Plein C

What Plein C does

Stichting Plein C, founded in 2011 and headquartered at Nieuwe Gracht 45–47, Haarlem, Netherlands, is a nonprofit foundation (Stichting) that serves as the designated coordinating body for cultural education across the province of Noord-Holland. Its mission is to embed quality cultural education into the curricula of primary, secondary, specialized, and vocational (MBO) schools by training culture coordinators, coaching school leadership, and connecting schools to local cultural institutions, amateur art groups, and municipal policymakers. The organization operates a platform of interconnected services rather than a single product: Plein C Coacht delivers advisory and grant-coaching services, Plein C Academie offers practice-oriented training programs including the ICC, CC MBO, and specialized education tracks alongside publications, research dossiers, and CO Talk sessions, and Plein C Connects hosts annual regional networking events. Its flagship programmatic framework is Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK), a multi-phase quality program running from CmK1 (2013–2016) through CmK4 (2025–2028), underwritten by Provincie Noord-Holland and the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie and delivered in partnership with LKCA, the national knowledge center for cultural education.

The organization generates revenue through three principal streams: training and course fees (e.g., €895 ex VAT per participant for the six-session "Voor de klas in het gespecialiseerd onderwijs" ICC training, with VAT-exempt status under CRKBO registration), government grants from provincial and national cultural funds underwriting the CmK program, and a managed-coaching arrangement with VSBfonds providing funding plus guided support for neighborhood-level cultural initiatives. Pricing is structured as one-time fees per training with multi-year contractual cadences for in-company programs. The go-to-market is relationship-driven through direct engagement with school directors, municipal project leaders, and cultural institutions, supplemented by a website, segmented newsletters, the Prikkels quarterly magazine, and annual conferences including De Beweging and NEXT STOP. Customers are Noord-Holland schools (Antonius Schagen, SBO 't Plankier, SBO De Aventurijn, Elan College Bussum, Burgemeester de Wildeschool, Talland College, ROC van Amsterdam en Flevoland) and municipal partners, with no individual commercial customer representing material revenue concentration on the fee side; concentration risk is instead on the funding side, where two public-sector anchors underwrite the bulk of the operating budget.

Operationally, Plein C is a small organization (1–10 employees, headquartered in Haarlem, ANBI status since January 2016, CRKBO-registered and subject to regular quality audits, KVK 64993833) with its governance led by directeur Astrid Honing. Strategic differentiation rests on a 12-year CmK delivery track record, embedded municipal-level project-leader networks, and formalized collaboration with national institutions (LKCA, VSBfonds) rather than proprietary technology. Supporting products include the In de Spotlight MBO project, the Pilot Duurzame Samenwerking for specialized education, the Plein C x VSBfonds coaching grant program, and the Evi online monitoring instrument for primary schools.

Name

Plein C

Legal name

Stichting Plein C

Website

https://pleinc.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plein C is a nonprofit foundation based in Haarlem that coordinates quality cultural education across Noord-Holland, delivering training, coaching, and networking for schools, cultural institutions, and municipalities under the multi-phase provincial CmK program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education Staffing & Contracted Providers (Paras, Therapists, Specialists) (EDAJAKAL), Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies) (EDAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Cultural education services
• Teacher training programs
• Professional coaching services
• Cultural participation programs
• Educational networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

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. Training and Course Fees: Plein C generates revenue through course fees (cursusgeld) for their training programs and educational offerings. Their general terms state that course fees are listed on the website and in written offers.
2. Grants and Subsidies: Plein C receives financial support from provincial and national government bodies including Provincie Noord-Holland, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, and participates in government-funded programs like Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK). Their products and services are VAT-exempt due to CRKBO registration.
3. VSBfonds Partnership: Plein C partners with VSBfonds to provide coaching and financial support for creative ideas in neighborhoods, with funding directed to cultural initiatives in Noord-Holland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Plein C (Stichting Plein C) provides coaching, training programs, and networking events that support cultural education and participation across primary, secondary, specialized, and vocational (MBO) schools in North Holland, Netherlands. The organization acts as the provincial coordinator for the national Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK) program, trains culture coordinators, and connects schools with cultural institutions and funding sources including the Province of North Holland, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, and VSBfonds.

Product overview

Plein C is a cultural education support organization (Stichting Plein C) based in Haarlem, North Holland, operating as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single software product. Its core offerings include: (1) Plein C Coacht — advisory and coaching services that connect cultural ideas to funding and professional guidance; (2) Plein C Academie — a learning platform delivering training programs such as the ICC training for primary education, specialized education training (Voor de klas in het gespecialiseerd onderwijs), and Cultuurcoördinator MBO training; (3) Plein C Connects — annual networking events for cultural educators across all educational levels; and (4) Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK) — a multi-phase provincial program (CmK1–CmK4, 2013–2028) acting as the umbrella framework for embedding cultural education in North Holland schools. Supporting products include the Prikkels quarterly magazine, the Evi online monitoring tool, project-based initiatives such as In de Spotlight (MBO), the Pilot Duurzame Samenwerking for specialized education, and the VSBfonds-funded coaching grant program. The organization is registered in the CRKBO and holds ANBI status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plein C Coacht Coaching and advisory service that guides schools, communities, and cultural organizations in North Holland to develop and implement cultural education plans, connecting ideas with funding and professional support.
• Plein C Academie Learning and development platform for cultural professionals in education, offering practice-oriented training programs, CO Talk sessions, publications, research, and themed dossiers.
• Plein C Connects Annual networking events connecting cultural educators across educational levels (primary, secondary, specialized, and vocational) to share knowledge and strengthen the cultural education ecosystem in North Holland.
• Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit (CmK) A multi-year national quality program spanning CmK1 through CmK4 (2013–2028) that embeds cultural education into school curricula across North Holland. Plein C acts as the lead coordinator, monitoring quality and facilitating knowledge exchange across municipalities.
• In de Spotlight MBO-focused project in partnership with ROC van Amsterdam en Flevoland, Cpunt, and Cultuureducatie Amstelland that creates space for vocational students to explore creativity through artist collaborations and cultural institution visits.
• Voor de klas in het gespecialiseerd onderwijs (ICC-training) Six-session training for experienced cultural educators to work effectively with students in specialized (special needs) primary and secondary education, covering pedagogy, didactics, and practical classroom experience.
• Verdieping voor de klas in het s(b)o of vso Advanced two-session training for experienced cultural professionals already working in specialized education, providing deeper tools for behavior observation, communication, and pedagogical approach using the 'denken, voelen, handelen' (think, feel, act) framework.
• Cultuurcoordinator MBO (CC MBO) Training for MBO professionals to develop and implement cultural policy plans, organize and coordinate cultural education, and build internal support for arts and culture within their vocational education institutions.
• Pilot Duurzame Samenwerking Gespecialiseerd Onderwijs Pilot initiative across eight projects in North Holland that promotes sustainable partnerships between specialized education schools and local cultural providers to deepen the impact and quality of cultural education.
• CmK4 (2025–2028) Current phase of the Cultuureducatie met Kwaliteit program covering 2025–2028, funded by the Province of North Holland and the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, expanding focus to include vocational (MBO) and specialized education alongside primary education.
• Evi (Monitoring Instrument) Online monitoring instrument that enables primary schools to track and visualize the development and embedding of cultural education, providing reporting for school improvement and provincial overview.
• Plein C Coacht met VSBfonds Coaching program funded by VSBfonds that provides financial support, guidance, and advice to anyone in North Holland seeking to create cultural impact in their neighborhood, district, or city.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of students have better understanding of what they enjoy after cultural education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LKCA (Landelijk Kenniscentrum Cultuureducatie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLKCA is the national knowledge center for cultural education. Plein C collaborates with LKCA on research, training certification (ICC, CC VO, CC MBO), and knowledge sharing. LKCA conducted research on cultural ecosystems for children with disabilities.
• De Mokum MaakcoalitieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition including OBA, de Waag, Pakhuis de Zwijger, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, NEMO, Cinekid, and others working on maker education programs. Presented during De Beweging 2022 online event.
• Filmhub Noord-HollandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilmhub North Holland develops film education programs and collaborated on pilot projects for specialized education schools including Elan College Bussum.
• Cultureel VerschilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCultural organization providing art teachers for special education schools. Partnered in pilot projects including Antonius Schagen for theater and film education.
• Cultuurhuis WherelantminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCultural center in Purmerend providing art and theater teachers for specialized education schools. Partnered in pilot projects including SBO 't Plankier and SBO De Aventurijn.
• Eye FilmmuseumminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEye Filmmuseum developed accessible film education programs for special education schools, piloting with Burgemeester de Wildeschool in Schagen.
• ROC van Amsterdam en FlevolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor vocational education institution with multiple colleges participating in CCMBO training and 'In the Spotlight' cultural education projects.
• Kunst CentraalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural education organization in South Holland collaborating on CCMBO training development and cultural education initiatives.
• Kunstloc BrabantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural education organization in Brabant collaborating on CCMBO training development.
• KCR (Kenniscentrum Cultuur Regio)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural knowledge center collaborating on CCMBO training development for vocational education.
• Cultuur OostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural education organization in East Netherlands collaborating on CCMBO training development.
• Cultuur OostminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cultural education organization that co-organized the NEXT STOP conference for special education together with Stichting Kunst & Cultuur, Plein C, and LKCA.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plein-c

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Plein C