What Het Waterlaboratorium does

Het Waterlaboratorium N.V. is a Dutch water quality laboratory and knowledge institution headquartered in Haarlem, Netherlands, founded in 2003 and operating with approximately 120 employees. The company is structured as a semi-public N.V. owned by three Dutch drinking water utilities — Dunea Duin en Water, PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland, and Waternet Amsterdam — which simultaneously constitute its largest customers. It operates four integrated service lines spanning the full water quality chain: accredited water sampling (Monstername), laboratory analysis (Analyse), expert advisory (Advies), and continuous sensor management (Sensoring), processing approximately 65,000 water samples and 250,000+ individual tests annually across roughly 400 analytical methods.

The technical platform is built on advanced analytical instrumentation including LC-QTOF-MS and GC-MS for target and non-target chemical screening at pg/L sensitivity, RvA-accredited bioassay panels (including the ERα-CALUX estrogenic activity assay), radiochemical analyses, flow cytometry-based cell counting (Directe Celtelling), RT-PCR bacterial detection, and a proprietary Effect-Directed Analysis (EDA) platform — described as the only such capability among Dutch water laboratories. The company has developed proprietary methods for emerging contaminants, including a 36-compound PFAS panel, very polar substances (sulfamic acid, perchlorate, small PFAS variants), and blue-green algae toxins. Continuous monitoring infrastructure includes the SAMOS SPE-UHPLC-UV/DAD system, deployed at customer sites and providing measurements every 15 minutes for intake water early warning.

The business model is B2B professional services delivered primarily to the Dutch regulated water sector, with revenue generated through testing fees, advisory engagements, and sensor maintenance contracts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is project-specific. In addition to its three shareholder utilities, the company serves water boards (waterschappen), Rijkswaterstaat, industrial firms, environmental consultancies, and research institutions. Strategic partnerships include VU Amsterdam (academic research), KWR (sector research institute), Schone Maaswaterketen (Meuse water quality initiative), IAWR (Rhine catchment platform), and TKI Watertechnologie. The company is RvA-accredited, GDPR-compliant, and operates within the European Drinking Water Directive regulatory framework.

Name

Het Waterlaboratorium

Legal name

Het Waterlaboratorium N.V.

Website

https://hetwaterlaboratorium.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Het Waterlaboratorium is a Dutch water quality laboratory serving its three shareholder drinking water utilities (Dunea, PWN, Waternet) with accredited sampling, chemical and biological analysis, advisory, and continuous sensor monitoring across roughly 65,000 samples annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Quality Laboratory Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sampling Programs & Field Services (grab/composite sampling, chain-of-custody, logistics) (EUANAJAD), Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC), Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH), Wastewater & Industrial Effluent Monitoring (NPDES/Permit Compliance) (EUAHACAD)

Keywords

• Water quality testing
• Drinking water analysis
• Laboratory sampling services
• Environmental monitoring
• Chemical screening services

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water Quality Testing Services: Laboratory testing services for water quality analysis including routine analyses, specialized tests, and research projects for drinking water companies and other water sector organizations. Revenue generated through testing fees for samples analyzed.
2. Advisory Services: Expert advisory services translating water quality results into practical advice for water management and policy.
3. Monitoring and Sensing Services: Sensor maintenance, calibration, and interpretation services for continuous water quality monitoring.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Het Waterlaboratorium is a Dutch water quality testing laboratory providing sampling, chemical and biological analysis, sensor management, and advisory services across the entire drinking water chain. The company performs approximately 65,000 water analyses per year using 400 different analytical methods and operates specialized offerings including bioassays, target and non-target chemical screening, PFAS analysis, radiochemical analyses, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR testing. It is the only water laboratory in the Netherlands offering Effect-Directed Analysis (EDA).

Product overview

Het Waterlaboratorium is a practice-oriented knowledge institution specializing in water quality testing and research. The company operates four core services: Monstername (water sampling), Analyse (laboratory analysis), Advies (consulting), and Sensoring (continuous sensor monitoring). The laboratory processes approximately 65,000 water samples annually with over 250,000 tests using 400 different analysis methods. Specialized offerings include bioassays for biological effect measurement, target and non-target screening for chemical substances, radiochemical analyses, flow cytometry for cell counting, RT-PCR for bacterial detection, and PFAS analysis (36 compounds). The company also develops proprietary methods for emerging substances like blue-green algae toxins and very polar substances, and operates continuous monitoring systems (SAMOS) for water intake quality assurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Monstername (Water Sampling) Field sampling of water from source to tap with certified (BRL SIKB 12000) sampling processes; serves drinking water companies, water boards, and industrial clients.
• Analyse (Laboratory Analysis) Chemical, microbiological, and radiochemical analysis of water using approximately 400 validated methods across routine and specialized testing categories.
• Advies (Advisory Services) Independent expert advice on water quality, interpretation of analytical results, toxicological assessment, and emerging substance risk evaluation for water utilities and government.
• Sensoring (Sensor Management) Installation, management, and data delivery of online water quality sensors including continuous monitoring systems for drinking water utilities.
• Bioassays Panel (ERα-CALUX, etc.) Bioanalytical panel of effect-based methods including RvA-accredited ERα-CALUX used to assess biological effects of water samples.
• Target and Non-Target Screening (LC-QTOF-MS) High-resolution LC-QTOF-MS based chemical screening using a proprietary in-house database of substances to identify known and unknown compounds in water samples.
• Effect-Directed Analysis (EDA) Combines bioassays with chemical fractionation to identify which specific substances in a water sample are responsible for observed biological effects.
• PFAS Analysis Quantitative and screening analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water matrices for utilities and regulators.
• Radiochemical Analyses Measurement of radionuclides and radiological parameters in drinking water and source water.
• Flow Cytometry (Directe Celtelling)
• RT-PCR Testing
• SAMOS Continuous Monitoring
• Toxicological Evaluation of Emerging Substances
• Very Polar Substances Analysis
• Microcystin (Blue-Green Algae Toxin) Analysis
• Hemoflow Sampling

Quantifiable outcome

• 65,000 water samples analyzed annually with 250,000+ individual tests
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Ongoing research collaboration in water quality. A staff member is formally detached one day per week at the university. Joint PhD student supervision and collaborative research projects. Jointly pursuing research funding opportunities including European Union grants.
• Schone Maaswaterketen (SMWK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration within the Schone Maaswaterketen (Clean Meuse Water Chain) initiative. The partnership aims to reduce organic micro-pollutants in the Meuse by 30% by 2040 compared to 2023 levels. Het Waterlaboratorium performs bioassay analyses and contributes to interpretation of results. The initiative involves monitoring at 30 locations in the Meuse river basin.
• KWRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on water quality including non-target screening methods. Hosted the IAWR Platform Analytik meeting at KWR facilities in Nieuwegein. KWR is a key research institute for the water sector.
• Vereniging van Waterbedrijven in Nederland (Vewin)coreOthersMembership in Vewin, the association of Dutch water companies. Sharing expertise and contributing to policy development and standardization within the sector.
• Nederlandse Vereniging van Waterlaboratoria (NVWL)coreOthersMembership in NVWL, the Dutch association of water laboratories. Contributing to policy development and standardization within the water laboratory sector.
• Dunea Duin en WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor shareholder and primary customer. Het Waterlaboratorium provides comprehensive water quality testing services including monitoring, routine analyses, and research. Collaboration on SAMOS monitoring system installation.
• PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor shareholder and primary customer. Het Waterlaboratorium provides water quality analysis services including IJsselmeer source water monitoring and research collaboration.
• Waternet AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor shareholder and primary customer. Het Waterlaboratorium provides comprehensive water quality services including SAMOS monitoring system for water intake monitoring.
• Pampus FortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR project to help Pampus fort island develop its own drinking water production from IJmeer lake water. Het Waterlaboratorium assists with risk assessments, monitoring programs, and expertise for water treatment system development.
• Wereld WaternetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSR partnership under MVO (Corporate Social Responsibility) framework. Supporting drinking water companies abroad through knowledge sharing and practical expertise. Currently involved in project in Ethiopia supporting Heban Negelle Siraro Water Supply and Sewerage Services.
• Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wasserwerke im Rheineinzugsgebiet (IAWR)coreOthersMembership in IAWR, the International Working Group of Waterworks in the Rhine Catchment Area. Active participation in the IPA (IAWR Platform Analytik) focusing on analytical chemistry and exchange of knowledge on known and unknown substances in the Rhine.
• WaterpatRoonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject collaboration with KWR and University of Amsterdam to improve comparability of analysis results across different laboratories. Aims to harmonize methodologies for water quality analysis.
• TKI WatertechnologieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvolved in TKI-project on 'Risico's van blauwalgtoxines bij drinkwaterproductie' (Risks of blue-green algae toxins in drinking water production). Collaboration with drinking water companies, knowledge institutes, and drinking water laboratories.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ALS Global (Environmental division): International testing services group with substantial water, environmental, and life-sciences laboratory operations. Comparable as a commercial lab offering PFAS, trace organics, and microbiology testing to utilities and industrial clients across geographies.
• TÜV Rheinland / TÜV SÜD (Environmental Lab Services): German-headquartered TIC groups with accredited water and environmental testing services. Comparable on regulatory-driven testing, accreditation, and serving utilities and industrial clients, though diversified across many other sectors.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection and certification (TIC) company. Comparable in laboratory-based water quality testing and accredited analysis, but with a much broader industry and geographic portfolio.
• Eurofins Environment Testing Netherlands: Subsidiary of Eurofins Scientific, a global environmental testing giant. Comparable as a contract laboratory offering chemical and microbiological water analysis, but at much broader scope and scale across multiple matrices and geographies.
• SGS (Environment, Health & Safety): Global inspection, verification, testing and certification company with strong water and environmental testing capabilities. Comparable as a high-scale accredited lab serving industrial and public-sector clients, though broader and less specialized in drinking water.

Others

• IAWR (Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wasserwerke im Rheineinzugsgebiet): International working group of Rhine-catchment water utilities in which Het Waterlaboratorium actively participates via the IPA platform. Comparable on cross-border water-quality knowledge exchange and analytical standardization rather than direct commercial competition.
• Dunea Duin en Water (as customer/affiliate): Major shareholder and largest customer of Het Waterlaboratorium. Relevant ecosystem participant — comparable customer profile (Dutch drinking water utility using surface and dune-infiltrated water) and shapes the lab's mandate but does not directly compete.

Direct peers

• AquaLab: Dutch water laboratory serving water boards and drinking water utilities. Comparable on routine water quality testing, accredited sampling, and B2B service model to Dutch water-sector customers.
• KWR Watercycle Research Institute: Dutch water-sector research institute and explicit strategic partner of Het Waterlaboratorium. Overlaps in non-target screening method development and hosts the IAWR Platform Analytik — comparable on advanced analytics, applied research, and Dutch water utility customer base.
• WLN (Waterlaboratorium Noord): Regional Dutch drinking water laboratory serving northern Netherlands utilities. Directly comparable as a utility-affiliated specialist water lab offering sampling, analysis, and advisory to a similar Dutch drinking water customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/het-waterlaboratorium

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Het Waterlaboratorium