

Website

https://wherelant.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cultuurhuis Wherelant is a non-profit foundation in Purmerend, Netherlands, delivering 155 art courses, workshops, and STEAM programs to children, youth, adults, seniors, schools, and vulnerable groups across the Waterland region via 100 professional artist-teachers and a 94-partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH)

Keywords

• Arts education
• Creative courses
• School art programs
• Community arts workshops
• Special needs art

Headquarters

HQ city

Purmerend

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Workshop Fees: Fees paid by individual participants for creative courses and workshops. Children courses include materials; some adult courses charge additional fees for specific materials.
2. Government Subsidies (CmK): Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK) is a national subsidy scheme for which Cultuurhuis Wherelant serves as the municipality's lead applicant. Covers curriculum development, ICC training, and cultural education programs in schools for 2025-2028.
3. Municipal Funding: Wherelant Ateliers are subsidized by Gemeente Purmerend. Wherelant NEXT is co-financed by the municipality. Atelier voor Twee is funded through Wmo (Social Support Act) indications.
4. School Partnership Contracts: Direct contracts with schools for art lessons, STEAM lessons, after-school programs, and cultural education projects. Includes schools in Purmerend, Beemster, and Waterland region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cultuurhuis Wherelant is a community arts and culture center in Purmerend, Netherlands, offering 155+ creative courses and workshops covering drawing, painting, sculpting, ceramics, glass fusing, photography, printmaking, and digital design for children, youth, adults, and seniors. The foundation delivers school-based art education, STEAM programs, and specialized creative programs for vulnerable groups including people with intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, dementia, and Parkinson's.

Product overview

Cultuurhuis Wherelant is a cultural and art education center in Purmerend offering a comprehensive portfolio of creative courses and programs. The organization provides children's programs (KinderKunstAcademie, Techniekclub, Kleiclub, Tekenclub), youth services (Wherelant NEXT), holiday activities (PurVak), and adult courses (painting, illustration, photography, glass fusing, linocut). Special programs target people with disabilities (KunstWerkt!), dementia/Parkinson (Atelier voor Twee), seniors (Kunstgenoten in Beweging), and theater education (Flexibel de Theaterschool). Educational services include STEAM lessons, art classes for primary and secondary schools, ICC training, and CmK cultural education programs. Additional offerings include venue rental, school advisory services, and community projects like Pret in Purmerend.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PurVak: Gratis vakantieactiviteiten voor kinderen in de schoolvakanties (Free holiday activities for children during school vacations).
• Wherelant NEXT
• Atelier voor Twee
• Kunstgenoten in Beweging
• KunstWerkt!
• Wherelant Ateliers

Products and services

• KinderKunstAcademie (6-12 jaar) A year program with 3 blocks of 12 lessons where children ages 6-12 learn various art techniques from professional artists in real ateliers.
• Techniekclub (8-14 jaar) A course at the Techniekloods where children learn to invent, build, and design using tools, metal, electricity, motors, and machines.
• Kleiclub (8-12 jaar) A clay club where children work with clay learning techniques like rolling, building with slabs, and using molds, including pottery wheel sessions.
• Tekenclub (8-12 jaar) A drawing club teaching various drawing techniques using diverse materials including hands, brushes, pens, sticks, and markers on different paper types.
• Wherelant NEXT Free after-school art studio for youth ages 12-18, offering open sessions and themed special programs where young people work with various materials under artist guidance.
• PurVak Free holiday activities for children during school vacations, including creative workshops at Wherelant and technical activities at the Techniekloods, offered in collaboration with Spurd, Clup Welzijn, H20, STO Waterland, and Bibliotheek Waterland.
• Atelier voor Twee Creative mornings for people with dementia or Parkinson's and their caregivers, including painting, drawing, modeling, and working with special materials like soapstone, felt, and natural materials.
• KunstWerkt! Art and coaching program for people with mental health challenges, offering drop-in workshops and a two-year coaching atelier trajectory in collaboration with Reakt.
• Kunstgenoten in Beweging Weekly creative and sporting activities for seniors (60+), including workshops, lectures, and outdoor activities, organized in collaboration with Spurd.
• Flexibel de Theaterschool A flexible theater school offering training in dancing, acting, improvisation, prompting, and singing for students with and without disabilities. Relocated to H'ART Dagtheater in 2025.
• Fotografie Speciaal Photography course for people with intellectual disabilities, meeting biweekly with outings to various locations.
• STEAM-lessen STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) lessons for primary schools including Cardboard Automata, Light Art, The Recycle Professor, Gravity and Balance, and Woodworking.
• Kunstlessen (Basisonderwijs) Art lessons for primary schools taught by professional art teachers covering drawing, painting, textiles, spatial work, carpentry, clay, media, and cross-curricular art education.
• Wherelant Ateliers After-school art and culture lessons for primary school students, subsidized by the municipality of Purmerend, offered at various schools.
• ICC-training Internal Culture Coordinator training program consisting of 8 sessions that trains teachers to develop a cultural education vision and policy for their school.
• Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK) National subsidy program for quality cultural education in schools, with Wherelant serving as the managing agent for the municipality of Purmerend for the period 2025-2028.
• Verhuur (Venue Rental) Rental of studios, meeting rooms, and theater halls for meetings, gatherings, and events, with optional catering and custom workshops.
• Advies (Onderwijs Advisory) Advisory services for schools on how to achieve good and sustainable cultural education, covering content, financial, and organizational aspects.
• Pret in Purmerend Vacation week for children ages 8-12 who cannot go on vacation due to their financial or home situation, organized at Kinderparadijs in Purmerend.
• Cursussnackbar Mini-workshop introduction sessions for adults at €10 per 1.5-hour session covering painting, illustration, photography, linocut, and glass fusing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94 cooperation partners across cultural, educational, and welfare sectors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The MuditacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Creative youth hub that will share the new ABN-AMRO building at Kalversteeg with Wherelant. Intent agreement signed November 27, 2025. Brings together youth and other target groups under one roof, enabling mutual learning and inspiration.
• IVIO-OpleidingenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2024Educational organization renting space at Wherelant for Dutch language courses (integration trajectories). Provides flexibility and classroom facilities.
• Techkwadraat WaterlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology education network including education, businesses, out-of-school organizations, Bibliotheek Waterland, and municipalities working together on quality technical education for every child under STEAM umbrella.
• ReaktcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization partnering with Wherelant for KunstWerkt! program providing art and coaching for people with mental health challenges. Includes Inloopatelier and Coachingsatelier.
• SpurdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElderly welfare organization co-organizing Kunstgenoten in Beweging weekly activities for 60+ seniors with creative and sporting activities. Partnership since 2020.
• Clup WelzijncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth welfare organization collaborating on community art projects including Wijkplein Where planet installation. Joint organizer of Pret in Purmerend holiday week.
• WaterlandswelzijncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelfare organization partnering with Wherelant for Atelier voor Twee, a creative program for people with dementia or Parkinson and their caregivers.
• STO Waterland / TechniekloodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong Technical Education initiative providing Techniekloods facility where Wherelant delivers technical/STEAM programs for children and youth.
• Bibliotheek WaterlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic library participating in local culture network and joint activities including PurVak holiday program and Draden van het Slavernijverleden project.
• Muziekschool WaterlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic school part of the local cultural education network (Lokale Cultuur in Je Lokalen) providing coordination and knowledge sharing among cultural partners.
• Theater de PurmarynminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal theater part of cultural education network, collaborates on student visits and cultural activities.
• NKT TheaterschoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater school participating in cultural education network and joint activities for students.
• Purmerends MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal museum participating in cultural education network and joint events including Cultuurmarkt and drawing workshops.
• H'ART DagtheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater organization where Flexibel de Theaterschool relocated in 2025. Previously housed at Wherelant for 3 years.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Bibliotheek Waterland: Regional public library that co-organizes PurVak holiday activities and projects like Draden van het Slavernijverleden with Wherelant. Adjacent ecosystem partner in the same Waterland service area rather than a direct competitor.
• Cultuur+Ondernemen: Dutch sector organization supporting cultural entrepreneurship and funding for cultural institutions. Relevant as an enabler that helps Dutch cultural-education centers like Wherelant access sponsorships, alternative revenue and business-model support.
• LKCA (Landelijk Kennisinstituut Cultuureducatie en Amateurkunst): Dutch national knowledge institute for cultural education and amateur arts. Comparable ecosystem role to Wherelant's CmK-regievoerder function: setting quality frameworks and supporting municipal cultural-education policy rather than delivering courses directly.
• Theater de Purmaryn: Local Purmerend theater and member of Wherelant's cultural-education network (Lokale Cultuur in Je Lokalen). Adjacent rather than competing: collaborates on school programming and cultural events like Cultuurmarkt in the same geography.

Direct peers

• Vrije Academie: The Hague-based fine arts academy offering part-time courses in painting, drawing, sculpture and other visual arts to adults. Comparable as a Dutch arts school using professional artist-teachers to deliver studio-based instruction across disciplines.
• Kunstkwartier Venlo: Regional arts education center in Limburg delivering courses, workshops and cultural education programs to children, youth, adults and schools. Comparable scope, target segments, and municipal-subsidy funding model to Cultuurhuis Wherelant.
• CKE (Centrum voor de Kunsten Eindhoven): Large Dutch municipal center for the arts offering courses and workshops in visual arts, music, dance and theater to all ages. Directly comparable as a subsidized, multi-discipline community arts school with school partnerships and programs for vulnerable groups.
• Breitner Academie: Amsterdam-based part-time academy for visual arts and applied arts, training adult students alongside working professionals. Closely comparable faculty model (artist-teachers) and is already connected to Wherelant via a STEAM intern placement.
• Wackers Academie: Amsterdam fine arts academy providing structured part-time and full-time courses in drawing, painting and sculpture taught by working professional artists. Comparable to Wherelant's crafts/maker-arts teaching model with practicing-artist faculty.
• Kumulus Maastricht: Maastricht-based arts education organization offering courses and projects in visual arts, music, theater and dance, with school programs and community projects. Closely mirrors Wherelant's hybrid education-plus-community model in a different Dutch region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PretinPurmerend
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cultuurhuis-wherelant

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 cultuurhuis Wherelant