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From Snoopy to Zo<br />
Although structured and organised childcare was very uncommon in the south-west of the Netherlands in the eighties, Marion Jansen and Sjaak Koek,<br />
Zo’s founders, knew exactly what they wanted - and persevered. ‘Every weekend the whole family worked together to convert a stable into a<br />
day-care centre.’<br />
‘I‘Starting a childcare facility had been on our minds for many years,’ Marion remembers when<br />
thinking back to the start of their organisation. She was already working with children, but had<br />
different ideas from her employers about interacting with children. ‘I wanted a facility I could put<br />
my own feelings into, so that I could create a warm place w<strong>here</strong> children could be themselves,’ she<br />
explains. When this facility became reality her fondest dream came true.<br />
Snoopy<br />
Without knowing if t<strong>here</strong> was any real interest, Sjaak and Marion started their day-care centre,<br />
although it wasn’t called a day-care centre at that time. ‘The municipality of Halsteren did not really<br />
know what to think of our plans,’ Marion tells. ‘But we were allowed to start with the promise<br />
that if t<strong>here</strong> was enough interest we would get planning permission to convert the horse stable in<br />
the meadow behind our house into a day-care centre.’ Daughter Corona, the current director and<br />
owner of Zo, came up with the name for the centre: Snoopy. And the converted horse stable? Many<br />
alterations later this centre is still part of Zo.<br />
No financial aid<br />
While Marion focussed on the children, Sjaak dealt with the organisation and its set-up. ‘Our wish<br />
was to set up our own company, which would allow us to make a contribution to society. This is<br />
why we deliberately chose not to apply for any financial aid from the government. We wanted to<br />
ING feliciteert<br />
Zo Unltd B.V. met haar<br />
20 jarig jubileum.<br />
Baby, Dreumes, Peuter, Tiener, KDV, PSZ, BSO, Brede, School, Zorg, Boeken,<br />
Banken, Meubilair, Creatieve Materialen, Kwaliteit, Advies, Compleet,<br />
Materiaal, Speellokaal, Speltoestel, Fietsjes, Ontwikkeling, Bedden,<br />
Ledikanten, Knutselen, Comfort, Kantoorartikelen, Montessori, Taal, VVE, EHBO,<br />
Hygiëne, Servies, Thematisch, ICT, Gymmen, Speelhuizen, Ontdekken, Motoriek,<br />
Boxen, Grondboxen, Commode, Verschonen, Kasten, Leidsterstoelen, Krukken,<br />
Tabouret, Pennen, Potloden, Verf, Papier, Constructie, Bouwen, Speeltafels,<br />
Visuele ontwikkeling, Motorische ontwikkeling, Illusiespel, Verkleden, Muziek,<br />
Disco, Glijbaan, Bewegingsmateriaal, Expressie, Visueel, Tellen, Sortereg,<br />
Zelfstandig werken, Spelen, Zandbak, Zand-Watertafel, Kleien, Verven, Lijmen,<br />
Boetseren, Knutselen, Kindcentra, Snoezelen Tekenen, Kleuren, Inrichting,<br />
Nietmachine, inrichten, Peuter, Klantvriendelijk, Puzzelen, Combinatie-<br />
toestellen, Zittie, BCI, Spelletjes, Eibe, Nenko, Snoezelen, Babyzitjes,<br />
Wipstoeltje, Eetstoelen, Zitten, Slapen, Opbergen, Loungen, Speelplaats,<br />
Speelbox, Verschonen, Motoriek, VVE, ONtdekken, Loungen, Bouwen, BSO,<br />
Boeken, Banken, Meubilair, Totaal Leverancier, Natuur, Kwaliteit, Advies,<br />
www.alberts-kinderopvang.nl<br />
Peuterspeelzaal, Materiaal, Speellokaal, Speltoestel, Fietsjes, Ontwikkeling,<br />
Bedden, Ledikanten, Knutselen, Comfort, Kantoorartikelen, Montessori, Taal,<br />
VVE, EHBO, Meedenkend, Verschonen, Naruur, Dreumes, Beddenscan<br />
comply with all the prevailing standards of that time, but refused to be constrained by any government<br />
funding and the attendant interference of civil servants who at that time knew very little<br />
about childcare,’ Sjaak explains about their motives. The guiding principle of their undertaking was<br />
realising Marion’s vision of childcare.<br />
A hectic start<br />
Sjaak remembers the problems they came across during those early stages. ‘Getting permission<br />
to set up the organisation and all the requirements a day-care centre had to comply with were<br />
complicated. One day we even witnessed a heated discussion between the fire department and a<br />
childcare official about the direction of the rotation of a door.’ For Marion, this first phase felt very<br />
hectic and exciting. ‘From day one the day-care centre was a hit, many parents wanted a place for<br />
their child. This meant hard work, for the whole family. Our house was taken over by children, cots,<br />
playpens, bottles, juices and snacks. Mark and Corona, our own children, had to make some sacrifices,<br />
t<strong>here</strong> were extra beds in their rooms and the house was constantly filled with the sounds of<br />
children. However, we were realising our dream and vision.’<br />
Renovating<br />
Despite the hectic start, Snoopy soon proved to be a success, so they could start on the conversion<br />
of the stable. ‘Every weekend the whole family worked on the renovation. On Friday night we<br />
would count that week’s takings, and all of them were immediately invested in the new building.<br />
A year later it was finished. ‘We now had a proper day-care centre with a beautiful, spacious and<br />
natural garden,’ Marion tells.<br />
Children’s interests at heart<br />
In the years that followed, Sjaak and Marion further expanded their company, which was the<br />
foundation for Zo Kinderdagverblijf & BSO. The centres in The Hague were opened under the name<br />
Crèche Teddy Bear. A whole new group of customers and a new set of local conditions. But the idea<br />
was also a success in The Hague and the organisation continued to flourish. What was the secret<br />
behind this success? ‘In the childcare sector your organisation needs to be well managed, well organised<br />
and of high quality in order for you to survive,’ Sjaak explains. ‘This can sometimes cause<br />
friction. In those situations we always separated our roles; Marion would focus on the children’s<br />
interests and I would watch over the continued existence of our organisation, the commercial side,<br />
so to speak. We always made sure those two sides did not get in each other’s way. This sometimes<br />
led to difficult decisions, but in the end the children’s interests would always come first.’<br />
Gefeliciteerd!<br />
Als persoon en als notariskantoor ben ik altijd<br />
betrokken bij ZO Kinderopvang. Als vader<br />
vertrouwde ik 11 jaar geleden onze oudste zoon<br />
toe aan de bekwame leidsters van ZO op de<br />
2e Sweelinckstraat en onze jongste zoon heeft<br />
4 jaar lang een fantastische tijd gehad bij ZO op<br />
het Oosteinde. Als notaris kantoor hebben wij vele<br />
malen Sjaak en Corona Koek mogen bijstaan bij<br />
hun bedrijfsvoering van ZO Kinderopvang.<br />
Ik feliciteer hun van harte met het 20 jarige<br />
bestaan van ZO. Op naar de volgende 20 jaar!<br />
Matthijs van den Hout (KraGd Notariaat)<br />
Schaafwond!<br />
Water of pleister?<br />
Ook zo’n wildebras in huis, die regelmatig<br />
een schaafwond heeft? Weet ú<br />
wat u moet doen? Kijk op de website<br />
www.ehbo.nl/ouders voor het juiste<br />
antwoord.<br />
Scheveningseweg 44<br />
2517 KV Den Haag<br />
communicatie@ehbo.nl<br />
www.ehbo.nl