At first glance, students and entrepreneurs might appear to live in two completely different worlds. One is working with lectures, deadlines, and part-time jobs; the other is finding funding, creating client pitches, and coping with the ever-looming pressure to innovate. But scratch the surface and you’ll find something surprising:
They’re asking themselves the same questions.
- What am I capable of?
- Where can I create value?
- How do I take what I know and make it real?
That’s the shared thread. And it’s exactly what drives Knikkers, a student placement company in the Netherlands that isn’t just filling roles, but activating futures.
Born from experience
Koen van Wijngaarden, one of the founders of Knikkers, didn’t set out to start a business. He set out to fix a problem, one he faced as a student in Strategic Management. Like many, he found his studies rich in theory but thin on application. Concepts made sense on paper, but in practice? That part was missing.
“So we started Knikkers,” Koen explains. “To offer students a space to build practical skills while still completing their studies. To give them flexibility, a challenge, and purpose.” That sentence alone could be the mission statement of any modern startup.
What began with a few flexible side jobs has since evolved into a national network of student placements across sectors; each one designed to match the student’s character, their qualification, and potential. And just like a founder scaling a startup, Knikkers has grown by listening to its audience, adapting to real-world needs, and delivering something meaningful where others only offered good enough.
The winners programme
The heart of Knikkers is their ‘Winners Programme’, an experience tailored to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world impact.
In traditional education, a marketing student might graduate knowing all about market segmentation and case studies—without ever having created a campaign or pitched a real client. The ‘Winners Programme’ changes that. Students are placed inside real companies, working on real challenges, gaining the kind of hands-on insight you just can’t simulate in a classroom. And it’s not just about getting a foot in the door. It’s about knowing what to do once you’re inside.
This is where the entrepreneurial parallel can truly be seen. Like founders, these students are:
- Learning from application
- Adapting to feedback
- Balancing risk with curiosity
- Building competence by stepping into the unknown
And it’s important to note: the kind of impact these students deliver isn’t reserved for large enterprises. Even the smallest businesses—startups, freelancers, local agencies—can benefit. Whether it’s helping out with a marketing task, conducting customer research, or improving basic operations, even everyday work becomes a valuable learning moment for students. And in return, businesses receive immediate, meaningful support.
By the time they graduate, they’re not simply degree-holders. They’re contributors. Collaborators. Innovators. Experienced. And in many ways, already a step ahead of the game.
Not just matching
Knikkers doesn’t just pair students and companies and say ‘good luck.’ Every placement begins with an e-assessment, carefully mapping out a student’s natural strengths, potential pitfalls, and hidden capabilities. It’s not just about where someone can go, it’s about where they’ll thrive.
This in-depth insight is then shared with employers. But it doesn’t stop there. Knikkers checks in regularly with both students and employers through monthly coaching meetings. It’s a feedback loop that makes sure value flows both ways; and allows for course correction if things get off track. That level of intentionality is rare. But for Koen and the team, it’s essential.
“Students are often much more capable than they think,” he says. “They just need someone to take them seriously, to believe in what they bring to the table, even before they’ve built a CV.” That belief is exactly what entrepreneurs need too.
Flexibility meets ambition
When Knikkers first launched, it focused on what students needed most: flexibility and income. But over time, the team saw a deeper truth. These side jobs weren’t stretching students. They weren’t fuelling ambition; they were just paying the bills. And Knikkers is about building, not ticking boxes.
So the model evolved. Today, Knikkers prioritises placements that challenge students, nurture their skill sets, and prepare them for long-term success. It’s less about finding work, and more about unlocking personal and professional growth. And the best part? This doesn’t require companies to overhaul their operations or have huge training budgets. Even simple tasks—when approached with the right mindset—can unlock big opportunities for students and employers.
In that way, Knikkers mirrors the best parts of startup culture: learn fast, build with intention, and stay close to your core mission.
Community, collaboration, and coworking
Knikkers isn’t just working with students. It’s part of a broader community of thinkers and doers; especially in coworking spaces, where collaboration, creativity, and ambition collide daily.
These spaces; home to freelancers, startups, and small businesses, are filled with companies who need talent but don’t always have the budget or time to onboard full-time employees. What they do have is vision. Urgency. A need for hands-on support in marketing, legal, sales, and beyond. Enter the Knikkers student. A talented individual hungry to learn. It’s a win-win situation. Startups get skilled support. Students gain first-hand exposure. And together, they build things faster, smarter, and with more heart.
Scaling the right way
Knikkers has been active since 2022, and while it now operates across the Netherlands, Koen is the first to admit: there’s still plenty of room to grow.
“Yes, the dream might be global one day,” he says, “but for now, we’re focused on doing the work well—deepening our impact here, exploring new sectors, and reaching companies who haven’t yet heard of us.” From logistics to media, Knikkers is already present. But the team has its eye on tougher-to-crack domains, like the public sector or legal industry, where innovation is sorely needed but harder to implement. These aren’t just ambitions. They’re action steps. And they’re guided by a single question:
How do we help more students and companies, unlock their potential, together?
Whether you’re a student trying to find your place, or a founder trying to build something that lasts, the mission is the same: Develop your skills. Find your fit. Create value where it matters.
Knikkers isn’t just a recruitment agency. It’s a launchpad for people who want more: for their careers, their companies, and their communities. And in that way, it doesn’t just reflect the entrepreneurial spirit. It is the same entrepreneurial spirit, repackaged for the next generation.
