What Rijnbrink does

Rijnbrink is a Dutch Provincial Support Institution (POI) headquartered in Deventer that functions as a publicly funded knowledge partner for libraries, cultural organizations, schools, and music associations in the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland. Its mandate from Provincie Overijssel and Provincie Gelderland is to strengthen libraries and help municipalities comply with the revised Wet stelsel openbare bibliotheekvoorzieningen (Wsob) zorgplicht. The organization does not sell a technology platform; instead it delivers advisory services, training programs, assessment tools, and project-based programs directly to its members.

Its portfolio includes the Community Meetlat (a self-assessment framework for community library maturity), the Leergang Community Library (a 9-month learning program), the Taal Werkt! basic-skills initiative deployed across six Overijssel libraries, the Klik 'm aan TV series for digital skills, HR advisory services, the Musidesk music service, the annual Trendcurve publication, and Erasmus+ international study trips. Underlying tooling is limited to partnerships with the KennisCloud community platform and Whooz for Mosaic target group data; no proprietary technology stack is disclosed.

Rijnbrink's business model is government-funded rather than commercial. Revenue derives from recurring provincial subsidies from Overijssel and Gelderland, supplemented by project-based funding (e.g., the Investeringsprogramma Basisvaardigheden). Distribution is direct advisory — regional relatiemanagers and strategic advisors embedded in the two provinces. Customer segments are public libraries (primary), cultural institutions, music associations, and municipalities, all in the non-commercial public sector; no enterprise SaaS, licensing, or transactional pricing is disclosed.

Name

Rijnbrink

Legal name

Rijnbrink

Website

https://rijnbrink.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rijnbrink is a publicly funded Provincial Support Institution (POI) headquartered in Deventer, Netherlands, that delivers advisory services, training programs, and project initiatives to public libraries, cultural organizations, and municipalities in the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library and Cultural Sector Advisory Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Library advisory services
• Provincial support institution
• Community library consulting
• Cultural education programs
• Basic skills development

Headquarters

HQ city

Deventer

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Provincial Subsidies: Rijnbrink receives funding from Provincie Overijssel and Provincie Gelderland to support libraries and cultural organizations. The province of Overijssel has made subsidies available of up to €95,000 per application for library innovation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rijnbrink is the designated Provincial Support Institution (POI) for the Dutch provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland, supporting libraries, cultural organizations, schools, and music associations with advisory services, training programs, and project initiatives. It delivers consultancy, process guidance, knowledge sharing, HR advice, and program management aimed at helping libraries transform into community libraries and comply with the revised Wsob law.

Product overview

Rijnbrink is a Provincial Support Institution (POI) that functions as a professional knowledge partner for libraries and municipalities in Gelderland and Overijssel. Rather than a traditional product company, Rijnbrink offers a portfolio of advisory services, training programs, and project initiatives. Key offerings include the Community Meetlat (a community development assessment tool), the Leergang Community Library (a 9-month training program), Taal Werkt! (a basic skills improvement program with local projects like Digivitaler and Oefenpunt), media content like the 'Klik 'm aan' TV series, leadership intervision programs, and the Trendcurve publication series. Rijnbrink also provides HR advisory services and organizes international learning programs through Erasmus+ study trips.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taal Werkt!: A program focused on basic skills (reading, writing, arithmetic, and digital skills) for inhabitants of Overijssel province
• Musidesk
• Community Meetlat

Products and services

• Community Meetlat A self-assessment tool that helps libraries and MFCO+ organizations discover where they stand in working with communities and gain insight into growth opportunities. Delivered through interactive sessions with Rijnbrink consultants.
• Leergang Community Library A 9-month learning program consisting of 6 sessions where library teams work together on questions about working with communities. Helps participants define Community Library and develop appropriate strategy.
• Taal Werkt! An initiative focused on strengthening basic skills (reading, writing, arithmetic, and digital skills) through innovative local projects by Overijssel libraries. Includes programs like Digivitaler, Infopunt, Oefenpunt, and Basispunt.
• Intervisie 'Wie ben ik als leider?' An intervision series designed to help participants discover conscious personal leadership, make effective decisions, and break patterns. Average evaluation score of 8 from participants.
• HR Adviesdiensten HR advisory services for libraries and cultural organizations including guidance on transition compensation, salary transparency, and other HR policy matters. Includes practical HR factsheets and workshops.
• Erasmus+ Community Reis International study trips to foreign libraries where Dutch library staff learn community library practices, including trips to Portuguese libraries in Lisbon and Evora to study community-driven library models.
• Musidesk Service for musicians and music associations providing support and resources for music education and association management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six libraries in Overijssel started innovative local projects under Taal Werkt! in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Provincie OverijsselcoreOthersPrimary provincial government partner providing subsidies and mandate for library support in Overijssel. Rijnbrink works on behalf of the province to strengthen Overijssel libraries.
• Provincie GelderlandcoreOthersProvincial government partner for Gelderland. Rijnbrink serves as the Provincial Support Institution (POI) supporting libraries in preparing for Wsob zorgplicht.
• Bibliotheek SallandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary organization participating in Rijnbrink programs including the Community Library learning journey to Portugal and various innovation initiatives.
• Bibliotheek RivierenlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary organization that participated in the Erasmus+ Community Library study trip to Portugal and implements community library practices.
• de bblthkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary organization (Bibliotheek Lesser?) that participated in the Community Library learning journey to Portugal.
• Bibliotheek DeventercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary organization with active community library initiatives. Marjolein Bergboer serves as Community Manager and participated in the Portugal study trip.
• Bibliotheek WijchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary organization with active community library programming. Anja Kaashoek serves as director and participated in the Portugal study trip.
• Gemeenten in OverijsselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal governments in Overijssel that Rijnbrink supports in understanding library roles and preparing for Wsob zorgplicht requirements.
• Samenwerkende Gelderse Bibliotheken (SGB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative organization of Gelderland libraries working with Rijnbrink on bestuurlijk traject Gelders bibliotheekwerk and Wsob preparations.
• Provincie Overijssel - Investeringsprogramma BasisvaardighedencoreOthersFunding program under which Taal Werkt! projects are executed in six Overijssel libraries, supporting basic skills development.
• Erasmus+minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean program through which Rijnbrink organized study trips to Portuguese libraries for community library learning.
• Bibliotheek KampencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary implementing Taal Werkt! project focused on language as key to health and connection, with preventive approach for young families.
• Stadkamer ZwollecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibrary implementing Taal Werkt! Basispunt initiative, reaching parents through school partnerships.
• Fundament LossercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization leading the Oefenpunt and community building work in Losser municipality, partnering with Kulturhus 't Trefhuus.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Cultuurconnect: Flemish (Belgian) organization supporting public libraries with comparable advisory, digital, and innovation services. Functions as the regional Belgian counterpart to Rijnbrink's Dutch provincial support mandate, with similar service portfolio structure.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting Lezen: National foundation promoting reading and literacy across the Netherlands, working with libraries, schools, and publishers. Comparable in its knowledge-development and program-support role, though operating nationally rather than regionally.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): The national library of the Netherlands and a major sector stakeholder that sets library policy, runs national digital infrastructure (including the public library digital platform), and provides services that overlap with but extend well beyond Rijnbrink's provincial support scope.
• Bibliotheek.nl: National public library digital platform providing e-books, online services, and digital infrastructure to all Dutch library members. Serves the same end customers (library patrons) as Rijnbrink-supported libraries, though at a national infrastructure level.

Direct peers

• Cubiss: Library support organization serving the Brabant region with comparable advisory, HR, and innovation services for public libraries. Functions as the structural twin of Rijnbrink in another Dutch province cluster.
• Biblionet: Provincial library support organization serving Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland. Offers analogous advisory, training, and program support to public libraries in northern Dutch provinces, making it a directly comparable peer to Rijnbrink.
• Probiblio: Provincial library support organization serving North Holland and Flevoland with similar advisory, training, and innovation services for public libraries. Functions as a direct counterpart to Rijnbrink in adjacent Dutch provinces.

Others

• Stichting Samenwerkende POI's (SPN): Coordinating body for the Dutch provincial support institutions (POIs) including Rijnbrink itself. Provides a sector-level view of the library support ecosystem that Rijnbrink operates within, useful for benchmarking and inter-provincial coordination.
• IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations): Global umbrella organization for library associations and institutions. While operating at a fundamentally different scale and geography, IFLA's framework around public library development informs the strategic context in which Rijnbrink and similar POIs operate.

Emerging players

• DEN (Digital Heritage Netherlands): Knowledge center focused on digital transformation of heritage institutions including libraries, museums, and archives. Overlaps with Rijnbrink's digital and information management mandate, particularly in supporting Dutch cultural institutions with digital skills and tooling.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rijnbrink

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 Rijnbrink