Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten

What Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten does

Aeres Hogeschool is a Dutch university of applied sciences (hbo) specializing in the green domain — agriculture, food, nature, environment, and education. The institution operates three campuses in the Netherlands: Dronten (headquarters, housing Aeres Farms), Almere, and Wageningen, delivering associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and master degrees in full-time, part-time, and dual formats. Its student-facing portfolio spans agrifood business, food innovation, animal and plant sciences, technology, nature management, and teacher-training programs (including the Pedagogisch Didactisch Getuigschrift for unqualified MBO teachers). The institution differentiates through practical, project-based education with industry input, small-scale teaching, and applied research via lectoraten research groups covering sustainable entrepreneurship, healthy living in green environments, lifelong learning in green transitions, and human-animal interactions.

The business model rests on multiple revenue streams. Statutory tuition (wettelijk collegegeld) is €2,601 for 2025-2026 and €2,694 for 2026-2027, applicable to most Dutch/EER students. Institutional tuition (instellingscollegegeld) of €10,462 (2025-2026) and €9,062 (2026-2027) applies to second-degree students and non-EER nationals. Supplementary streams include pre-master tuition (€1,301), per-credit enrollment at €175 per ECTS, the PDG professional certification at €9,100, in-company contract education, and government-funded applied research via NWO/Regieorgaan SIA and the Ministry of LVVN. Enrollment is processed through the national Studielink system, supplemented by an in-house advisory bureau and digital marketing across Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and Snapchat.

Aeres Hogeschool is governed by Stichting Aeres Groep, a non-profit educational foundation based in Ede, Netherlands. It maintains strategic research partnerships with Dutch Police, Dutch Defense, KNPV, and Utrecht University, alongside funding relationships with NWO/Regieorgaan SIA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The institution has no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed venture or equity funding, and operates as a mission-driven public-benefit entity. Recent strategic activity includes the 2024-2026 Duurzame Diensthond research project, the June 2026 launch of the Groen van Binnen podcast, the inauguration of a new lectoraat on lifelong learning in green transitions, and an April 2026 work visit by Dutch Premier Rob Jetten.

Name

Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten

Legal name

Stichting Aeres Groep

Website

https://aereshogeschool.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Aeres Hogeschool is a Dutch university of applied sciences operating three campuses (Dronten, Almere, Wageningen) under Stichting Aeres Groep, providing higher professional education and applied research in the green domain — agriculture, food, nature, and education — to students and working professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dronten

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Wettelijk Collegegeld): Annual tuition fees charged to students. For 2025-2026, wettelijk (statutory) collegegeld is €2,601 per year for full-time and part-time programs. For 2026-2027, this increases to €2,694.
2. Institutional Tuition Fees (Instellingscollegegeld): Higher tuition rates for second-degree students and non-EER nationals. For 2025-2026: €10,462; for 2026-2027: €9,062.
3. Per Credit Fees: For individual course enrollment, students pay €175 per study point (ECTS), including examination and one retake opportunity.
4. PDG Course Fees: The Pedagogisch Didactisch Getuigschrift (PDG) professional development course for unqualified MBO teachers costs €9,100.
5. Pre-Master Tuition: Pre-master programs charged at €1,301 for 2025-2026 and €1,347 for 2026-2027.
6. Research and Contract Education: Research projects funded by government bodies (NWO/Regieorgaan SIA) and contract education services for professionals and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aeres Hogeschool is a Dutch university of applied sciences that delivers higher professional education (associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and masters) in the green domain—agriculture, food, nature, environment, and education—across three campuses in Dronten, Almere, and Wageningen. It also offers part-time programs for working professionals, professional certification courses such as the PDG for unqualified MBO teachers, and conducts applied research through multiple lectoraten (research groups) funded by government bodies and industry partners.

Product overview

Aeres Hogeschool is a university of applied sciences specializing in the green domain, offering higher professional education across three locations (Almere, Dronten, and Wageningen). The institution provides a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs including Associate degrees and Bachelor degrees in business administration and agrifood, agricultural entrepreneurship, food innovation, technology, and teaching qualifications. Programs are delivered in full-time, part-time, and dual formats. The school also conducts applied research through lectoraten (research groups) focusing on topics such as sustainable entrepreneurship, healthy living in green environments, lifelong learning in green transitions, and human-animal interactions. Additional offerings include professional certification courses like the PDG for unqualified teachers and customized in-company training. The institution maintains practical facilities including Aeres Farms and produces educational content through its podcast 'Groen van Binnen.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate degree Bedrijfskunde & Agrifoodbusiness Two-year vocational bachelor program in business administration within the agrifood sector, covering topics such as production, marketing, export, and quality management. Targeted at prospective higher education students seeking a shorter green-business qualification.
• Bachelor Bedrijfskunde & Agrifoodbusiness Four-year full-time bachelor program focused on business administration and entrepreneurship within the agrifood chain, addressing challenges such as food security, sustainable production, and technological change. Targeted at prospective students aiming for agrifood business careers.
• Deeltijdopleidingen (Part-time Programs for Professionals) Part-time and dual study programs designed for working professionals, including Agribusiness Development (Master), Agrotechniek & Management (Associate degree), Bedrijfskunde & Agribusiness (Bachelor and Associate degree), and teaching programs. Targeted at employed professionals seeking to upskill or change careers without leaving work.
• Pedagogisch Didactisch Getuigschrift (PDG) Professional development course for unqualified MBO teachers to obtain a teaching certification, offered both individually in Wageningen and in-company at client locations. Costs €9,100 and runs 1-2 years. Targeted at in-service MBO teachers lacking formal teaching credentials.
• Docent en kennismanager Groen (Bachelor) Part-time bachelor program training students to become teachers in green vocational education, covering themes like animals, plants, agro, floristry, horses, and nature. Targeted at aspiring green-sector vocational teachers.
• Docent Dienstverlening en Producten (Bachelor) Part-time bachelor program training students to teach the D&P (Services and Products) vmbo profile, covering entrepreneurship, organizing, media, and design. Targeted at aspiring vmbo teachers in D&P.
• Docent Horeca Bakkerij en Recreatie (Bachelor) Part-time bachelor program for teaching the vocational profile of hospitality, bakery, and recreation, qualifying graduates for second-degree teaching credentials. Targeted at aspiring hospitality/bakery/recreation teachers.
• Lectoraat Leven Lang Ontwikkelen in Groene Transities (Research group) Research group focusing on lifelong learning in green transitions, examining what knowledge and skills green change-makers need and which transformative learning processes are most suitable. Targeted at green-sector education stakeholders.
• Duurzame Diensthond Research Project Applied research project on sustainable service dogs, investigating selection criteria, training optimization, causes of early retirement, and wellbeing of detection and surveillance dogs. Commissioned and co-financed by Dutch Police, Dutch Defense, KNPV, NWO/Regieorgaan SIA, and the Ministry of LVVN.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of Dutch citizens find service dog deployment for security valuable (from Aeres research)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Politie Nederland (Dutch Police)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Dutch Police collaborates with Aeres Hogeschool on the Duurzame Diensthond (Sustainable Service Dog) research project. The partnership examines selection criteria, training optimization, and wellbeing of service dogs used for detection and surveillance operations.
• Defensie (Dutch Defense)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Dutch Defense participates in the service dog research project, contributing to the study of selection, training, and sustainable deployment of detection and tracking dogs.
• KNPV (Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024KNPV, the Dutch Police Dog Association, partners with Aeres on service dog research and hosted the knowledge event 'Samen Sterk: De Diensthond van de Toekomst' in June 2026.
• Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHille Fieten, scientist from Utrecht University and associated with Expertisecentrum Genetica Gezelschapsdieren, delivered a keynote at the service dog knowledge event on breeding selection and the 'Cycle of improvement'.
• Roxie FolkersminorOthersIllustrator who created the informative animation 'Max: Een dag uit het leven van een maatje' about service dogs, commissioned by Aeres Hogeschool.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences: Dutch hogeschool with direct overlap in green/animal/agriculture education. Offers comparable bachelor and master programs in similar domains, competing for the same Dutch prospective students in agricultural, animal, and environmental fields.
• HAS University of Applied Sciences: Dutch hogeschool focused on agriculture, food, and environment with locations in 's-Hertogenbosch and Venlo. Directly competes for green-domain students and offers overlapping applied sciences programs in food, agribusiness, and horticulture.

Broad incumbents

• Avans University of Applied Sciences: Large Dutch hogeschool serving southern Netherlands. Comparable in size and hogeschool structure, though with a broader program mix and no green-sector specialization.
• Wageningen University & Research: Netherlands' premier agricultural and food science research university. Operates in the same green-domain space but at a more academic/research-oriented tier; serves as both a competitor for top students and a complementary articulation pathway for Aeres graduates.
• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: Large Dutch hogeschool with broad program portfolio across multiple campuses. Comparable in size and hogeschool structure but without Aeres' green/agriculture specialization.
• Inholland University of Applied Sciences: Multi-campus Dutch hogeschool with broad applied sciences offerings. Comparable institutional structure and student demographic, though with less green-domain specialization.
• Fontys University of Applied Sciences: Major Dutch hogeschool with broad applied sciences programs including teacher education. Comparable hogeschool structure and professional-teacher-training overlap, though without green-sector focus.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences: Major Dutch hogeschool with locations across eastern Netherlands including areas near Aeres' geography. Offers applied sciences programs with a different sectoral focus, comparable in institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aereshogeschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/AeresHogeschoolDronten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aereshogeschooldronten
• Instagraminstagram.com/aereshogeschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten