Lycens

What Lycens does

Lycens B.V. is a Dutch multidisciplinary advisory consultancy founded in 2008 by Ewald Hartman and headquartered in Oldenzaal, Netherlands, with additional offices in Zwolle and Groningen. The firm provides environmental, safety, and spatial planning consultancy services to real estate owners, housing corporations, project developers, construction companies, municipalities, and national government agencies across the Netherlands. Lycens operates through two main divisions — Veiligheid & Gezondheid (Safety & Health, covering fire safety and asbestos) and Herbestemming & Hergebruik (Repurposing & Reuse, covering soil, ecology, archaeology, explosive ordnance, spatial planning, and construction process).

Its core methodological differentiator is 'Proceskracht' (Process Power), a holistic service model that integrates its six+ disciplines into a unified project lifecycle (Vision → Analysis → Policy → Management) rather than selling isolated specialist studies. The firm's technology backbone is the proprietary 'GebouwAssistent' web application, which manages building safety data (fire safety, asbestos) for property managers. Lycens holds multiple regulatory certifications required for its work, including BRL SIKB 2000 (Protocols 2001/2002/2018), Asbestinventarisatie, CS-VROO, and KNA archaeology standards.

Lycens generates revenue through project-based fee-for-service consulting engagements with enterprise and government clients, supplemented by training courses (asbestos recognition, fire safety) delivered internally and via Obex. All engagements are quote-based and scope-specific. The firm sells exclusively through direct, relationship-based sales across the Netherlands, with no resellers, digital self-serve channels, or international presence. Notable clients include De Huismeesters, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE), Nationaal Coördinator Groningen (NCG), Van Wijnen, NTS-Group, SallandWonen, and municipalities including Groningen and Hengelo. The firm has grown organically from 8 founders to over 50 employees with no external funding, retaining earnings to fund acquisitions such as the 2021 tuck-in of a Hungarian company's Dutch archaeology division.

Name

Lycens

Legal name

Lycens B.V.

Website

https://lycens.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lycens is a Dutch multidisciplinary advisory consultancy founded in 2008 that helps real estate owners, housing corporations, developers, and municipalities with environmental, safety, and spatial planning compliance across construction, renovation, and demolition projects in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental & Safety Consulting

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)

Keywords

• Environmental consultancy services
• Asbestos inspection services
• Fire safety advisory
• Archaeological heritage services
• Spatial planning consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldenzaal

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consultancy Services: Lycens generates revenue through fee-for-service consulting engagements across its two main divisions: Veiligheid & Gezondheid (Safety & Health) and Herbestemming & Hergebruik (Repurposing & Reuse). Services are project-based and billed per engagement, including soil investigations, asbestos surveys, archaeological excavations, ecology studies, fire safety assessments, spatial planning, and explosive remnants investigations. The company serves housing corporations, project developers, construction firms, municipalities, and government agencies on a contract basis.
2. Training and Courses: Lycens offers training programs including asbestos recognition courses (sometimes delivered in interactive formats like escape rooms), fire safety courses (via Obex), and time management courses for employees. These are delivered both internally and externally and generate supplementary revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lycens is a Dutch multidisciplinary advisory consultancy providing environmental, safety, and spatial planning services for real estate and construction projects. The company operates through two divisions: Veiligheid & Gezondheid (Safety & Health, covering fire safety and asbestos) and Herbestemming & Hergebruik (Repurposing & Reuse, covering soil, ecology, archaeology, explosive ordnance, spatial planning, and construction process). All services are coordinated through the proprietary "Proceskracht" (Process Power) methodology that integrates disciplines into one end-to-end process for clients.

Product overview

Lycens is a Dutch advisory consultancy — not a software product company — organized around two main divisions: Veiligheid & Gezondheid (Safety & Health) and Herbestemming & Hergebruik (Repurposing & Reuse). Its core offering is Proceskracht, a process-driven consulting methodology that coordinates environmental and safety compliance services. Under Veiligheid & Gezondheid, it delivers Brandveiligheid (fire safety) and Asbest (asbestos) services, including asbestos training courses. Under Herbestemming & Hergebruik, it provides Bodem (soil/groundwater), Ecologie (ecology), Archeologie (archaeology), Ontplofbare Oorlogsresten (explosive ordnance reconnaissance), Ruimtelijke ordening (spatial planning), and Bouwproces (construction process) services. Supporting its advisory work, Lycens offers a proprietary web application called GebouwAssistent for managing building safety data. Recent additions include Chroom-6 Inventarisatie and expanded archeological team capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GebouwAssistent: A web application developed by Lycens for managing building safety aspects such as fire safety and asbestos in buildings.

Products and services

• Proceskracht (Process Power) Process-driven consulting methodology that coordinates Lycens' multidisciplinary environmental and safety compliance services into a unified workflow, supporting property managers through regulatory compliance under the Omgevingswet. For housing corporations, developers, construction firms, municipalities, and government agencies.
• Brandveiligheid (Fire Safety) Fire safety advisory services covering fire safety processes, policy plans, equivalence assessments, building plan reviews, requirements programs, fire scans, environmental permits, and evacuation plans. For housing corporations, property managers, healthcare institutions, and developers requiring compliance with Dutch fire safety regulations.
• Asbest (Asbestos Services) Asbestos inventory, resident communication, asbestos policy plans, asbestos management plans, project management, and asbestos training courses. BRL SIKB 2000 certified covering Protocol 2018 for asbestos in soil. For housing corporations, property owners, construction firms, and developers.
• Bodem (Soil and Groundwater) Soil and groundwater services including historical preliminary research, soil investigation, batch inspection, groundwater monitoring, environmental guidance, safety supervision (DLP), and hydrogeological research. BRL SIKB 2000 certified covering Protocols 2001 and 2002. For developers, construction firms, and government agencies.
• Ecologie (Ecology) Ecological services including flora and fauna quickscans, detailed species surveys, ecological work protocols, ecological guidance, Omgevingswet permit processes, species management plans, nitrogen deposition research, and N2000 preliminary assessments. For developers, municipalities, and project proponents.
• Archeologie (Archaeology) Archaeological heritage services covering advisory work, bureau research (protocol 4002), requirements programs (protocol 4001), borehole investigation (IVO-O, protocol 4003), trial trenching (IVO-P, protocol 4003), excavations (protocol 4004), archaeological guidance, specialist research, and monuments. Operating under KNA certification standards. For developers, construction firms, municipalities, and heritage bodies.
• Ontplofbare Oorlogsresten (Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance) Explosive ordnance reconnaissance services including orienting research, preliminary research, risk analysis, and detection using multiple methods (non-real-time depth/surface detection, real-time detection, passive detection, active detection, layered detection, identification, and temporary securing). CS-VROO certified. For developers, construction firms, and government agencies requiring clearance before excavation or construction.
• Ruimtelijke ordening (Spatial Planning) Spatial planning services including environmental scan of environmental and planning risks, principle requests, procedure preparation, omgevingsplan development, spatial justification for BOPA, process management, and permit management. For developers, municipalities, and government agencies operating under the Dutch Omgevingswet.
• Bouwproces (Construction Process) Construction process services covering strategic real estate policy, financial feasibility studies, project management, tendering, condition measurements/MJOPs, demolition specifications, supervision and delivery, raw materials inventory, moisture measurement, and CO2 measurement. For housing corporations, developers, and construction firms.
• GebouwAssistent (Building Assistant) Proprietary web application for managing building safety data including fire safety aspects, asbestos information, and inspection results. Property managers use it to register building safety conditions, generate inspection reports, perform self-assessments, receive automated recommendations, and plan follow-up actions. Version 2.0 released for existing customers.
• Asbest Cursussen (Asbestos Training Courses) Asbestos training courses delivered by Lycens, including asbestos recognition courses with interactive escape-room format. For housing corporations, construction firms, and other client staff requiring certified asbestos awareness.
• Cursus Bouwbesluit Brandveiligheid (Building Decree Fire Safety Course) Two-day training course on building decree fire safety requirements, covering legislative origins, environmental permits, building and installation technical requirements, and organizational requirements. Delivered by Lycens staff through Obex. For fire safety professionals and building compliance officers.
• Chroom-6 Inventarisatie (Chromium-6 Inventory) Chromium-6 inventory service assessing potential worker exposure to chromium-6 in materials such as primers, coatings, cement, wood preservatives, and leather treatments. Extension of asbestos inspections. For housing corporations, property owners, and construction firms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lycens conducted the archaeological excavation of 458 skeletons over 245 m² at Rottum, an internationally significant find that brought wide media attention and contributed to the cultural heritage of Groningen.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nationaal Coördinator Groningen (NCG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCG is responsible for the reinforcement of buildings in the Groningen earthquake area. Lycens collaborated with NCG on the Rottum wierde archaeological excavation project, providing archaeological field guidance and heritage expertise as part of NCG's pilot program 'Heft in Eigen Hand | Eigen Initiatief'. The partnership involved close coordination with Van Wijnen (construction) and the RCE.
• Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RCE (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands) was closely involved in the Rottum archaeological project alongside Lycens and NCG. The RCE provided expertise on archaeological monuments, issued permits, and developed protocols (paraplu-PvE's) for the reinforcement of buildings on archaeological monuments in the earthquake area.
• Van WijnencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan Wijnen is the construction company partnered with NCG and Lycens on the Rottum wierde reinforcement project. Van Wijnen handled the structural reinforcement and new construction of the farmhouse and barn, while Lycens provided archaeological field guidance. The project demonstrated effective multi-party collaboration in a complex heritage context.
• Plegt-VoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlegt-Vos served as the construction partner for De Huismeesters in the Groningen apartment redevelopment project. Lycens was responsible for the full BOPA planological procedure. The project was executed as a 'bouwteam' (construction team) arrangement, with De Huismeesters as the client.
• Maatschap CirkelencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLycens co-founded 'Maatschap Cirkelen' together with Kamphuis Sloopwerken (in Reutum) and Twee R Recycling (in Oldenzaal, owned by Anton Reef). The partnership focuses on circular demolition and construction, maximizing the reuse of building materials. Lycens contributes advisory expertise on environmental compliance within the circular building process.
• ObexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerObex is a renowned training provider in the field of fire safety and fire alarm systems. Lycens employee Mehmet Ercan delivers the 'Bouwbesluit brandveiligheid' (Construction Decree Fire Safety) course on behalf of Obex, extending Lycens' brand reach into the professional training market for fire safety.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TAUW Group: Dutch environmental consultancy focused on soil, water, air quality, and sustainability advisory. Directly comparable to Lycens on BRL SIKB 2000 fieldwork, soil and groundwater investigations, and environmental compliance services for real estate and infrastructure clients.
• Aveco de Bondt: Dutch engineering consultancy providing environmental, geotechnical, and infrastructure advisory. Directly comparable on BRL SIKB fieldwork, environmental due diligence, and built-environment services for Dutch clients.
• Witteveen+Bos: Dutch engineering consultancy with strong water, soil, and environmental advisory practices. Competes with Lycens on soil investigation, spatial planning, and Omgevingswet-related mandates for Dutch municipalities and developers.
• BK Groep: Dutch consultancy providing environmental, safety (including asbestos and fire safety), and building services. Closely comparable niche peer to Lycens on asbestos inventory, fire safety advisory, and integrated property compliance for Dutch housing corporations.
• Antea Group: Dutch engineering and environmental consultancy providing soil, water, spatial planning, and safety services. Competes with Lycens on environmental due diligence, permitting, and integrated project advisory for Dutch real estate and infrastructure.
• MUG Ingenieursbureau: Dutch multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy offering environmental, geotechnical, and infrastructure services. Comparable mid-sized competitor for soil investigation, environmental compliance, and infrastructure-related advisory work in the Netherlands.
• IDDS: Dutch environmental and safety consultancy with comparable service lines including asbestos, fire safety, and built-environment advisory. Direct competitor to Lycens for mid-sized Dutch housing corporation and developer mandates.
• Royal Haskoning: Large Dutch engineering consultancy offering environmental, spatial-planning, and built-environment advisory services across the Netherlands and globally. Commercial director Marc ter Laak worked at Royal Haskoning before joining Lycens, and it competes directly for BOPA, soil, and environmental compliance mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Global design and consultancy firm with a large Dutch environmental and built-environment practice. Overlaps with Lycens on environmental impact assessment, spatial planning, and built-environment advisory, but at much larger scale and project scope.
• Sweco: European engineering consultancy with a substantial Netherlands practice covering water, environment, and urban development. Competes with Lycens on environmental and spatial-planning mandates, particularly for municipalities and developers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lycens
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lycens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lycensbv

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Lycens