What Driestar Educatief does

Driestar Educatief is a Dutch Christian practice-oriented knowledge center headquartered in Gouda, Netherlands, founded in 1944 with 251-500 employees. It operates an integrated portfolio across three divisions: Driestar Hogeschool (an HBO institution offering Pabo, secondary teacher training, pedagogy, Ad-PEP, and master's programs); Driestar Onderwijsadvies (educational advisory covering dyslexia, gifted education, media literacy, leadership coaching, and student care for PO, VO, MBO, and municipalities); and an Onderzoekscentrum with three applied lectorates (Geletterdheid/Literacy, Vorming van christelijke professionals/Formation of Christian Professionals, Schoolvakken en Didactiek) plus an affiliated special chair at Theologische Universiteit Apeldoorn. The organization is supported by sub-brands Gouwe Academie and CPS (both ISO-certified consulting), the Studium Generale evening lecture series, an e-commerce webwinkel for educational materials, and international programs such as Wonderfully Made (sexuality education delivered in Switzerland and France) and teacher-training projects in Uganda.

The technology stack centers on SharePoint-based internal platforms (Eduweb, Portaal) and the BoekenOpdracht.nl book-assignment service, with content IP including identity-adapted teaching methods (Taal actief 5), handreikingen (practitioner guides for Geography and German), Breindidactiek, PCM training, and the SLIM-scan diagnostic tool. In October 2024 Driestar entered a strategic partnership with EdTech firm xXenta to deploy responsible AI solutions to the Dutch Christian education sector. The organization holds ISO 9001 and Cedeo certifications and operates from three physical locations (Gouda, Amersfoort, Kapelle).

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: hogeschool tuition (annual, subscription-like), professional services for educational consulting (Driestar onderwijsadvies, Gouwe Academie, CPS), event-based revenue from symposia (€12-€295/attendee), and publishing via the webwinkel. The customer base is concentrated in the Dutch Christian and reformatorische school network, with distribution reinforced by formal partnerships with VGS, Berséba, KOC, RefSVO, Progressus, Reformatorisch Dagblad/Omroep, CHE, Viaa, and CGO. Go-to-market combines sales-led recruitment for hogeschool programs (online open evenings, WhatsApp support) with event-driven demand generation through an annual symposia calendar and RD-media content marketing.

Name

Driestar Educatief

Legal name

Driestar educatief

Website

https://driestar-educatief.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Driestar Educatief is a Dutch Christian practice-oriented knowledge center (founded 1944, ~251-500 employees, headquartered in Gouda) operating a Hogeschool, educational advisory services, and applied research for the Dutch Christian-reformatorische school sector, with select international programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gouda

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hogeschool education programs: HBO bachelor programs (Pabo, Leraar Voortgezet Onderwijs), Master programs (Master Leren en Innoveren, MLI), Post-HBO programs, and Associate Degree programs (Ad-PEP Pedagogisch Educatief Professional) generating tuition-based revenue. Programs serve Dutch Christian education sector.
2. Educational consulting (Driestar onderwijsadvies): Advisory and training services for primary education (PO), secondary education (VO), MBO, sbo, and other target groups including municipalities and mental health professionals. Covers dyslexia, student care, leadership coaching, media literacy, identity and formation.
3. Short courses and symposia: Event-based revenue from symposia (e.g., Hoogbegaafdheid at €175/pp, Beter Lezen), Studium Generale lectures (€17.50/pp), and winter courses (€165 individual).
4. Publishing and educational materials: Sale of educational methods and materials through the Driestar webwinkel, including Taal actief 5 adapted for Christian and reformatorische schools.
5. Gouwe Academie and CPS: ISO-certified training and advisory organizations operating under the Driestar Educatief umbrella for professional development services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Driestar Educatief is a practice-oriented Christian knowledge center that delivers integrated educational services for the Dutch Christian and reformatorische education sector. Its core offerings include HBO teacher education programs (Pabo, VO, Pedagogiek, Master's, Post-HBO, Ad-PEP) through Driestar Hogeschool, educational advisory and training services for primary, secondary, and vocational schools through Driestar Onderwijsadvies, and applied research through three lectorates covering literacy, formation of Christian professionals, and school subjects/didactics. Supporting services include symposia and Studium Generale lectures, an educational materials web shop, and the international Wonderfully Made sexuality-education curriculum.

Product overview

Driestar Educatief is a Christian practical knowledge center providing a comprehensive ecosystem of educational services. The organization operates through three main divisions: Driestar Hogeschool (Christian university of applied sciences offering Pabo, secondary education teacher training, pedagogy, and master programs), Driestar Onderwijsadvies (educational advisory services for primary, secondary, and vocational education including dyslexia care, gifted education, and student tracking), and an Onderzoekscentrum (research center with multiple lectorates on literacy, hospitable education, and professional formation). Supporting services include Cursussen/opleidingen (courses and post-hbo programs), Gouwe Academie and CPS (ISO-certified training and consulting brands), Studium Generale (evening lecture series), a Webwinkel (online shop), Bibliotheek (library), various Symposia (educational events), and specialized tools like Dyslexie Academie, Leerlingvolgsystemen, and SLIM-scan. The organization also produces a podcast 'Blij met een boek' and offers international programs like Wonderfully Made. Multiple locations in Gouda, Kapelle, and Amersfoort serve the educational community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CPS Nederland: Educational consulting services operating from Amersfoort location
• Dyslexie Academie
• Wonderfully Made
• Studium Generale
• Gouwe Academie

Products and services

• Driestar Hogeschool (Christian University of Applied Sciences)

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 620 students rated Driestar hogeschool highly satisfied in NSE 2026, above national HBO average on nearly all themes.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• xXentacoreTechnology or Integration · 31 October 2024EdTech company xXenta and Driestar educatief entered a strategic partnership to make education future-proof through the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership aims to provide the education sector with smart and responsible AI solutions.
• Progressus (onderwijsregio christelijk-reformatorisch onderwijs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgressus, the national education region for Christian-reformatorisch onderwijs, and Driestar educatief jointly launched the platform 'En dan ben je schoolleider' to attract more school leaders and address the shortage of school leaders in the sector.
• Berséba, KOC, CHB, RefSVOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive organizations collaborate on organizing the Hoogbegaafdheid (High Ability) symposium series for PO and VO, held in both Gouda and Kampen. These partners represent different segments of the reformatorische education network.
• Onderwijs van Waarde (partners: VGS, Driestar educatief, RMU, ROV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnderwijs van Waarde was launched in 2023 by VGS and is supported by Driestar educatief, RMU, and ROV. The initiative inspires and activates school leaders, teachers, parents and students to positively promote Christian-reformatorisch onderwijs through events, publications, videos, and podcasts.
• Groene Hart Ziekenhuis (GHZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriestar Gouda, Driestar educatief, Yuverta chr. vmbo Gouda, and Groene Hart Ziekenhuis signed a letter of intent to collaborate on sustainability, specifically exploring smart energy exchange (heat-cold storage/WKO) to reduce gas dependency.
• Theologische Universiteit Apeldoorn (TUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriestar educatief has established a special chair (bijzondere leerstoel) at TUA. Dr. Bram Kunz, lector of 'Vorming van christelijke professionals' at Driestar hogeschool, was appointed as professor focusing on Christian Vocation in Practice, strengthening the connection between theology and pedagogy.
• Hersteld Hervormd SeminariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative lecture series on the appropriation of salvation in preaching, pastoral care, and the Bible, delivered at Driestar hogeschool by speakers from the Hersteld Hervormd Seminarium.
• Reformatorisch Dagblad (RD) / Reformatorische Omroep (RO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDriestar educatief maintains strong media presence through the RD network, including the podcast 'Blij met een boek' (with RO), opinion articles, and coverage of research. The RD podcast reaches a broad audience of reformatorische Christians.
• CHE (Christelijke Hogeschool Ede) and ViaacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriestar hogeschool co-delivers the Master Leren en Innoveren (MLI) together with CHE and Viaa, Christian universities of applied sciences. Joint marketing and program delivery for the master's program.
• Wonderfully Made International networkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDriestar educatief trains teachers from Swiss and French Christian schools in the Wonderfully Made sexuality education curriculum. The program was highly rated in evaluations, with teachers feeling better equipped to implement the method.
• Centrum voor Godsdienstonderwijs (CGO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGO and Driestar hogeschool jointly deliver the opleiding for religious teachers (godsdienstleraren) for secondary education. The broader HBO course of CGO is given in Driestar educatief's building for years, with an annual joint Studium Generale evening.
• Driestar hogeschool / Oeganda teacher training projectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriestar educatief trained approximately 35 selected teacher educators in Uganda. Uganda aims to upgrade 200,000 teachers to bachelor level; Driestar is training a group of qualified teacher educators who will train colleagues, ultimately reaching 200,000 teachers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Sardes: Dutch education consultancy focused on school development, leadership, and innovation; competes for advisory mandates and shares overlap with Driestar's leiderschap en coaching offerings.
• Oberon: Dutch education research and consulting firm; overlaps with Driestar's onderzoekscentrum and advisory work, particularly in policy and primary/secondary education studies.

Direct peers

• KPC Groep: Dutch education consulting and professional development provider for primary and secondary schools; competes directly with Driestar Onderwijsadvies in school advisory and incompany training.
• Marnix Academie: Dutch hogeschool for primary teacher education (Pabo) and pedagogiek; directly comparable to Driestar's Pabo and Pedagogiek programs, though secular.
• Viaa: Christian hogeschool in Zwolle focused on education, social work, and theology; jointly delivers the MLI master with Driestar and targets the same faith-based HBO student population.
• Hoornbeeck College: Reformatorische MBO/HBO institution in Kampen co-hosting the Hoogbegaafdheid symposium with Driestar; shares the same reformatorische target segment and partner ecosystem.
• Hogeschool de Kempel: Christian hogeschool specializing in primary teacher education (Pabo); comparable niche positioning in Christelijk HBO with overlapping teacher-training offerings.
• Christelijke Hogeschool Ede (CHE): Christian university of applied sciences in Ede offering teacher education and social work programs; co-delivers the Master Leren en Innoveren with Driestar and serves the same Christelijke HBO market segment.

Broad incumbents

• NHL Stenden Hogeschool: Large multi-sector Dutch hogeschool offering teacher training among many other programs; broad incumbent competing for the same student pool as Driestar Hogeschool, without the Christian identity focus.
• Windesheim Hogeschool: Major Dutch hogeschool with substantial teacher-education and applied-education programs; competes for students and advisory contracts in adjacent, non-identity-based segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/driestarhogeschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/driestarhogeschool/?hl=nl
• Xx.com/driestaredu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Driestar Educatief