Zen.nl

What Zen.nl does

Zen.nl is a Dutch Zen meditation training and coaching organization operating as a non-profit foundation (Stichting Zen.nl Nederland), founded in 1984 by Rients Ritskes and headquartered in Nijmegen. The company runs 41 physical locations across the Netherlands delivering a structured curriculum of Zen meditation courses, ranging from 5-month introductory programs (€375 total) and ongoing advanced courses (€69/month) to 1-on-1 Zen coaching (€149-199/month), multi-day sesshin retreats (€484-725 per event), and 3-5 year professional Zen teacher and Zen coach certification tracks. Its core method integrates zazen, kinhin, dokusan, teisho, and David Bohm dialogue methodology, and the organization holds CRKBO vocational education registration.

The business model blends recurring subscription revenue from ongoing courses and coaching with per-event pricing for retreats, dialogue training, and corporate engagements. Distribution is primarily through the 41-location physical network, supplemented by online courses, a ZenActueel content/blog platform, a webshop selling meditation supplies, and a dedicated corporate channel (Incompany Zen) serving enterprise clients including BDO and KPN. Supporting offerings include free trial lessons, monthly silent mornings, full-day zendodag intensives, rooftop meditation, and the Zenbos environmental planting initiative. The organization employs 101-250 people and claims 25,000+ lifetime course participants with a 9.2/10 satisfaction rating across 550+ reviews.

Name

Zen.nl

Legal name

Stichting Zen.nl Nederland

Website

https://zen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Zen.nl is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating 41 Zen meditation and coaching centers across the Netherlands. Founded in 1984, it serves individual consumers and corporate clients (BDO, KPN) with subscription courses, retreats, coaching, and 3-5 year teacher certification programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meditation and Wellness Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJAHAA

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Wellness & Spa Experiences (Retreats, Thermal Baths, Yoga)

SECONDARYHSADAJAF

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Meditation, Mindfulness & Breathwork

SECONDARYHSADAJAH

Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Meditation, Mindfulness & Breathwork

SECONDARYEDAAAHAD

Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)

Keywords

• Zen meditation training
• Mindfulness courses
• Meditation retreats
• Corporate wellness programs
• Zen teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

Nijmegen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Course Fees (Subscription): Monthly subscription fees for ongoing advanced courses (gevorderdencursus) at €69/month for individuals. Introduction courses are priced as one-time packages (€375 for 5 months).
2. Zen Coaching Services: Individual coaching sessions at €149/month (excluding lessons) or €199/month (including lessons) for personal development coaching.
3. Sesshin (Retreat) Fees: Week-long and weekend retreats generate one-time fees. Five-day nature sesshin costs €625-725 depending on room type.
4. In-Company Training: Corporate Zen training programs for organizations to improve workplace wellbeing and communication.
5. Dialogue Training: One-day dialogue training at €245 (€125 for members), using David Bohm's methodology.
6. Webshop: Sale of meditation cushions (zafu), books, incense, and tea through the Zen.nl shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zen.nl delivers in-person and online Zen meditation training through a network of 41 affiliated locations across the Netherlands. The core catalog spans a five-month introductory course, ongoing advanced courses (subscription-based), one-on-one Zen coaching, multi-day retreats (sesshins), one-day David Bohm dialogue training, and multi-year professional training programs to certify Zen teachers and coaches. The organization also runs Incompany Zen corporate wellness programs and operates a webshop for meditation supplies.

Product overview

Zen.nl is a meditation and zen education organization operating as a multi-location network across the Netherlands with 41 locations. The company offers a unified platform of zen meditation services built around a core curriculum that progresses from introductory courses through advanced practice and professional training. The product portfolio includes: introductory and advanced group meditation courses, individual coaching services, structured zen teacher and coach training programs, and various retreat formats (weekend, 5-day nature, and week-long sesshins). Supporting services include a webshop for meditation supplies, corporate meditation programs (Incompany Zen), trial lessons, dialogue training, and digital content through the ZenActueel weekly magazine. The company operates on a subscription/membership model for ongoing courses and per-event pricing for retreats and training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Introductiecursus Zenmeditatie Five-month beginner course teaching the fundamentals of Zen meditation, consisting of weekly sessions with interactive introductions, seated meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), and tea ceremonies. Targeted at adults with no prior meditation experience.
• Gevorderdencursus Ongoing advanced Zen meditation course for practitioners with prior experience, featuring deeper Zen themes, personal consultations (dokusan), and koan study. Subscription-based at €69/month for individuals.
• Zencoaching One-on-one coaching that integrates Zen meditation with personal development, supporting individuals in applying Zen insights to daily life. Priced at €149/month (excl. lessons) or €199/month (incl. lessons).
• Sesshins (Zen Retreats) Zen meditation retreats ranging from weekend sesshins to week-long intensives, including nature sesshins in natural settings. Offered as one-time priced events.
• Vijfdaagse Natuursesshin Five-day nature retreat combining meditation, mindfulness exercises in nature, and light physical work in the forest at Meeuwenveen in Havelte. Priced at €625 (2-person room) or €725 (single room).
• Weekendsesshin Friday-to-Sunday Zen retreat focused on silent meditation practice, featuring zazen periods, kinhin, work periods (samu), and teisho lectures.
• Dialoogtraining One-day Zen dialogue training based on David Bohm's communication theories, teaching deeper listening, presence, and dialogue techniques. Priced at €245 (non-member) or €125 (Zen.nl member), including lunch, coffee, and tea. Delivered in partnership with Dialoogcentrum.
• Zenlerarenopleiding (ziop) Three-year part-time training program to become a certified Zen teacher, including personal coaching, study classes, assistantships, and supervised teaching practice. Aimed at aspiring Zen teachers.
• Zencoach Opleiding Two-year advanced training for Zen coaches, building on the Zen teacher program, focusing on integrating Zen insights into daily life through coaching.
• Individuele Cursus Personalized one-on-one Zen course for those with busy schedules or preference for individual learning, consisting of four 1.5-hour sessions of customized curriculum.
• Online Cursussen Digital Zen meditation courses available for remote learning and participation, extending Zen.nl's in-person offerings to online participants.
• Incompany Zen Corporate meditation and Zen training services for organizations, bringing workplace wellness and mindfulness programs to businesses. Sold as professional services to corporate clients such as BDO and KPN.
• Webshop Online store selling meditation cushions (zafu), books, incense, and tea for Zen practitioners. Generates product sales revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of course participants recommend Zen.nl to friends
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stichting StiltegoedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with Stichting Stiltegoed for the Zenbos (Zen forest) environmental initiative. The Zenbos is located in the Stiltegoed nature area in the Bieslandse polder, with 7 zenbosjes (small Zen forests) planted as a sustainable environmental project.
• DialoogcentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDialoogcentrum provides certified dialogue trainers for Zen.nl's one-day dialogue training. The training uses the communication methodology developed by physicist David Bohm (1917-1992), which explores how to relate differently to ourselves, others, and the surrounding world.
• Incompany ZencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIncompany Zen offers corporate Zen meditation and wellness programs to organizations. Zenmeditatie op de werkvloer (Zen meditation in the workplace) brings Zen training to corporate clients seeking employee wellness and stress management.
• Pul-Tho Zen Buddhist CommunityminorOthersZen.nl has donated €4,000 from collected donations to the Pul-Tho Zen Buddhist Community in Kiev, Ukraine, supporting their peace and healing efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Headspace: Global consumer meditation and mental health app. Comparable because it addresses the same stress, focus, and mindfulness pain points as Zen.nl's individual courses, but through a digital subscription model at much lower price points.
• Calm: Global meditation, sleep, and mental wellness app. Overlaps with Zen.nl on guided meditation, mindfulness training, and corporate wellness use cases, but with a digital-only delivery model.

Direct peers

• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: US-based meditation center offering residential retreats, daylong programs, and a multi-year teacher training path. Mirrors Zen.nl's model of physical centers, structured curricula, and a teacher certification pipeline.
• Tergar International: Global Buddhist meditation organization offering courses, retreats, and a structured meditation teacher path. Comparable to Zen.nl on the multi-year practitioner-to-teacher pipeline and global digital-plus-retreat model.
• Insight Meditation Society: Established residential meditation retreat center offering multi-day retreats, online courses, and teacher training. Highly comparable to Zen.nl's sesshin/retreat portfolio and multi-year training pathways.
• Gaia House: UK-based meditation retreat center offering group and individual retreats rooted in the Western Buddhist tradition. Comparable to Zen.nl's sesshin offerings and teacher-led retreat format, operating in an adjacent European market.
• Plum Village: International Buddhist meditation community founded by Thich Nhat Hanh with retreat centers and lay practice groups across Europe. Directly comparable to Zen.nl as a multi-location, lineage-based meditation teaching organization offering retreats, courses, and teacher training.
• Shambhala Meditation Center: International network of meditation centers offering group programs, retreats, and teacher training in a Buddhist tradition. Comparable to Zen.nl's community-led, multi-location, lineage-based teaching model.

Regional players

• Delight Yoga: Multi-location yoga and meditation studio chain in the Netherlands offering classes, workshops, and teacher training. Comparable as a Dutch studio-network competitor for both individual practitioners and corporate wellness buyers.
• 7Mind: Germany-based meditation and mindfulness app with a corporate B2B channel. Comparable to Zen.nl on consumer subscription pricing and the Incompany Zen corporate wellness offering, but digital-only and serving the DACH market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/zennl
• Facebookfacebook.com/zen.nl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zen-nl
• Instagraminstagram.com/zen.nlnederland
• Xx.com/Zen_nl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Zen.nl