The Movement Ambassadors want to encourage as many children as possible to be active more often and with greater enjoyment. To spend less time on administrative tasks and focus on what really matters, entrepreneurs Sander van Weerlee-Feenstra and Sjoerd Jenninga are using a digitization voucher from Key Region Leiden. With the voucher, they are developing a platform that automates this administrative work. Alderman Freddy Blommers of Leiderdorp stopped by to personally present the voucher.

From Manual Data Collection to Immediate Insights

To help children move more effectively, the Physical Activity Ambassadors use the “QuickScan Physical Education” tool to assess physical education classes at a school. This allows the physical education teacher and school administration to adapt the physical education classes—for example, by purchasing new equipment or making adjustments to the gym—to help children move more effectively during class. Currently, this process takes time to collect and process afterward. Time that entrepreneurs Sander van Weerle-Feenstra and Sjoerd Jenninga would rather invest in helping children enjoy being active. That’s why they used a Digitalization Voucher to automate this administrative process, so they can gain faster insight into what’s going well and where adjustments are needed—all while saving time.

“We used to do everything on a single sheet of A4 paper and write out the results. That takes a lot of time that we, as a company, would rather spend elsewhere,” says Sander. “Now, with the QuickScan, we can not only administer the assessment quickly and accurately, but we can also clearly display the scores on a dashboard. We now spend the time we save on the children we’re doing this for.”

More time for social impact

The desire to improve this process had been there for a while. That’s why the digitization voucher for the Movement Ambassadors came at just the right time. “We had already been looking for a way to simplify our administrative processes so that we could do more for our target group,” said Van Weerle-Feenstra. “Digitization helps us focus on what really matters, and the voucher helped us achieve that.”

Alderman Freddy Blommers also sees the added value of this initiative precisely in that. “This is a great example of digitization that delivers tangible results. When an entrepreneur spends less time on administrative tasks, there’s more time for the real work. At De Bewegingsambassadeurs, that means more focus on meaningful activities and on the people they want to get moving.”

New voucher round begins on October 19

Want to spend less time on manual tasks and get more out of your business through digitization? A new round of digitization vouchers begins on October 19. The vouchers help entrepreneurs in the region take concrete steps to work smarter and more efficiently. Act fast—they’re first come, first served!

Go to the vouchers

Good news for entrepreneurs who missed the first round of vouchers or want to take the next steps: the next round of vouchers for digitization within your business will begin on October 19 at 12:00 p.m. This offers new opportunities to invest in digitization with financial support and guidance. Vouchers ranging from €1,000 to €5,000 are available.

Requesting a voucher

The voucher is intended for small and medium-sized business owners in Katwijk, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten, or Zoeterwoude* who want to improve their businesses with digital solutions, for example in the following areas:

• Digital strategy
• Digital marketing
• Automation
• Digital security
• Deployment of new technology such as AI.

You choose what you use the voucher for, as long as the effort demonstrably contributes long-term to the digitization of your company.

* Business owners located in the Oegstgeest section of the LBSP may also apply.

Entrepreneurs’ Experiences

Voucher Amount

The maximum amount of the voucher depends on the size of your business:

	Max. amount voucher	Own contribution on top of voucher1st voucher	Own contribution on top of voucher 2nd voucher
Zzp	€ 1.000	25%	50%
Up to 15 fte	€ 1.000	25%	50%
15 to 29 fte.	€ 2.500	25%	50%
30 to 50 fte.	€ 5.000	25%	50%

Companies with up to 50 employees can apply for a voucher. A limited number of vouchers are available for self-employed individuals. Read more about the terms and conditions on our project website , Digitaliseringwerkt.nl.

To illustrate:

• Company with 17 FTE has not yet received a voucher and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is €3,333.33. They receive a voucher of €2,500 (75%) and pay €8,333.33 (25%) themselves.
• Company with 17 FTE received a voucher in 2025 and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is € 5,000. They receive a voucher of € 2,500 (50%) and pay € 2,500 (50%) themselves.
• A company with 7 FTEs has not yet received a voucher and is now applying for one. The total investment is €800. They will receive a voucher for €600 (75%) and will pay €200 (25%) themselves.
• Company with 7 FTE received a voucher in 2025 and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is €800. They receive a voucher of €400 (50%) and pay €400 (50%) themselves.

Prepare your application thoroughly. For example, you’ll need a quote from your supplier. Do you have any questions or would you like to discuss your options? If so, make an appointment with our SME coach.

Coaching

Through the “Digitalization Works” program, we help entrepreneurs run their businesses in a smarter, more efficient, and more future-proof way. This fall, we’re once again organizing a series of practical workshops where you’ll dive right into topics such as AI, digitalization, process improvement, and business growth. No lengthy theory—just inspiration, concrete tools, and immediately applicable insights that will help you move forward tomorrow. Check out the workshop lineup below and sign up for the sessions that align with your goals.

September 8 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. | PLNT, Leiden | Dominate Local Search Results with AI

How do you ensure that a customer searching for your product or service ends up at your business—and not at your neighbor’s or a big retailer’s? Traditional SEO is complex and time-consuming, but AI is a game-changer. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use AI tools (such as ChatGPT) strategically to boost your local visibility. We won’t just look at data; we’ll focus on how AI translates your unique, human story into an irresistible offer that draws customers to your store.

Sign up here!

Marjolein Michels from Pink Blueprint attended one of our workshops and found the evening helpful: “I learned a lot; from now on, I’m going to do a few things on LinkedIn very differently.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 22 | 3:00–5:00 p.m. | LBSP | SEO & GEO: Getting Found by Google and AI Search (for tech entrepreneurs)

It’s time to take control of your online visibility. Innovative companies often have strong content and solutions, but these aren’t always easy to find online. Especially now that AI search tools like ChatGPT and other AI-driven search interfaces are playing an increasingly important role, the way potential customers and partners find information is changing

Sign up here!

September 28 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. | PLNT, Leiden | Design professional marketing visuals

You know you need to post on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn every week, but you don’t have the time to design something great every single time. You keep struggling with basic tools or expensive software you don’t understand. Canva is the solution, and its new AI features (“Magic Studio”) are revolutionary. In this workshop, we’ll show you how AI in Canva helps you turn a simple idea into professional flyers, eye-catching social media posts, or even short videos in no time. More importantly, we’ll teach you how to guide the AI so that the result always feels like your business and aligns with your brand identity. Designing has never been this efficient and authentic.

Sign up here!

October 6 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. | PLNT, Leiden | Get More Out of LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an important channel for many entrepreneurs, but it often takes a lot of time to stay visible. In “LinkedIn with AI for Your Business,” you’ll discover how AI can help you create content, build a professional online presence, and strengthen your business network.

Sign up here!

Ruben Mulders of Fysiotherapie Ommedijk participated in a previous edition: “My biggest insight? A good name or reputation for your business is important, but people mainly choose the people behind that business. That got me thinking about how we can raise our profile as a team and how we can better share our expertise.”

Update May 13: The voucher scheme is FULL. Applicants will receive response soon. A new voucher round with another 50 vouchers will start after the summer. Keep an eye on this website and the project website Digitaliseringwerkt.nl for updates.

Digitaliseringwerkt.nl

For whom is the voucher intended?

The voucher is intended for SME entrepreneurs from Katwijk, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten or Zoeterwoude* who want to improve their business with digital solutions, for example in the area of:

• Digital strategy
• Digital marketing
• Automation
• Digital security
• Deployment of new technology such as AI.

You choose what you use the voucher for, as long as the effort demonstrably contributes long-term to the digitization of your company.

* Entrepreneurs located on the Ugstgeester portion of the LBSP may also apply for a voucher.

Practice

Height of voucher

The maximum amount of the voucher depends on the size of your business:

	Max. amount voucher	Own contribution on top of voucher1st voucher	Own contribution on top of voucher 2nd voucher
Zzp	€ 1.000	25%	50%
Up to 15 fte	€ 1.000	25%	50%
15 to 29 fte.	€ 2.500	25%	50%
30 to 50 fte.	€ 5.000	25%	50%

Companies with more than 50 employees cannot apply for a voucher. A limited number of voucher are available for self-employed individuals.

To illustrate:

• Company with 17 FTE received a voucher in 2025 and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is € 5,000. They receive a voucher of € 2,500 (50%) and pay € 2,500 (50%) themselves.
• Company with 17 FTE has not yet received a voucher and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is €3,333.33. They receive a voucher of €2,500 (75%) and pay €8,333.33 (25%) themselves.
• Company with 7 FTE received a voucher in 2025 and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is €800. They receive a voucher of €400 (50%) and pay €400 (50%) themselves.
• Company with 7 FTE has never received a voucher before and is now applying for a voucher. The total investment is €800. They receive a voucher of €600 (75%) and pay €200 (25%) themselves.

Find more information on our project website Digitalization.co.uk.

Wider range

Take advantage of the offer of coaching, workshops and the Digi-scan. You can read more about it at the link below.

Welke mkb-workshop kies jij?

Take part in a practical workshop on digitization and take concrete steps for immediate improvement within your company. You can also make use of personal coaching and a Digi-scan: an initial online check that provides insight into where your company currently stands on the digital front. The workshops are specifically intended for SME entrepreneurs from Katwijk, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude who want to get started hands-on with digitization.

You can find the offer on our separate project website digitaliseringwerkt.nl.

May 19 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Findability of your company using AI
How do you make sure that customers find you better online, and what role can AI play in this? In this workshop you will learn how search behavior is changing, how AI can help you with findability and what concrete steps you can take tomorrow. Sign up.

May 26 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Creating Content in Canva with AI
Creating good content takes time. AI can help, provided you use it smartly. In this workshop you’ll get started creating relevant content for your website, newsletters and social media, with practical examples and clear do’s and don’ts. Sign up.

June 9 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Powerful business presence on LinkedIn with AI
Whether you’re just getting started with LinkedIn or want to improve your profile and posts, this workshop combines the basics with depth. You will learn how to use LinkedIn effectively for visibility, networking and leads, without taking a lot of time. Sign up.

On May 11, noon, we will open a new voucher round via Digitaliseringwerkt.nl (our project website). This scheme is specially designed to support SMEs in the municipalities of Katwijk, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude in their digitization efforts. Entrepreneurs can receive up to €5,000 back from their investment. Please note: you will need a quote from your supplier when applying.

“In recent years, our program has been very successful in supporting entrepreneurs. Therefore, we are very happy to issue a good number of vouchers again in the coming years, with the first opportunity in 2026 on May 11,” said project leader Dwayne van der Klugt.

Website voucher application

What is the voucher scheme?

The voucher scheme is a financial incentive that helps companies digitize their operations. The voucher can be used for a wide range of digitization projects. Think of digital marketing, such as improving a website or webshop, but also cyber security. Depending on the size of the company, an entrepreneur can receive € 1,000, € 2,500 or € 5,000. This always requires the entrepreneur to contribute at least 25% of the costs himself.

How to Apply.

Companies registered in one of the participating municipalities and employing up to 50 FTEs can apply. Applications can be submitted starting May 11 at noon via the form on the website. Should there be more applications for vouchers in the first 48 hours after opening than there is budget, lots will be drawn. In principle, the assessment will take place within ten working days.

The application itself only takes a few minutes, but some preparation is necessary. Therefore, entrepreneurs are advised to act now and prepare their application. Three coaches are available to help with this. Scheduling an appointment can also be done through the website.

Workshops and coaching

Take a practical workshop and take immediate improvement steps within your company. Choose from:

• May 19: Findable with AI
• May 26: Creating content with AI and Canva
• June 9: Linkedin with AI for your business

View the workshops

In addition, there are opportunities for coaching. Choose what suits you:

• 1-on-1 Coaching: The 1-on-1 course is designed for entrepreneurs who are looking for depth and want to work specifically on their digitization issue. Together with an experienced digitization coach you will work on your specific situation.
• Coaching by students: In coaching by students, you get practical support from well-supervised students from the region. For example, they will help you develop, test or apply digital solutions within your company, such as improving online visibility, deploying tools or optimizing processes.
• Long-term coaching: Long-term coaching is designed for entrepreneurs who want to tackle digitization structurally. Instead of one loose conversation, you work with a regular digitization coach over a longer period of time.

Make an appointment

Complete the Digi-scan

Curious about where you are now with your company: fill out the Digi-scan. After 10 to 15 minutes you will know which profile fits your company and which next step you can take. With your personal score in your pocket, we would like to help you on your way with digitization!

Gan to Digi-scan

Curious about entrepreneurs who have gone before you: read their experiences.

The successful program for stimulating digitization in small and medium-sized businesses in the Leiden and Katwijk region is getting a sequel. Key Region Leiden, in cooperation with the province of South Holland, the participating regional municipalities and the regional entrepreneurs’ associations, will again offer the project under the name Digitaliseringwerkt.nl. Entrepreneurs can count on practical support, inspiration and concrete help over the next three years to make their business digitally future-proof. From first steps in online visibility and cyber resilience to applying data, online working and artificial intelligence (AI).

Concrete steps

Since 2021, more than 1,800 entrepreneurs have already been helped with workshops, vouchers and customized advice. Demand continues to grow; meetings are often full and vouchers are quickly sold out. In the next phase, the offering will be expanded to include additional focus on digital marketing, strategy and security as well as in-depth sessions for entrepreneurs who want to get started with advanced technology.

‘Entrepreneurs do not want thick reports but concrete steps that have an effect tomorrow,’ says Willem-Jan Zirkzee, board member of Key Region Leiden and chairman of Ondernemend Leiden. ‘With this offer we really make digitization work for SMEs. The previous project period proved that.’

In de praktijk

Angela Beresford (pictured wearing Phoebeees T-shirt) started Phoebeees as a creative business at the kitchen table, with a passion for workshops and children’s parties. But like many small business owners, she found that online visibility and attracting customers was a challenge. The webshop was up and running, but how do you make sure people find you and keep coming back? For this she used a voucher of Key Region Leiden, which was presented to her by alderman Romeijn.

With a voucher to digital growth

With the help of a voucher from this program from Key Region Leiden, Angela was able to bring in expertise. Together with marketing agency Danielle Social Marketing from Leiderdorp, she worked on her goals to improve her web shop, use social media strategically and attract more customers in order to increase sales and increase her brand awareness.

That approach quickly paid off: the Phoebeees.com webshop is now visited much more frequently, her social media channels are attracting more followers and interaction, and she is being asked more often for workshops and children’s parties.

Angela says: “Because of the advice, I started tinkering with my webshop and socials more professionally. I have become more visible and especially better known in the area. Right now I’m even working on putting my YouTube channel live – something that was really out of my comfort zone. “

Growth enterprise and local economy

Alderman Herman Romeijn emphasizes that digitization is an important growth opportunity for local entrepreneurs: “By making smart use of digital resources, small businesses can expand their reach and grow their sales. This strengthens not only the entrepreneur himself, but also the local economy. Phoebeees is a great example of how digitization and social media can make a business more well-known regionally. With the right guidance and use of digital tools, the step to growth is closer than ever.”

About Making digitization work for you

Let Digitization Work for You offers entrepreneurs in the region support in cashing in on the opportunities offered by digitization. Entrepreneurs can participate in free workshops, take advantage of free coaching or vouchers of up to €5,000 for projects such as website improvement, cybersecurity and digital customer interaction.

 

Digitalization offers entrepreneurs in Voorschoten enormous opportunities to work smarter and more efficiently. An inspiring example is Firma Freek van Os, an installation company that took an innovative step with the help of a digitization voucher, presented by Alderman Paul de Bruijn.

Innovation in the installation world

Freek van Os specializes in water, gas, roofs, sewers, ventilation and sustainable measures. The company works with InSmart, an advanced monitoring system that remotely reads relevant values from central heating boilers via a module near the boiler. This system provides maintenance, warning, fault and advisory notifications, allowing maintenance to be scheduled more efficiently and preventing boiler failure.

The power of coupling: InSmart and ERP

With the help of the voucher, Firma Freek van Os has taken an important step: a link between InSmart and its own ERP system. Thanks to this link, the company automatically receives notifications about boilers and heat pumps that need maintenance in the near future. Normally, maintenance is carried out every 20 months, unless InSmart signals earlier. The ERP system then automatically generates a work order, which can be scheduled immediately.

Harm van Os says: “Maintenance is planned more efficiently, boiler failures are prevented and customers receive targeted energy advice. That delivers a huge efficiency gain for us as a company.”

Why is this important?

This digitization not only saves time and money, but also increases customer satisfaction. By preventing breakdowns and providing proactive advice, Firma Freek van Os contributes to more sustainable and reliable energy management.

Support from the municipality

The municipality of Voorschoten welcomes such initiatives. Alderman Paul de Bruijn emphasizes, “Digitization is an important driver for innovation and sustainability. Companies like Firma Freek van Os show how technology can contribute to better service and future-proof business operations.”

With this approach, Firma Freek van Os is an inspiring example for other entrepreneurs in Voorschoten: digitization works!

Leiderdorp’s Winkelhof has gained a Toko, and what a Toko! In addition to daily fresh Oriental meals, Toko Winkelhof offers a variety of Oriental ingredients and products. Owners Prins Sandhu and Gumukh Dhaliwal have digitalized their Oriental supermarket as much as possible. That will save a lot of work later. Our voucher from “Make digitization work for you” came in handy.

Everything renewed

The past few months have been hard work to get Toko Winkelhof open on time says Sandhu (38). Just about everything has been renewed in the storefront in the covered Leiderdorp shopping center. A nice fresh Oriental supermarket with a fresh food counter is the result. Fresh rice tables and other Indonesian dishes are on sale every day. There is also a small assortment of Surinamese dishes. And for those who want to cook for themselves, there is an extensive assortment of Japanese, Thai and Indian ingredients displayed beyond the fresh food counter.

Digital shelf cards and order kiosks

Scanning in all these products was an immense task, Sandhu says, “But it pays off, we think, to set it up right from day one.” Sandhu is no layman when it comes to digitization. As an interim manager, he improves ICT processes at government agencies. And his brother-in-law Dhaliwal also has a strong focus on improving processes. So when they decided to open a shop in the Winkelhof, digital shelf cards linked to stock and financial accounting could not be missed. They also chose two ordering kiosks for takeout. “Older people will still like to order at the cash register but the younger generation finds such a kiosk on which they can scroll past all the dishes much nicer.”

Slimme innovatie met inzet mkb-voucher

Digital linking saves time

The digital linking of inventory, sales, and financial administration is going to save a lot of time, Sandhu expects. “And it will provide us with good analyses quickly. With those insights and the time savings, we think we’ll recoup our investments.”

The two entrepreneurs’ time is precious. In addition to the new toko, they also run a wholesale Seafood business. And as if that were not enough, Dhaliwal is also a dentist and Sandhu an interim manager. “We come from true entrepreneurial families. Hard and a lot of work is part of it for us. Seizing opportunities, improving things. We love that.”

In the coming period, the entrepreneurs will be in the Winkelhof a lot. “We first want to experience for ourselves how everything works, and get all the teething problems out of the system ourselves. Only when everything is running well will we hand over tasks to our staff.” A next digitization step will involve marketing. “You have to be present on socials these days. So who knows, we might apply for a voucher for that in the future.”

Connecting on time

Sandhu happened to see the vouchers from “Make digitization work for you. “Through LinkedIn I think. I applied for one right away because we invest a multiple of the voucher in our IT.” The application was very simple and arranged in no time. “I can recommend it to everyone.”

He thinks it makes sense for the government to encourage SMEs to digitize. “The government is demanding more and more from entrepreneurs in terms of data exchange. So there is a shared responsibility there. I find it logical that entrepreneurs are then helped with that.”

He doubts that digitization is a high priority in SMEs. “When I look at our wholesale customers, I notice that they are not working on it. While it is important that SMEs become future-proof. So I understand the government’s focus on this issue. Entrepreneurs need to connect in time. Otherwise the distance to the modern possibilities becomes too great and you don’t take advantage of the opportunities.”

Digitaliseringsslag versnelt de intake

Take advantage of your opportunities as well

Do you also want to seize the opportunities of digitization? Then explore your opportunities together with our SME coaches. It’s free and will give you many insights. Go to www.digitaliseringwerkt.nl to make an (online) appointment. Would you first like to identify your opportunities yourself? Then fill in the Digi-scan. After 10 to 15 minutes you will know which profile suits your company and which next step you can take. With your personal score in your pocket, we would like to help you on your way with digitization!

Let digitization work for you is a program of Key Region and the participating municipalities of Katwijk, Leiden, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude. The program may get a sequel in 2026. Don’t miss that info by signing up for our newsletter or follow us on Linkedin.