Friesland College

What Friesland College does

Firda (formerly Friesland College) is a Regional Training Centre (Regionale Opleidingscentrum, ROC) headquartered in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, delivering government-funded secondary vocational education (MBO) and adult education. The institution operates 19 physical campus locations across the Friesland region, serving more than 25,000 students through over 200 accredited MBO programs spanning Niveau 2 through Niveau 4 qualifications. Core programming covers youth education pathways (BOL — Beroepsopleidende Leerweg), adult education with flexible scheduling, and corporate services for employer-sponsored training and work placements. Notable offerings include military training programs in collaboration with the Korps Mariniers, construction and infrastructure programs, healthcare microcredentials, and Dutch language coaching for integration candidates.

The primary revenue stream is per-student government subsidy allocated to a publicly funded ROC. Adult and corporate training constitute a secondary stream, with disclosed unit pricing for adult courses ranging from €495 for individual Dutch language coaching to €860 for an elderly care microcredential. The institution is not a technology vendor; it uses a standard MijnFirda student portal for enrolled-student access and does not develop proprietary educational technology. Underlying delivery relies on accredited curricula aligned with Dutch MBO standards, classroom and workshop-based instruction, and Practoraat-led applied research across seven thematic centers covering areas such as Applied AI, Sustainable Action, Healthcare Innovation, Fisheries Innovation, Frisian and Multilingual Education, Lifelong Learning, and Meaningful Craftsmanship.

The go-to-market model is community-led: prospective students are acquired through secondary school career counselors (decanen/mentoren), dedicated Open Days at each physical location, and direct employer outreach for the corporate segment. Customer segments are structured as youth education (primary), adult education (secondary), and corporate/B2B (secondary). Recent strategic activity centers on a new campus build-out in the Sportstadgebied in Heerenveen in partnership with the municipality and local stakeholders, alongside governance refresh including the appointment of Alice Muller as Chair of the College van Bestuur.

Name

Friesland College

Legal name

Firda

Website

https://frieslandcollege.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Firda (formerly Friesland College) is a Dutch publicly funded Regional Training Centre operating 19 campuses across Friesland, delivering 200+ accredited MBO vocational programs to over 25,000 youth and adult students, with supplementary corporate training and applied research through seven Practoraten.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• MBO programs
• Adult education
• Corporate training
• Regional training centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeuwarden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (ROC funded education): As a publicly funded Regional Training Centre (ROC) in the Netherlands, Firda's primary revenue comes from government subsidies based on student enrollment numbers. Youth MBO education (BOL) is government-funded for eligible students. Adult education programs generate tuition revenue from individual participants or sponsoring employers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Firda (Friesland College) is a Dutch Regional Training Centre (ROC) that delivers accredited secondary vocational education (MBO) programs across 19 locations in the Friesland region. The institution offers over 200 youth programs at multiple qualification levels, adult education courses including microcredentials and language/integration training, and corporate training services for regional employers. It operates 19 physical campuses serving more than 25,000 students.

Product overview

Firda (Friesland College) is a Dutch MBO educational institution offering a unified portfolio of vocational education products and services. The core offering consists of MBO vocational programs for youth (200+ programs across multiple levels and disciplines) alongside adult education programs including microcredentials and corporate training services. Supporting the educational programs are Practoraten (applied research centers) focusing on innovation in sectors including AI, healthcare, sustainability, and fisheries. A student portal (MijnFirda) provides access to enrolled students. The institution operates across 19 locations serving 25,000+ students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBO Opleidingen (Jongerenonderwijs) Vocational secondary education programs for youth (MBO = Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs) offering over 200 programs across diverse fields including security, construction, healthcare, and technology. Programs are offered at multiple levels (Niveau 2, 3, 4) with varying durations and training types (BOL = theory-based learning). Targeted at young people aged 16-25 seeking vocational qualifications.
• Volwassenenonderwijs (Adult Education) Adult education and professional development programs adapted to adult learners' work and home situations. Includes microcredentials, language courses, integration programs (inburgering), and specialized vocational training for working professionals. Pricing per course ranges from €495 to €860.
• Bedrijven (Corporate Training Services) Corporate services including employee training and development, education subsidies consultation, internship/work placement opportunities for students, and custom training assignments for organizations. Targeted at companies seeking workforce development solutions.
• Practoraten (Applied Research Centers) Applied research units focused on industry-specific innovation including Betekenisvol Vakmanschap (Meaningful Craftsmanship), Duurzaam Denken Duurzaam Doen (Sustainable Thinking Sustainable Action), Leven Lang Ontwikkelen (Lifelong Learning), Frysk en Meertaligens (Frisian and Multilingualism), Toegepaste AI (Applied AI), Toegepaste Zorginnovatie (Applied Healthcare Innovation), and Visserij Innovatie en Ondernemerschap (Fisheries Innovation and Entrepreneurship).
• MijnFirda (Student Portal) Online student portal providing login access for enrolled students to manage their educational activities and access institutional resources.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Gemeente HeerenveencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Municipal government of Heerenveen collaborating with Firda on the development of a new MBO campus in the Sportstadgebied (sports stadium area). Partnership involves urban development and educational infrastructure planning.
• Sportstad HeerenveencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Sports facility operator collaborating on the development of a new Firda campus within the Sportstadgebied. Joint initiative combining sports infrastructure with educational facilities.
• sc HeerenveencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Professional football club partnering on the new Firda campus development in the Sportstadgebied. Represents unique integration of sports and educational facilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/firda
• Facebookfacebook.com/frieslandcollege
• Xx.com/frieslandcoll

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Friesland College