What Geonovum does

Geonovum is the Dutch national coordination center for open geo-information standards, responsible for developing and managing the standards that underpin the Netherlands' Nationale Geo-Informatie Infrastructuur (NGII). Its portfolio spans the mandatory Basisset geo-standaarden — including NEN 3610, GML, GeoPackage, metadata profiles, OGC API Features, and OGC API Tiles — together with domain-specific information models such as BGT|IMGeo (large-scale topography), BRO (subsurface), IMOW/TPOD (environmental law), IMEV (external safety), IMKL (cables and pipelines), and IMGeluid (sound), plus the MIM metamodel framework, DCAT-AP-NL metadata profile, and the federatief datastelsel. Operationally it provides technical specifications, implementation guidance, validators, and sample files, and supports adoption through workshops, testbeds (e.g., Digital Twin as a Service, Sensor Data), specialized helpdesks per standard, and the GeoForum community platform.

Geonovum is structured as a non-profit, publicly funded organization operating under a covenant with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) and commissioning relationships with VRO (Housing and Spatial Planning) and IenW (Infrastructure and Water Management). It maintains an active international posture across ISO/TC 211, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), W3C, and CEN/TC 287, ensuring Dutch interests shape international standards. All standards are published as open public goods at no cost; revenue derives entirely from government covenants and program funding, not from commercial licensing. Customers are effectively the Dutch public sector — municipalities, provinces, water authorities, national ministries, Kadaster — along with the software vendor ecosystem that implements the standards in GIS, planning, and environmental applications.

Name

Geonovum

Legal name

Geonovum

Website

https://geonovum.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Geonovum is the Dutch national coordination center for open geo-information standards, funded by government ministries. It develops and maintains mandatory standards (OGC APIs, NEN 3610, BGT/IMGeo, BRO, DCAT-AP-NL) underpinning the Netherlands' National Geo-Information Infrastructure for public sector and vendor adoption.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geo-Information Standards

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Data Integration, ETL & Interoperability (APIs, Standards, Data Pipelines) (EUAHAKAB), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)

Keywords

• Open geo-standards
• Geo-information infrastructure
• Spatial data interoperability
• OGC API standards
• Digital government standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Geonovum is a non-profit organization funded through covenants and contracts with the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) and other ministries including VRO (Housing and Spatial Planning) and IenW (Infrastructure and Water Management). Standards are developed and maintained as open public goods freely available to all.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Geonovum develops and maintains open geo-information standards for the Dutch National Geo-Information Infrastructure (NGII), including the mandatory Basisset geo-standaarden, OGC API REST standards, and domain-specific information models (BRO, BGT|IMGeo, TPOD, IMEV, IMGeluid, IMKL). The organization supports adoption through free workshops, funded testbeds, per-standard helpdesks, and the GeoForum community platform, with all standards released as free public goods.

Product overview

Geonovum is the Dutch knowledge and coordination center for geo-information standards and digital infrastructure. Rather than a commercial product company, Geonovum develops and maintains a portfolio of standards that enable interoperability in geo-information across government and industry. The core offerings include the Basisset geo-standaarden (mandatory set including NEN3610, GML, GeoPackage, OGC API Features, OGC API Tiles), domain-specific information models (BRO, BGT|IMGeo, IMGeluid, IMEV, IMKL), environmental document standards (TPOD), metadata standards (DCAT-AP-NL, NL-SBB), and the MIM metamodel framework. The OGC API suite provides REST-based standards for delivering geodata via APIs. Geonovum supports adoption through workshops, testbeds (Digital Twin as a Service, Sensordata), and specialized helpdesks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basisset geo-standaarden (Base Set of Geo-Standards) Mandatory standards bundle essential for the Dutch national geo-information infrastructure, comprising Basismodel geo-informatie NEN 3610, GML, GeoPackage, metadata profiles, OGC API Features, and OGC API Tiles. Required for Dutch government organizations.
• OGC API Standards Suite

Quantifiable outcome

• OGC API Features and OGC API Tiles added to mandatory 'pas toe of leg uit' list in October 2024, replacing WMS and WFS
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational standards consortium developing and maintaining technical standards for geo-information. Geonovum actively participates in OGC working groups, OGC meetings, and code sprints. Actively contributes to OGC API standards development including Features, Tiles, Styles, Records, Processes, Connected Systems, and Routes.
• ISO/TC 211coreTechnology or IntegrationInternational Organization for Standardization technical committee for geographic information. Geonovum participates in ISO/TC 211 to influence international standards that are semantically adapted for the Netherlands.
• W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)coreTechnology or IntegrationMain standards organization for the World Wide Web. Geonovum follows W3C developments for (Spatial) Data on the Web Best Practices and participates in joint initiatives with OGC.
• Kennisplatform API'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnowledge platform where government organizations share knowledge about API implementation. Geonovum leads this platform and coordinates the Dutch API Strategy including API Design Rules. Organizes the Gouden API Award.
• LogiuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch government digital infrastructure organization managing standards including API Strategy (under BOMOS), DigiKoppeling, and OAuth profiles. Geonovum provides input on geospatial modules in API Design Rules.
• KadastercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch government organization managing key registries including BAG (Addresses), BGT (Large-Scale Topography), BRO (Subsurface), and KLIC (Cables and Pipelines). Also operates PDOK national geoportal. Geonovum collaborates on standards implementation and strategic functional management of Ruimtelijkeplannen.nl.
• ICTUmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory organization for digital government projects. Geonovum coordinates on infrastructure standards within the digital government ecosystem.
• Forum StandaardisatiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory body for the Dutch government on open standards. Geonovum's Basisset geo-standaarden are listed on the mandatory 'pas toe of leg uit' list managed by Forum Standaardisatie.
• TNO Geologische Dienst NederlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeological Survey of the Netherlands. Geonovum collaborates with TNO on BRO (Basisregistratie Ondergrond/Subsurface Registry) standards development, along with external subject-matter experts from various fields.
• Dutch Metropolitan Innovations (DMI) ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram under Ministry of Infrastructure and Water State (IenW). Geonovum contributes results from Digital Twin as a Service work to the DMI program for metropolitan innovation.
• digiGOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch digital government ecosystem organization. Geonovum coordinates on standards for digital government infrastructure.
• NORA (Nederlandse Overheid Referentie Architectuur)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Government Reference Architecture. Geonovum standards are part of NORA and managed according to BOMOS principles.
• Provinces and Municipalities (Fieldlab partners)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeonovum works closely with Dutch provinces and municipalities to test digital twin concepts in practice. Example: collaboration with Province Utrecht on 'Language for Policy and Technology' study.
• ProverominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional network for spatial planning. Geonovum maintains contact with the field through Provero for standards implementation.
• Sector Organizations (CROW, Stichting RIONED, SIKB, etc.)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with sectoral organizations including CROW (roads and traffic), Stichting RIONED (sewerage), SIKB (subsurface and environment), Informatiehuis Water for standards alignment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Geonovum