The Podium
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersUtrecht, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
The Podium firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Podium
- Legal name
- Podium | communiceren, beleven, leren
- Website
- https://podium.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Podium industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Sector Communication Services
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD)
Keywords
Where The Podium is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Utrecht
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Podium business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Project-based communication and experience design services: Full-service project delivery from concept to execution for government and cultural clients. Projects span campaigns, educational materials, exhibitions, information centres, online platforms, and events. Revenue generated through project fees for strategic consulting, content creation, design, and realisation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Podium product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Podium is a Dutch communication agency that designs and delivers communication strategies, interactive experiences (exhibitions, visitor centres, AR routes), and educational programmes for public sector and cultural clients. Its work spans from concept and strategy through to content creation, design, and realisation, translating complex societal topics (climate, water, heritage, finance, health) into accessible stories for citizens, students, and stakeholders. Revenue is generated through bespoke, project-based engagements.
Product overview
The Podium is a Dutch communications agency offering three core service lines: Communiceren (communication advisory), Beleven (experiences/exhibitions), and Leren (learning/education). The company develops campaigns, educational materials, exhibitions, online platforms, and events that inform and inspire. Their education platform Podium voor Onderwijs provides free tools for teachers. Notable products include serious games like 'Kinderarbeid, No Kidding!' and 'Wie Watt Windenergie!', educational programs like Wijzer in Geldzaken and Nationale Kraanwaterdag, interactive exhibitions for museums and visitor centers, and AR routes for locations like Windpark Fryslân. The company operates as a service-based agency rather than a SaaS platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Podium voor Onderwijs: A platform through which Podium shares knowledge and experience with the education field, offering tools, inspiration, and materials that teachers can use directly. Available free of charge.
Products and services
- Communiceren (Communication Advisory) Communication advisory services spanning from strategy to execution, translating complex societal messages into understandable content to reach target audiences effectively. Tailored for Dutch government and cultural clients.
- Beleven (Experience Design) Creation of experiences that strengthen connections between people and make knowledge accessible, including exhibitions, visitor centres, AR routes, and interactive installations for museums, government clients, and cultural institutions.
- Leren (Educational Programmes) Development of educational materials, serious games, lesson plans, and school programmes that make learning relevant, interactive, current, and didactically grounded for primary and secondary education.
- Wie Watt Windenergie! (AR Route) An interactive AR route through the transformer station of Windpark Friesland where visitors scan QR codes to discover how wind energy is generated and converted to electricity, developed for Windpark Friesland.
- Kinderarbeid, No Kidding! (Serious Game) An interactive serious game for group 7-8 primary school students where they travel along production chains to understand how child labour can remain hidden in the chocolate and clothing industries. Developed for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / RVO.
- Wijzer in Geldzaken (Financial Education Programme) Educational materials about money for primary schools, including digital learning paths, workbooks, and worksheets on financial literacy aligned with curriculum standards, developed annually for the Ministry of Finance.
- Nationale Kraanwaterdag Annual national day for primary schools and childcare where children learn about the importance of tap water, developed in partnership with all 10 Dutch drinking water companies and reaching 200,000 children annually.
- Wecycle Educational Materials Educational videos and teaching materials for Stichting OPEN (Wecycle) about recycling of electronics, lamps, and batteries, targeting businesses, consumers, and children.
- Beroepenroute (Port Careers Route) Interactive career route introducing vocational students to 15 port professions through authentic photography, QR-linked online assignments, and an interest test linked to students' LOB dossiers. Co-developed for Haveninformatiecentrum Portaal van Vlaanderen.
- Waterwijs Educational Route (Zuiderzeemuseum) Educational route for vmbo students (grades 3-4) where they learn about drought, water management, and how choices in water management have consequences, developed with Dog Design for the Zuiderzeemuseum.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nationale Kraanwaterdag reaches 200,000 children annually in schools and childcare
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Podium
Customer profileNamed customers22 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Podium technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The Podium partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NatuurmonumentencoreCo-development partner for the Waterloopbos exposition and AR route. Podium developed the concept, design and realisation of the exposition in the new Proeflab entrance building, working with ecologists from Natuurmonumenten to translate complex water engineering history and ecosystem information into interactive experiences.
- Stad & Natuur Almere / StaatsbosbeheercorePodium translated the vision of Stad & Natuur and Staatsbosbeheer into an interactive experience for the Natuurbelevingscentrum Oostvaarders. The exhibit brings the bird paradise Oostvaardersplassen to life, covering ecosystem, bird migration, and landscape stories with modern and traditional techniques.
- Dunea Duin & WatercorePodium developed the interactive family exposition at Dunea's visitor centre De Tapuit in Wassenaar. The exhibit educates visitors about the dune ecosystem and drinking water production, with interactive elements for children and adults. The Tapuit serves as a park gate for Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen.
- All 10 Dutch Drinking Water Companies (Brabant Water, Dunea, Evides, Oasen, PWN, Vitens, Waterbedrijf Groningen, Waternet, WMD, WML)coreJoint initiative of all Dutch drinking water companies to organise Nationale Kraanwaterdag. Podium serves as key partner, developing educational materials, promotional campaigns, social media, and outreach to schools and childcare organisations. Reaches 200,000 children annually.
- Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken / RVOcorePodium developed the serious game 'Kinderarbeid, No Kidding!' for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / RVO. The game teaches primary school children about child labour in production chains for chocolate and clothing, with input from Tony's Chocolonely and America Today.
- NVM-MondhygiënistencoreMulti-year public awareness campaign to position dental hygienists and preventive oral care. Podium created poster campaigns, toolkits for hygienists, the online escape room 'Mondmysterie', animation films, and TikTok/Instagram content targeting parents of children aged 0-12.
- RijkswaterstaatcorePodium handled public communications for Zeesluis IJmuiden (world's largest sea lock) and Zoutdam IJmuiden. Scope included social media content, newsletter, animations, praatkaarten, photography, video, and organisation of public events including the official opening attended by King Willem-Alexander.
- Ministerie van FinanciëncoreAnnual development of educational materials for 'Wijzer in Geldzaken', an initiative of the Ministry of Finance. Podium creates digital learning content, workbooks, and worksheets on financial literacy aligned with curriculum standards and Nibud learning objectives framework.
- Haveninformatiecentrum Portaal van VlaanderencoreCo-developed the interactive Beroepenroute (careers route) showcasing 15 port professions with authentic photography, QR-linked online assignments, and an interest test linked to students' LOB dossiers. Collaboration with Yara, OVET, Mammoet, Vlaeynatie and Arentis.
- Stichting OPEN (Wecycle)corePodium developed educational videos and teaching materials about recycling of electronics, lamps, and batteries. Content is based on 20+ years of accumulated knowledge, with interviews, factory visits, research and chain partner perspectives.
- Windpark FryslâncoreDevelopment of 'Wie Watt Windenergie!' - an interactive AR route through the transformator station at Breezanddijk. Podium wrote the script and coordinated with the chief engineer, communication department, IQ Media (animations), and photographer Ruben de Vries.
- ProRailminorRailway infrastructure communication projects listed among client logos
- Liliane FondsminorDevelopment communication projects listed among client logos
- SOS DolfijnminorEducational communication projects listed among client logos
- EnecominorEnergy sector communication projects listed among client logos
- Wilde GanzenminorDevelopment organisation communication projects listed among client logos
- UNESCOminorWorld heritage related projects listed among client logos (including Woudagemaal)
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Podium competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IJsfontein: IJsfontein is a Dutch studio that develops serious games, interactive learning experiences, and educational media. They overlap with Podium's serious-game work (e.g., 'Kinderarbeid, No Kidding!') and education client base.
- Tinker Imagineers: Tinker Imagineers is a Dutch experience-design agency that creates themed attractions, museum exhibitions, and visitor centers. Like The Podium, they blend storytelling, spatial design, and interactive technology to serve cultural and public-sector clients.
- Kossmanndejong: Kossmanndejong is an Amsterdam-based exhibition design studio specializing in museums, visitor centers, and brand experiences. They directly compete with Podium's 'Beleven' service line for Dutch museum and heritage contracts.
- Bruns: Bruns is a Dutch exhibition and event design agency with deep experience in museum, heritage, and public-sector communication projects. Their full-service concept-to-realisation model mirrors Podium's approach.
- Van Ons: Van Ons is a Dutch communication and participation agency serving public-sector clients. They overlap with Podium's 'Communiceren' advisory work for municipalities and provincial authorities.
- Hillenaar: Hillenaar is a Dutch government communication and public-affairs agency. Like Podium, they advise ministries, municipalities, and public organizations on complex societal themes and stakeholder engagement.
- BKB Agency: BKB is a leading Dutch public affairs and communications agency. They share Podium's government client portfolio and focus on translating complex policy and societal topics for broader audiences.
Emerging players
- Malmberg: Malmberg is a major Dutch educational publisher developing curriculum-aligned materials and digital learning tools. They overlap with Podium's 'Leren' segment, particularly curriculum-aligned learning content for primary schools.
- Blink Uitgevers: Blink is a Dutch educational publisher with a strong focus on engaging, theme-based learning materials for younger students. They represent an alternative supplier in the same classroom-content category Podium serves for ministries and water companies.
- Squla: Squla is a Dutch adaptive-learning platform for primary-school children, similar in audience to Podium's school-targeted educational materials (Wijzer in Geldzaken, Kraanwaterdag). They are an emerging digital-native alternative to Podium's bespoke educational content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Podium social profiles
Digital presenceThe Podium financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Podium leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
The Podium funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Podium M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Podium
What does The Podium do?
The Podium is a Dutch communication agency that designs and delivers communication strategies, interactive experiences (exhibitions, visitor centres, AR routes), and educational programmes for public sector and cultural clients. Its work spans from concept and strategy through to content creation, design, and realisation, translating complex societal topics (climate, water, heritage, finance, health) into accessible stories for citizens, students, and stakeholders. Revenue is generated through bespoke, project-based engagements.
Is The Podium a public or private company?
The Podium is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Podium founded?
The Podium was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Podium based?
The Podium is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does The Podium make money?
One revenue line is on record: project-based communication and experience design services.
Who are The Podium's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IJsfontein, Tinker Imagineers, Kossmanndejong, Bruns, Van Ons, Hillenaar and BKB Agency. Emerging players are Malmberg, Blink Uitgevers and Squla.
Does The Podium have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Podium.
What industry is The Podium in?
The Podium's product category is Public Sector Communication Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADALAD, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education. Its NAICS code is 7121.