Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte

What Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte does

The Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte Emsland in Papenburg e.V. (HÖB) is a state-recognized Heimvolkshochschule (folk high school) in Lower Saxony, Germany, founded in 1988 and operating as a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) under the chairmanship of Ursula Mersmann with Landkreis Emsland and Stadt Papenburg represented on the board. The institution delivers educational programming across three core verticals — Political Education & Sustainability, Professional & Competency Development, and Health & Integration — alongside a multi-generational community house (Mehrgenerationenhaus) and a Regional Environmental Education Center (RUZ), serving children, youth, seniors, educators, healthcare workers, migrants, and civic organizations in the Emsland region and northwest Germany.

The physical platform consists of a lakeside campus at Spillmannsweg 30, Papenburg, comprising a main building (Haupthaus), lake wing (Seeflügel), artist house (Künstlerhaus), guest house (Gästehaus), and the multi-generations house — collectively offering more than 100 beds and 17 seminar rooms accommodating 4 to 180 guests. The original 1988-built earth wall provides passive climate regulation and is being renewed through a BMUV-funded AnpaSo climate-adaptation project (2025–2026). Facilities include a biological/chemical laboratory, practice kitchen, multifunctional workshop, small amphitheater, and four themed garden areas, supporting experiential, nature-based learning.

The revenue model is hybrid: earned income from seminar fees (EUR 35–925 per event including accommodation and full board), conference and meeting-room rentals, and full-board catering (vegetarian/vegan/allergen-friendly), supplemented by project-based grants from federal ministries (BMUV, BMBFSFJ, BMAS/ESF Plus, BKM) and foundations (Stiftung EVZ), plus Land Niedersachsen institutional recognition. Distribution is primarily direct (website booking, phone, email) with referral flow from partners including Pflegeakademie St. Anna, DIZ Emslandlager, Klimaschutzagentur Niedersachsen, and ZEHN Niedersachsen. Pricing includes family, student, volunteer (FSJ/FÖJ/BFD), and disability discounts.

Name

Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte

Legal name

Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte Emsland in Papenburg e.V.

Website

https://hoeb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte Emsland in Papenburg e.V. (HÖB) is a state-recognized German folk high school (Heimvolkshochschule) operating a 100+ bed lakeside campus offering political, professional, and health education to several thousand regional visitors annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDALACAC

Residential Education, Programming & Community Development

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Housing & Residential Life

SECONDARYTHAMAGAE

Academic Program Housing (Study Abroad, Language Schools, Field Schools)

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Student & Intern Short-Term Housing

SECONDARYEDAEAFAN

Guest, Visitor & Conference Housing Services (Summer/Break Housing)

Education/Education Facilities & Support Services/Dormitory, Housing & Residential Life Support Services

SECONDARYTHAMAFAH

Student & Academic Term Monthly Housing

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Extended-Stay & Monthly Short-Term Housing

SECONDARYTHAMAGAI

Student-Focused Co-Living (Flexible, Community-Led)

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Student & Intern Short-Term Housing

Keywords

• Adult education programs
• Environmental education
• Seminar venue rental
• Folk high school
• Conference accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Papenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Seminar and Education Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from seminar fees, professional development courses, and educational programs. Fees typically include accommodation in double rooms and meals. Single room supplements are available for an additional charge.
2. Conference and Meeting Facilities: Revenue from renting out meeting rooms and conference facilities to external groups, businesses, and organizations for seminars, workshops, and retreats.
3. Catering and Hospitality Services: Full board services including breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee, and dinner, with vegetarian, vegan, and allergen-free options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte Papenburg e.V. is a state-recognized Heimvolkshochschule (folk high school) of Lower Saxony that operates as a residential education, encounter, and counseling center. It delivers multi-day seminars and conferences across three program pillars — Political Education & Sustainability, Professional Development, and Health & Integration — and complements these with on-site accommodation for more than 100 guests, 17 seminar rooms, and in-house catering. A multi-generations house and a regional environmental education center extend the offering to local community and school audiences.

Product overview

The Historisch-Ökologische Bildungsstätte (HÖB) is an accredited folk high school (Heimvolkshochschule) in Papenburg, Germany, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational and hospitality services. The facility provides seminars and workshops across three main thematic areas: Political Education & Sustainability, Professional Development, and Health & Integration. The venue operates as a multi-purpose educational center with accommodation for over 100 guests, 17 seminar rooms, a multi-generational house, and a regional environmental education center. Additional services include full-board catering, conference facilities, and volunteer service programs (FSJ/FÖJ/BFD). The institution serves diverse target groups including children, youth, seniors, professionals, and people with disabilities through programs like the annual JuniorAkademie, health days, and customized corporate training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Adult Education Seminars (Political Education & Sustainability pillar)

Quantifiable outcome

• Several thousand visitors annually across diverse programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DIZ EmslandlagercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the project 'Pflege im Zeichen der Würde – Erinnern und Verantwortung heute' combining historical education with nursing ethics. Approximately 90 nursing students participate in seminars examining historical documents, letters, and testimonies related to Emsland camps.
• Pflegeakademie St. AnnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in nursing ethics education project examining historical medical care and nursing in the context of Nazi era, focusing on questions of human dignity and professional responsibility.
• ZEHN Niedersachsen (Zentrum für Ernährung und Hauswirtschaft Niedersachsen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Messwochen 2026 project to measure and reduce food waste in communal catering. HÖB participates in measuring food waste to develop reduction strategies.
• Klimaschutz- und Energieagentur NiedersachsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with HÖB for Train-the-Trainer-Schulung 'Klima Einmaleins für KiTa-Kinder' to train multipliers in climate protection education for children.
• Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for German educational centers, providing networking, resources, and program support. HÖB hosts events for this network.
• Landkreis Emsland (Gleichstellungsbeauftragte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with district equal opportunities officers for 'Werte.Stimme.Dialog' project strengthening democratic participation of women in rural municipalities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bildungsstätte Helmstedt (Schloss Helmstedt): A residential educational institution in Lower Saxony hosting political education and continuing education seminars with overnight stays, directly comparable in mission and structure to HÖB.
• Bildungswerk Niedersachsen (Heimvolkshochschule): Lower Saxony-based adult residential education provider offering seminars with full-board accommodation, directly comparable to HÖB in regional scope and Heimvolkshochschule positioning.
• Evangelische Akademie Loccum: A recognized state-level Heimvolkshochschule in Lower Saxony offering residential seminars on political, social, and ethical topics with overnight accommodation — directly comparable operating model and regional footprint to HÖB.
• Bildungszentrum HVHS Springe: A Lower Saxony Heimvolkshochschule providing residential continuing education with seminar rooms and accommodation, operating a similar multi-building campus model to HÖB.
• Heimvolkshochschule Seddiner See: A residential adult education center in Brandenburg offering multi-day seminars with on-site accommodation and full board, mirroring HÖB's core Heimvolkshochschule operating model.
• Niedersächsische Heimvolkshochschule Jugendhof Vlotho: A Lower Saxony-based residential education center offering seminars with accommodation, sharing HÖB's state-recognized Heimvolkshochschule status and youth/adult continuing education focus.
• Bildungsstätte Gutshaus Rothen: A northern German residential educational center hosting multi-day seminars with overnight accommodation, with similar political education and historical-civic programming to HÖB.

Regional players

• Akademie Waldschlösschen: A residential education and conference center in northern Germany offering multi-day political education seminars with accommodation — comparable operating model though focused on a different thematic niche.
• VHS (Volkshochschule) Papenburg: The local adult education provider in HÖB's home city, sharing the continuing-education mission but without the residential infrastructure and recognized Heimvolkshochschule status.

Broad incumbents

• Arbeitskreis deutscher Bildungsstätten e.V. The umbrella association of German residential educational institutions of which HÖB is a member; comparable as the network governing and certifying the operating model HÖB follows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoeb
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoeb_papenburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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