Stichting Hero Kindercentra

What Stichting Hero Kindercentra does

Stichting Hero Kindercentra is a Dutch Stichting (foundation) that operates approximately 77-85 childcare locations in Haarlem and Spaarndam, providing nursery care (KDV) for children aged 0-4, preschool (peuteropvang) for children aged 2-4 including VVE early-education programmes, and after-school care (BSO) for children aged 4-13. The foundation was formed on 1 July 2020 through the legal merger of two Haarlem-area organisations, SKOS (Kinderorganisatie Spaarne, founded 1994) and Kinderopvang Haarlem, and currently employs more than 600 staff. Hero is a maatschappelijke (social) childcare provider affiliated with the Branchevereniging Maatschappelijke Kinderopvang (BMK) and is registered in the Landelijk Register Kinderopvang with GGD inspection oversight at every site.

Revenue is generated on a subscription-recurring basis through parental fees net of the Dutch government childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) administered via Belastingdienst/Toeslagen, supplemented by municipal subsidies (including HaarlemPas for free preschool). Hero offers a 51-week all-in package, net-cost calculator, and claims to be one of the cheapest providers in Haarlem; 100% of funds are reinvested into service quality. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer through the company website, online enrollment, location tours, and the KidsKonnect parent portal, with referral flow from the consultatiebureau/JGZ for VVE cases and from co-located primary schools such as MKC De Wijde Wereld, De Piramide, De Globe, Sint Adalbertusschool, and Spaarneschool.

The service portfolio is supported by internal infrastructure including the Hero Academie training academy, BBL/BOL work-study pipelines with NOVA College and InHolland, the Uk & Puk and Klaar voor de Start educational programmes, specialised Peuterplus and BSOplus groups in collaboration with Kenter Jeugdhulp, Sport-BSO via Sport Support, and sustainability initiatives such as the WWF-Netherlands Business Partnership and a Paris Proof-certified location at KDV Hofmanweg. Hero is not a technology company: it uses the third-party KidsKonnect parent portal and standard SaaS tools, has no AI/ML capability disclosed, holds no patents, and operates entirely as a labour-intensive local services provider within the regulated Dutch childcare system.

Name

Stichting Hero Kindercentra

Legal name

Stichting Hero Kindercentra

Website

https://herokindercentra.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Stichting Hero Kindercentra is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating roughly 77-85 childcare locations in Haarlem and Spaarndam, providing nursery, preschool, and after-school care to children aged 0-13, funded by parental fees net of government childcare allowance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Childcare fees (kinderopvangtoeslag): Fees for child daycare (KDV), preschool (peuteropvang), and after-school care (BSO). Working parents receive government childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) from Belastingdienst/Toeslagen. Hero charges parents the difference between its rates and the allowance.
2. Parent contributions and municipal subsidies: Non-working parents and single-income households pay a parent contribution (ouderbijdrage) in which municipal subsidies are already reconciled. HaarlemPas provides free preschool for eligible Haarlem residents.
3. All-in 51-week childcare package: For children 0-4 years, Hero offers an all-in package for 51-week childcare. Net costs calculated via a net contribution tool (rekentool) on their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stichting Hero Kindercentra is a Dutch social childcare foundation operating approximately 80 childcare locations in Haarlem and Spaarndam, delivering Kinderdagverblijf (KDV) daycare for children aged 0-4, Peuteropvang (preschool/toddler care) for ages 2-4, and Buitenschoolse Opvang (BSO) after-school care for ages 4-13. The foundation runs integrated Montessori and VVE (early childhood education) programs, plus specialised Peuterplus and BSOplus groups for children needing additional support.

Product overview

Stichting Hero Kindercentra is a childcare organization operating approximately 77 locations in Haarlem and Spaarndam, offering a comprehensive portfolio of childcare services. The core offerings include Kinderdagverblijf (nursery/daycare for 0-4 years), Peuteropvang (toddler care for 2-4 years), and Buitenschoolse Opvang (BSO/after-school care for 4-13 years). Special programs include the Montessori-based MKC De Wijde Wereld, the Uk en Puk educational program, Klaar voor de Start early education, and VVE early childhood education. The organization also operates Peuterplus and BSOplus specialized groups and Sport-BSO programs. Supporting infrastructure includes the KidsKonnect parent portal and Hero Academie internal training academy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kinderdagverblijf (KDV) — Day Nursery Full-day nursery care for children aged 0-4 years, focusing on development, play and adventure. Served at ~80 Hero locations with baby, toddler and preschool groups.
• Peuteropvang — Preschool / Toddler Care Preschool care for children aged 2-4 years, often including VVE (early childhood education) programs and preparation for primary school. Open to all toddlers regardless of VVE certificate.
• Buitenschoolse Opvang (BSO) — After-School Care After-school care for children aged 4-13 years, offering sports, creativity and adventure activities during after-school hours and holidays.
• Montessori Kindcentrum (MKC) De Wijde Wereld Integrated Montessori-based children's centre combining KDV daycare, peuteropvang preschool and BSO after-school care for children aged 0-13, located in Schalkwijk, Haarlem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hero is one of the cheapest childcare providers in Haarlem, keeping childcare affordable and accessible for more families.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SprietminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hero collaborated with Spriet to provide all Hero children with a nature box during summer 2025, promoting nature experiences for young children.
• BevrijdingspopcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Hero has been a long-standing partner and remains the largest partner of the Bevrijdingspop Kinderfestival, a freedom festival held annually in Haarlem on Liberation Day (May 5). Hero will continue as partner for at least three more years. Hero organises activities for young children at the festival and hosts the Hero Kinderfestival.
• NOVA CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2024Hero and NOVA College have a BBL (work-study) partnership. A second cohort of BBL students started in January 2025 for a 1-year PW3 trajectory to become qualified pedagogical professionals. Students attend NOVA College one day per week and work 3-4 days at Hero locations. The first cohort of 20 BBL students started in 2022. Eva van Wissen van Veen (Manager HR) and Gijs van den Brink (Opleidingsmanager NOVA College) signed the cooperation agreement.
• JINCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Hero partners with JINC for the 'Baas van Morgen' (Boss of Tomorrow) program, which gives children aged 8-16 from socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods the chance to shadow a CEO/director for a day. Hero's director Ronald van Rooden hosted Weronika (12) for the JINC Baas van Morgen day. Both organisations share the mission of providing equal opportunities for youth regardless of background.
• Wereld Natuurfonds (WWF Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2024Hero became a Business Supporter of WWF-Netherlands in May 2024. Joint activities include WWF's 'Rangers' program for children aged 3-12 to learn about nature and conservation. An apple tree was planted at MKC De Wijde Wereld to mark the partnership start. Hero also contributes financially to forest restoration in the Atlantic Rainforest. Hero is the first childcare organisation in the WWF Business Partnership programme.
• Bibliotheek Zuid-KennemerlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partnership with Bibliotheek Zuid-Kennemerland, municipality of Haarlem, and Les Petits childcare to launch BoekStart (BookStart) in childcare. The programme promotes reading aloud from a young age to support language development.
• Les PetitsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint partnership with Bibliotheek Zuid-Kennemerland, municipality Haarlem, and Les Petits childcare for BoekStart in childcare initiative promoting early reading.
• Stichting SpaarnesantminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2020Effective January 2021, Hero took over the preschool operations of Stichting Spaarnesant, including locations De Mini Piramide (Europawijk) and De Kleine Globe (Boerhaavewijk), expanding Hero's preschool footprint in Haarlem.
• Sport SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSport Support provides professional sport activities at certain BSO locations (e.g., BSO De Wijde Wereld) on a seasonal basis, supporting Hero's emphasis on physical activity and sports.
• Branchevereniging Maatschappelijke Kinderopvang (BMK)coreOthersHero is a member of BMK, the industry association for social childcare organisations in the Netherlands. BMK represents approximately 5,000 childcare locations serving 200,000 children. It facilitates knowledge building, lobbying, and quality standards for social childcare.
• Kenter (Jeugdhulp)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHero collaborates with Kenter (Jeugdhulp/Youth Care) for special needs groups — deux pearplusgroepen and one BSOplusgroep — serving children who benefit from smaller groups with fewer stimuli. Kenter provides youth care expertise for these specialised locations.
• InHollandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHero Academie collaborates with InHolland university of applied sciences alongside NOVA College to offer educational programmes that help staff grow into pedagogical professionals and beyond.
• TommyTomatominorGTM or Marketing PartnerHero is a partner of TommyTomato Kidsraces, real cycling races for children aged 2-12. Partnership supports Hero's focus on cycling, health, and motor development.
• Gemeente Haarlem (Municipality of Haarlem)coreOthersHero works with the municipality of Haarlem for HaarlemPas (providing free preschool for eligible residents), VVE subsidies, and general childcare policy. Also partner of the Alliantie tegen Armoede (Alliance Against Poverty) and Santa Run Haarlem.
• Belastingdienst/ToeslagencoreOthersHero participates in the government's childcare allowance system (kinderopvangtoeslag), submitting monthly attendance data ('gegevenslevering') to Belastingdienst/Toeslagen on behalf of parents to enable government subsidy payments.
• Uk en PukcoreTechnology or IntegrationHero uses the Uk & Puk programme — a play-based educational method for children 0-4 years using themes aligned with young children's experiences. Developed specifically for early childhood education and used at VVE locations and increasingly at regular KDV locations.
• Consultatiebureau / Jeugdgezondheidszorg (JGZ)minorOthersHealthcare referrals for VVE (early education) certificates for children needing additional language/development support. Consultatiebureau issues VVE verklaring enabling 16 hours/week (4x4 hours) of subsidised preschool.
• De Wijde Wereld – Montessori (School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHero co-locates childcare services (KDV, peuteropvang, BSO) within the Montessori Kindcentrum (MKC) De Wijde Wereld in Schalkwijk, providing integrated education and care for children 0-13.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hero-kindercentra

Compliance6 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 Hero Kindercentra