Karmijn Kapitaal sells Aquilum Group to Colbe: The Work Wellbeing Network
Transaction summary
AMSTERDAM, 9 December 2025 – Karmijn Kapitaal has sold occupational health services specialist Aquilum to Colbe (formerly Zorg van de Zaak). Karmijn invested in Aquilum in 2020 and has since supported the rollout of an ambitious buy-and-build strategy. During that period, Aquilum strengthened its national position and significantly broadened its service offering through seven strategic acquisitions. With the addition of Aquilum, Colbe reinforces its leading role in the Netherlands in the field of occupational health and sustainable employability.
Monique Schutrups, CEO of Aquilum Group:
"Colbe’s vision aligns perfectly with what we at Aquilum strive for: lifelong employability. No symptom treatment, but truly partnering, thinking along and advising on sustainable employability. We approach this with energy and actively work to keep employees healthy and capable. A focus on the positive, in other words. I see it as my task to recognise talent, create opportunities, and inspire teams to get the best out of themselves. Joining Colbe increases our ability to make a difference for even more people and to contribute to a healthy and engaged working Netherlands.”
Bas Tomassen, CEO of Colbe:
“I have been following Aquilum closely in recent years and am impressed by how the former occupational health service Equilar has grown into the business network it is today. The power of working together makes us both stronger and supports Colbe’s previously initiated strategy of a differentiated market approach and service models that better align with the specific needs of our clients.”
Under Karmijn Kapitaal’s ownership, Aquilum has developed into a broader and stronger group within sustainable employability, with an expanded service portfolio and a solid foundation for further growth. Joining Colbe enables Aquilum to continue that growth within a larger network with complementary expertise and scale.
Cilian Jansen Verplanke, Co-founding Partner at Karmijn Kapitaal, says:
“We are proud of what we have achieved together with Aquilum’s management over the past years. Since our investment in 2020, the group has grown rapidly; through seven strategic acquisitions, the platform has been broadened and strengthened in line with the needs of employers. Aquilum is now a national player helping organisations prevent absenteeism, keep employees sustainably employable, and work with more control and quality on work and health. We thank Aquilum’s management team for this great journey and wish them much success in combination with Colbe.”
The intended transaction is subject to approval from the relevant regulators, competition authorities, and consultation with employee representative bodies.
Press releases: Karmijn Kapitaal, Aquilum & Colbe
About Aquilum
Aquilum Group is a nationwide partner for sustainable employability. The group supports employers in creating a healthy and safe working environment and offers services in absenteeism prevention, case management, reintegration, labour mobility, and related interventions. Aquilum operates through several specialised labels that together form one integrated offering for organisations throughout the Netherlands.
For additional information on Aquilum, visit https://www.aquilum.nl/
About Colbe
Colbe is the European work-wellbeing network that supports organisations and employees holistically in the areas of work and wellbeing. Within the network, the well-known occupational health services and specialised interventions remain combined, with the aim of offering sustainable employability, vitality, and absence management on a larger scale and with greater cohesion. Since 2025, the network operates under the name Colbe.
For additional information on Colbe, visit https://www.colbe.com/