Stichting Lezen & Schrijven

What Stichting Lezen & Schrijven does

Stichting Lezen & Schrijven is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting) headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, founded on May 27, 2004 at the initiative of Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands. It operates as the de facto national organization for combating low literacy (laaggeletterdheid) among adults aged 16–75 in the Netherlands, a population estimated at 3 million people. The foundation's core delivery mechanism is the "Taal voor het Leven" program, executed through a network spanning 35 labor market regions (arbeidsmarktregio's) and hundreds of partners including municipalities, healthcare institutions, employers, teachers, volunteers, Taalhuizen, and bibliotheken.

The foundation's product portfolio centers on screening, education, and awareness. Screenings are delivered through Basismeters, a tool used by organizations and municipalities to identify low literacy. Educational delivery combines the Startpunt Ik wil leren registration and routing system with an LMS offering e-learnings, with progress tracking and certificates. Awareness is driven by the annual Taalheldenprijs award program, the Week van Lezen en Schrijven national awareness week, and a Taalambassadeurs program featuring volunteers with lived experience of low literacy. The technology stack is functional rather than differentiated: standard digital platforms (LMS, registration, screening) rather than proprietary AI or ML systems.

The foundation operates as an ANBI-status public benefit organization, generating revenue through tax-deductible donations (one-time and periodic with a 5-year minimum), bequests, business partner contributions, and charity lottery partnerships with Vriendenloterij and Nationale Postcode Loterij. Customer segments are municipalities (primary), employers and businesses (primary), healthcare and social organizations (secondary), and low-literate adults as end users. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed, and pricing is not applicable to mission-based service delivery.

Name

Stichting Lezen & Schrijven

Legal name

Stichting Lezen en Schrijven

Website

https://lezenenschrijven.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stichting Lezen & Schrijven is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in The Hague that combats low literacy among 3 million affected Dutch adults through nationwide screening tools, educational programs, and a partner network spanning 35 labor market regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult literacy education and basic skills support

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Literacy, Numeracy & Second-Chance Education (BPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Adult literacy education
• Low literacy support
• Basic skills training
• Literacy screening tools
• Language volunteer network

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Gifts: One-time and periodic donations from individuals and organizations. Periodic donors commit to minimum 5 years of annual fixed donations, making gifts tax-deductible. The foundation has ANBI status (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling) making gifts fully deductible from taxable income.
2. Legacies and Bequests: Funding from legacies in wills. As an ANBI, bequests are entirely tax-free and go fully to fighting low literacy.
3. Business Partner Contributions: Financial support from companies that join as business partners. Includes annual network sessions for affiliated companies and one-time financial contributions. Projects like VCA exam reform developed with private sector support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stichting Lezen & Schrijven is the designated national Dutch foundation combating low literacy (laaggeletterdheid) among adults aged 16–75. It delivers the Taal voor het Leven nationwide program through a partner network across 35 labor market regions, and offers screening tools (Basismeters), an online registration and matching service (Startpunt Ik wil leren), e-learnings via an LMS, awareness campaigns (Week van Lezen en Schrijven) and the Taalheldenprijs recognition program.

Product overview

Stichting Lezen en Schrijven operates a multi-faceted portfolio centered on combating low literacy (laaggeletterdheid) in the Netherlands. The core offering includes 'Taal voor het Leven,' a nationwide educational program delivered through partnerships with municipalities, healthcare institutions, and businesses across 35 labor market regions. This is supported by 'Basismeters,' a screening tool for organizations to identify low literacy, and an LMS with e-learnings for capacity building. The foundation runs annual awareness programs including the 'Taalheldenprijs' award and the 'Week van Lezen en Schrijven.' Service delivery is facilitated through 'Startpunt Ik Wil Leren,' a registration and matching system for learners and volunteers, complemented by a trained 'Taalambassadeur' (language ambassador) program. Fundraising services include tax-advantaged periodic giving options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Taal voor het Leven A nationwide program organized in collaboration with hundreds of municipalities, healthcare institutions, companies, teachers, and volunteers that provides language education within a sustainable network across 35 Dutch labor market regions (arbeidsmarktregio's).
• Basismeters A screening instrument used by organizations and municipalities to identify low literacy among target populations; aggregates results for research and improvement of assessments.
• Startpunt Ik Wil Leren Registration and matching service where (language) volunteers and course participants can sign up to improve their basic skills; routes registrations to the appropriate local meldpunt based on postal code and analyzes registration data.
• E-learnings (Learning Management System) Online learning platform accessible through an LMS that allows users to build knowledge about low literacy and language education, with progress tracking, completed modules, and certificates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million people in Netherlands affected by low literacy (ages 16-75)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• LeescoalitiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational knowledge partner collaborating on literacy and reading initiatives. Part of the broader network of knowledge partners working with Stichting Lezen en Schrijven.
• Stichting ABCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStichting ABC advocates for low-literate individuals, trains Taalambassadeurs, and guides them in their activities. Works closely with Stichting Lezen en Schrijven.
• Alles is gezondheid...minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational knowledge partner in the health and literacy space. One of several national organizations collaborating with Stichting Lezen en Schrijven.
• Randstad Groep NederlandmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor staffing company that recognizes language skills as essential for employment. Acts as a business partner supporting the mission through advocacy and potentially financial contributions.
• Taalhuizen/BibliothekencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal language houses and libraries serve as meldpunten (registration points) where volunteers and learners can sign up. Part of the 35 labor market regions network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• War Child: Dutch-headquartered international nonprofit focused on children affected by war, including education programs. Comparable as a large Dutch-rooted nonprofit operating internationally, but thematically adjacent rather than directly competitive.

Direct peers

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): US nonprofit focused on children's literacy and reading access. Comparable as a national literacy-focused nonprofit with corporate partnerships and a wide distribution network, although it skews younger in audience.
• National Literacy Trust: UK-based independent charity working to improve literacy levels across all ages, with a strong focus on disadvantaged adults and children. Highly comparable as a national adult literacy foundation with awareness campaigns, corporate partnerships, and government engagement.
• ProLiteracy: US-based nonprofit organization dedicated to adult literacy through a network of volunteer tutors and local programs. Comparable mission, volunteer-driven delivery model, and national-scale organizational structure.
• Stichting Lezen: Dutch foundation promoting reading enjoyment and literacy across age groups, often referenced alongside Stichting Lezen & Schrijven. Comparable national Dutch literacy mission with awareness campaigns and partner networks.
• Literacy New York: US-based nonprofit delivering adult literacy tutoring and instruction through a statewide volunteer network. Comparable model of volunteer-driven adult literacy service delivery at subnational scale.
• Stichting ABC: Dutch foundation that advocates for low-literate individuals and trains Taalambassadeurs. A direct strategic partner of Stichting Lezen & Schrijven operating in the same Dutch adult literacy advocacy space.

Emerging players

• Kentalis: Dutch organization specializing in education and support for people with hearing, language, and communication needs. Partially overlapping in the language-development domain with specialized literacy interventions.

Broad incumbents

• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): Dutch national library with programs supporting literacy, digital skills, and reading promotion. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the Dutch literacy and reading ecosystem that collaborates with libraries serving as meldpunten.

Regional players

• ROC (Regionaal Opleidingsoverleg): Dutch regional training centers providing adult secondary vocational education, including basic skills and Dutch language courses. Comparable regional delivery of adult foundational education, often as a downstream provider within Stichting Lezen & Schrijven's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StichtingLezenenSchrijven
• Instagraminstagram.com/lezenenschrijven
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichting-lezen-en-schrijven
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@StichtingLezeneSchrijven
• Xtwitter.com/LezenSchrijven

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Stichting Lezen & Schrijven