Stichting Orion - Openbaar (voortgezet) Speciaal Onderwijs Amsterdam

What Stichting Orion - Openbaar (voortgezet) Speciaal Onderwijs Amsterdam does

Stichting Orion is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) operating as the sole provider of public (openbaar) special primary and secondary education in Amsterdam. It runs 9 school locations — five primary special education (SO) schools (Drostenburg, Gerhardschool, Mr. De Jonghschool, Van Detschool, Van Koetsveldschool) and four secondary special education colleges (Orion College Amstel, Drostenburg, Noord, Zuidoost) — serving children and youth aged 4-20 with intellectual and/or physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and psychiatric, psychological, or behavioral problems who cannot adequately benefit from regular education. The foundation supplements its core school operations with two specialized programs: the Orion Werkstraat, a vocational training pathway across all four VSO colleges that prepares students for employment and/or further education via practical learning and branch-recognized certifications, and the Expertisecentrum Orion, which extends the foundation's trauma-sensitive and SJSO expertise into the regular primary and secondary education ecosystem through support, advice, and training services.

The foundation's technology stack relies on standard Dutch educational SaaS platforms rather than proprietary systems: ParnasSys and Somtoday for student information and progress tracking, Basispoort for digital learning material access, Cloudwise COOL as a structured learning environment (including a teacher 'Meekijkfunctie' for real-time screen supervision), and Google Workspace for institutional productivity, with documented privacy hardening including DPIA-driven technical modifications such as pseudonymized student emails and restricted YouTube/Maps access. Parent communication is managed via Social Schools and Klasbord. The SJSO (Specialist Youth Care in Special Education) model integrates on-site youth care professionals from partners Altra/Opvoedpoli, Cordaan, and Levvel directly into the school setting, creating an integrated education-care delivery model.

Orion's revenue model is entirely government-funded. As a publicly governed foundation (openbaar bestuur), the organization receives primary funding from the Dutch Ministry of Education (DUO) based on student enrollment and support levels, supplemented by municipal funding from the Gemeente Amsterdam for youth care coordination and OuderKindAdviseurs, plus targeted grants such as the European Social Fund (ESF) subsidy received in 2026 for labor market preparation. No tuition is charged. The foundation is overseen by a Raad van Toezicht (Supervisory Board) with five members, including chair Krishna Taneja, and is led by executive Annette van der Poel. Administrative services including personnel, payroll, and finances are outsourced to Onderwijsbureau Meppel.

Name

Stichting Orion - Openbaar (voortgezet) Speciaal Onderwijs Amsterdam

Legal name

Stichting Orion - Openbaar (voortgezet) Speciaal Onderwijs Amsterdam

Website

https://www.orion.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stichting Orion is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating the sole public special primary and secondary education system in Amsterdam across 9 locations, serving children aged 4-20 with intellectual, physical, psychiatric, and behavioral needs through integrated education and care, funded by the Dutch government and Gemeente Amsterdam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Special needs schooling
• Vocational special education
• Public school foundation
• Trauma informed education

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Educational Funding (Rijksoverheid / DUO): As a publicly funded education foundation, Orion receives government funding based on student enrollment and support needs. Funding flows from the Dutch Ministry of Education (DUO) for educational activities and is supplemented by municipal funding for youth care coordination. This is the primary and essentially sole revenue source.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stichting Orion provides publicly funded special education (openbaar speciaal onderwijs) in Amsterdam for students who require specialist support beyond mainstream schooling. The foundation operates multiple school locations delivering primary and secondary special education (basisonderwijs and voortgezet speciaal onderwijs), including vocational-oriented learning tracks, for children and young people with disabilities, chronic illness, and psychiatric or behavioral support needs.

Product overview

Stichting Orion operates as a public educational foundation providing openbaar (public) special primary education (SO) at 5 locations and special secondary education (VSO) at 4 Orion College locations across Amsterdam. The organization serves children and youth aged 4-20 with intellectual/physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and psychiatric/behavioral challenges. Supporting offerings include the Orion Werkstraat vocational training pathway and the Expertisecentrum Orion expertise center that shares knowledge with regular education. The nine school locations include Drostenburg (physical disabilities/chronic illness), Gerhardschool, Mr. De Jonghschool, Van Detschool, Van Koetsveldschool (primary SO), and four Orion Colleges: Amstel, Drostenburg, Noord, and Zuidoost (secondary VSO).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expertisecentrum Orion: Expertise center that supports schools, teachers, students and parents in regular primary and secondary education and special basic education (sbo), focusing on strengthening competencies of education professionals through support, education, advice and/or training
• Orion Werkstraat
• Orion College

Products and services

• Public primary special education (openbaar basisspeciaal onderwijs) Tuition-free publicly funded primary school education delivered by Stichting Orion in Amsterdam for children (typically aged ~4-12) with disabilities, chronic illness, or psychiatric/behavioral support needs that cannot be met in mainstream primary schools.
• Public secondary special education (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs) Tuition-free publicly funded secondary special education delivered by Stichting Orion in Amsterdam for adolescents whose learning and support needs exceed mainstream secondary schooling, including vocational preparation pathways.
• Vocational-oriented learning tracks and work/transition preparation Vocational learning pathways and transition-to-work preparation embedded within Orion's secondary special education, aimed at preparing older students for further vocational training or supported employment.
• Trauma-sensitive pedagogical program Foundation-wide pedagogical approach emphasizing trauma-sensitive practice, delivered across Orion's school locations to support students with psychiatric/behavioral needs alongside their learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students earn branch-recognized certificates (Bosmaaien, Jeugd EHBO, HACCP, Heftruck, Reachtruck, VCA, etc.) through the Orion Werkstraat Praktijkweek program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Altra/OpvoedpolicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three SJSO (Specialist Youth Care in Special Education) partners contracted by Orion schools. Altra/Opvoedpoli provides specialist youth care professionals who are present on-site at Orion schools, offering seamless youth care support within the school setting.
• CordaancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three SJSO partners contracted by Orion schools. Cordaan provides specialist youth care expertise on-site, integrated into the school's support structure for students with complex needs.
• LevvelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three SJSO partners contracted by Orion schools. Levvel delivers specialist youth care directly within the school environment as part of the integrated SJSO approach.
• Reade (Revalidatie & Reumatologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReade provides rehabilitation and rheumatology services at Drostenburg school. The collaboration has been intensified over the past decade, forming an essential part of the educational offering for students with physical disabilities and chronic illness.
• Gemeente Amsterdam (Municipality of Amsterdam)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality provides OuderKindAdviseurs (Parent-Child Advisors) from district teams at every Orion school. The municipality also coordinates on youth protection, school transport, and broader youth care policy, and provides supplementary funding for SJSO coordination.
• Happy2MovesupportingOthersAfter-school treatment provider that organizes naschoolse behandeling (after-school care/treatment) at Drostenburg and other Orion schools.
• PhiladelphiasupportingOthersCare provider that organizes after-school treatment sessions at Orion schools as part of the integrated care-education model.
• VespersupportingOthersAfter-school treatment provider organizing naschoolse behandeling at Orion schools.
• Sports & BehavioursupportingOthersPartner that co-organizes summer school programs with Orion, providing sports and behavioral support activities during school holidays.
• TaminosupportingOthersPartner co-organizing zomerscholen (summer schools) with Orion schools.
• Urban Talent AcademiesupportingOthersPartner co-organizing summer schools with Orion schools, focusing on urban talent development.
• You4youth (Geld Gappie)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYou4youth partners with Orion on the 'Geld Gappie' pilot to prevent youth debt. The program combines a financial self-reliance curriculum with coaching by Geld Gappies (social counselors) starting when students reach 17.5 years old, preparing them for financial independence at age 18.
• GGD / SchoolartssupportingOthersSchool doctors and youth health services (GGD) are regularly present at Orion schools as part of the integrated support network for students.
• Samenwerkingsverband PO Amsterdam-Diemen and Samenwerkingsverband VO Amsterdam-DiemencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese consortiums issue the Toelaatbaarheidsverklaring (TLV) eligibility certificates required for student enrollment in special education. They assess student files and determine whether a student requires special education placement.
• Amsterdam Speciaal Onderwijs (Kolom, Viertaal, PI-scholen, Kentalis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmsterdam Speciaal Onderwijs is a collaboration of 5 school boards (Orion, Kolom, Viertaal, PI-scholen, Kentalis) aimed at promoting special education careers and running joint initiatives including the HvA zij-instroomtraject for career changers entering special education.
• CloudwisesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCloudwise provides the COOL (Cloudwise Online Onderwijs Leerplatform) learning management system used by Orion schools as a structured digital environment through which students access subject-specific programs.
• BasispoortsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBasispoort provides digital learning material access for Orion students, enabling customized digital education. A data processing agreement governs the use of student data.
• Onderwijsbureau MeppelsupportingOthersExternal service provider handling personnel and payroll administration, finances, facilities management, and accommodation for Orion, allowing the organization to focus on educational services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stichting Pactum: Dutch foundation providing special education and youth-care services with integrated trajectories similar to Orion's Werkstraat model. Operates under comparable Dutch government and municipality funding mechanisms.
• Yulius Onderwijs: Dutch organization providing mental-health-integrated special education, comparable to Orion's combined education-plus-SJSO care model. Operates SO/VSO schools for students with psychiatric and behavioral needs.
• Stichting Kolom: Amsterdam-based special education school board and explicit collaboration partner in 'Amsterdam Speciaal Onderwijs'. Directly comparable as a Dutch foundation operating multiple SO/VSO locations for learners with complex needs in the same municipality.
• Kentalis: Dutch national foundation for special education focused on learners with hearing, communication, and language needs; named in the Amsterdam Speciaal Onderwijs partnership with Orion. Comparable as a multi-site SO/VSO operator using government funding and integrated care models.
• Stichting Viertaal: Amsterdam special education foundation named alongside Orion in the Amsterdam Speciaal Onderwijs collaboration. Operates SO/VSO schools with a similar mission and government-funding model in the same geography.
• Stichting De Onderwijsspecialisten: Dutch non-profit foundation operating multiple special education schools (SO and VSO) across regions in the Netherlands. Comparable mission, governance structure, and funding model to Orion.
• Stichting PI-scholen: Amsterdam special education foundation jointly coordinating with Orion on workforce and inclusion initiatives. Operates a comparable portfolio of public special primary and secondary schools under DUO funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Stichting Orion - Openbaar (voortgezet) Speciaal Onderwijs Amsterdam