Ciosnl

What Ciosnl does

CIOSNL (Stichting CIOSNL, Centraal Instituut Opleiding Sportleiders Nederland) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation coordinating five CIOS vocational education institutions across the Netherlands. Its core function is delivering mbo-level (levels 1–4) programs in Sport en Bewegen at campuses in Arnhem (headquarters), Heerenveen-Leeuwarden, Haarlem Hoofddorp, Sittard-Venlo, and Zuidwest-Nederland (Roosendaal, Goes, Dordrecht), training the workforce for the Dutch sports sector — the country employs approximately 100,000 people in sport. The foundation is governance-federated rather than operating: each CIOS branch sits under a different host ROC (Rijnijssel, Nova College, Firda, and others), with CIOSNL operating as the national coordination, branding, and curriculum-consolidation layer. Teaching staff and operational employees across the network number approximately 400 based on the 2025 staff day gathering.

The product portfolio extends beyond traditional mbo diplomas into NOC*NSF-recognized certifications (Yoga Instructeur level 3, SBB keuzedelen recognized), a two-year Ad Sport associate degree in Topsport- en Talentcoach delivered with Fontys Hogeschool and Hogeschool van Amsterdam, and a national Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport platform coordinating practice-based research across 19 mbo-instellingen. Three fundamental trainer-coach modules (pedagogiek, didactiek, veelzijdig bewegen) co-developed with KNGU have certified over 700 professionals and are now adopted by KNSB and NSkiV. The revenue model is government-funded vocational education under Dutch mbo financing, supplemented by employer-embedded BBL work-based learning starting August 2024. No proprietary technology stack exists; the organization runs on standard web, social media, and event-driven community engagement. CIOSNL has no VC, PE, or public ownership; it is structured as a stichting with Ronald Klomp as voorzitter and concurrent directeur of CIOS Zuidwest-Nederland.

Name

Ciosnl

Legal name

Stichting CIOSNL

Website

https://cios.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIOSNL is a Dutch nonprofit foundation coordinating five CIOS vocational education institutions delivering mbo-level Sport en Bewegen programs across the Netherlands. It serves students, sports professionals, and employer partners, with a product portfolio spanning government-recognized diplomas, NOC*NSF certifications, and a national Practoraat research platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Sports Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Referee, Umpire & Coach Education/Certification Academies (MPAKAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Media, Entertainment & Sports (EDABALAS)

Keywords

• Vocational sports education
• Sports and movement training
• Mbo sports programs
• Trainer-coach development
• Sports sector professionalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnhem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 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. MBO Sport and Bewegen Education: CIOSNL provides vocational (mbo) education programs in sports and movement at five locations across the Netherlands, offering various levels and specializations in sports coaching, fitness, and movement instruction.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIOSNL delivers Dutch vocational (mbo) education programs in Sport and Movement at five locations across the Netherlands, covering levels 1 through 4, plus an hbo associate degree (Ad Sport) and NOC*NSF-recognized certifications such as Yoga Instructeur. The foundation also coordinates the national Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport research platform and develops professional training modules with sports federations such as KNGU.

Product overview

CIOSNL (Centraal Instituut Opleiding Sportleiders Nederland) is a collaborative foundation of five CIOS vocational education institutions in the Netherlands offering mbo-level programs in Sport and Movement. The core offering consists of CIOS Sport en Bewegen programs at levels 1-4 across five locations (Arnhem, Heerenveen-Leeuwarden, Haarlem Hoofddorp, Sittard-Venlo, Zuidwest-Nederland). The portfolio includes specialized programs such as the Ad Sport associate degree (hbo 5, in partnership with Fontys and HvA) for top-level trainer-coaches, and the NOC*NSF-recognized Yoga Instructeur certification. Additional offerings include the national Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport conducting practice-based research on safe sport environments, the Fundamentmodules (pedagogy, didactics, diverse movement) developed with KNGU, BBL work-based learning variants, and the SDMW 'Ik ben mijn missie' resilience workbook. Open days and the Human Capital Agenda initiative support student recruitment and sector professionalization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport: A national research platform within mbo-instellingen focused on practical research to create a socially safe sports environment, initiated by CIOSNL and Graafschap College with 19 participating institutions.

Products and services

• CIOS Sport en Bewegen MBO Opleidingen Vocational education programs (mbo levels 1-4) in Sport and Movement offered at five CIOS campuses across the Netherlands. Programs prepare students for careers as sports instructors, coaches, fitness professionals, and movement specialists.
• Ad Sport - Topsport- en Talentcoach Two-year part-time associate degree program (hbo 5) in partnership with Fontys Hogeschool and Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Trains students to become top-level trainer-coaches in topsport environments, managing coaching teams, developing athletes, and contributing to topsport policy. Format requires one day per week at the education location plus 20 hours per week at the learning workplace.
• Yoga Instructeur Opleiding NOC*NSF Level 3 recognized certification for Yoga Instruction, developed in partnership with Yoga Nederland and Aikido Bond Nederland. Recognized by SBB (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepspraktijk Bedrijfsleven) for diploma registration. Includes level 4 and advanced offerings under development.
• BBL Opleidingen Sport en Bewegen Work-based learning (beroepsbegeleidende leerweg) variants of mbo Sport en Bewegen programs where students work multiple days per week while attending school one day per week. First offered at CIOS Haarlem Hoofddorp to expand sector accessibility for working learners.
• Fundamentmodules (Pedagogiek, Didactiek, Veelzijdig Bewegen) Three foundational modules for trainer-coach professional development, co-developed with KNGU by combining KNGU sport-technical knowledge with CIOSNL's didactical and pedagogical expertise. Modules cover pedagogy, didactics, and diverse movement (veelzijdig bewegen). Over 700 trainer-coaches have completed these modules, with applicability extended to other sports organizations including KNSB and NSkiV.

Named customers4 records

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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• Ministerie van DefensiecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2025Collaboration within the 'Sport en Defensie maken weerbaar' (SDMW) movement. CIOSNL developed the workbook 'Ik ben mijn missie' about resilience and personal development for youth, officially presented to Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans. The movement challenges youth through rugby, log carrying, boxing, and new sports.
• KNGU (Koninklijke Nederlandse Gymnastiek Unie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2024CIOSNL and KNGU collaborate on training trainer-coaches by combining KNGU's sport-technical knowledge with CIOS's didactical and pedagogical expertise. They developed three fundamental modules: pedagogiek, didactiek, and veelzijdig bewegen. Over 700 trainer-coaches have successfully completed these modules. The modules are also available to other sports organizations including KNSB and NSkiV.
• MUD MASTERSsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2023Students and staff from CIOS Haarlem Hoofddorp and CIOS Zuidwest-Nederland participated and assisted during Mud Masters events (June 9-11), gaining experience as helpers while supporting thousands of participants with announcing, first aid, and obstacle motivation.
• Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport Partners (19 mbo-instellingen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2023A national practoraat (research platform) involving 19 mbo-instellingen plus Platform Ondernemende Sportaanbieders, initiated by Graafschap College and CIOSNL. Partners include MBO Utrecht, Landstede, ROC van Amsterdam, ROC Mondriaan, ROC Nijmegen, ROC Aventus, ROC Tilburg, Summa College Eindhoven, Horizon College, Alfa College Groningen, and others. The Practoraat conducts practice-based research on social safety in sports.
• HYROXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2023CIOSNL is the official partner of HYROX for continuity and quality in fitness event guidance. CIOS trains teachers as HYROX trainers and students serve as judges and athletes during HYROX events in Amsterdam, Maastricht, and Rotterdam. The collaboration provides meaningful learning experiences for students while guaranteeing professional guidance at HYROX events.
• Fontys Hogeschool and Hogeschool van AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2023Higher education partners for the new Ad Sport (associate degree) program with specialization in Topsport-en Talentcoach. These institutions offer the two-year part-time program starting September 2023, providing a pathway for CIOS graduates to advance to hbo level.
• NOC*NSFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sports federation collaborating with CIOSNL on multiple initiatives including the Human Capital Agenda Sport en Bewegen, Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport, and the new Yoga Instructeur qualification recognized by NOC*NSF.
• MDT MissiesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth program within the SDMW movement offering a three-day bivouac followed by 40 hours of societal involvement for personal growth.
• WINDESHEIM LECTORAT SPORTPEDAGOGIEKmajorTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partnership with the lectoraat Sportpedagogiek of Windesheim for research collaboration and plan development within the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport.
• UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE - LEERSTOEL SPORTS RISKS & SAFETYmajorTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partnership with the leerstoel Sports Risks & Safety of Universiteit Twente for research collaboration within the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport.
• YOGA NEDERLANDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Yoga Nederland and NOC*NSF to add the Yoga Instructeur qualification to CIOS curricula. The NOC*NSF level 3 qualification is included in the SBB keuzedelen register and was launched at CIOS Haarlem-Hoofddorp in September 2023.
• HUMAN CAPITAL AGENDA SPORT EN BEWEGENcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIOSNL participates in the Human Capital Agenda Sport en Bewegen strategic table representing all mbo-opleidingen sport en bewegen. The initiative addresses sector-wide professionalization, career perspectives, and coordination with adjacent sectors like education, childcare, and healthcare.
• NEDERLANDS VETERANENINSTITUUTsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Sport en Defensie maken weerbaar' movement contributing to youth resilience development programs.
• VERBINDION NIEUWEGEINsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Sport en Defensie maken weerbaar' movement contributing to youth programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Summa College Eindhoven: Regional Dutch MBO institution participating in the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport, delivering comparable sport vocational programs in the Eindhoven region.

Broad incumbents

• NOC*NSF: Dutch Olympic and sports federation collaborating with CIOSNL on the Human Capital Agenda Sport en Bewegen and Yoga Instructeur certification; comparable as a national umbrella sports-education and certification authority.
• KNGU (Koninklijke Nederlandse Gymnastiek Unie): Royal Dutch Gymnastics Union and core partner of CIOSNL on fundamentmodules for trainer-coaches; comparable as a Dutch sports-sector organization that also certifies and develops coaching professionals.

Direct peers

• ROC van Amsterdam: Large Dutch MBO institution participating in the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport and offering vocational sport and movement programs; comparable in scale and MBO educational delivery model.
• MBO Utrecht: Participating Dutch MBO institution in the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport network, comparable as a regional vocational education provider with overlapping sport and movement curriculum offerings.
• Nova College: Parent ROC of CIOS Haarlem Hoofddorp and broader Dutch MBO institution offering sport and movement vocational programs; directly comparable as a Dutch MBO sports-education peer.
• Fontys Hogeschool: Dutch hogeschool partnered with CIOSNL on the Ad Sport Topsport- en Talentcoach associate degree; comparable as a sports-education provider targeting CIOS graduates for further professionalization.
• Graafschap College: Dutch MBO institution and co-initiator of the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport alongside CIOSNL, delivering comparable vocational education including sport-related programs in the eastern Netherlands region.
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam: Amsterdam-based hogeschool co-delivering the Ad Sport associate degree with CIOSNL and Fontys; serves as a higher-tier educational pathway comparable to CIOSNL's hbo ambitions.
• ROC Mondriaan: Dutch MBO institution collaborating within the Practoraat Sociaal Veilige Sport, with overlapping sport and movement vocational programs; directly comparable in target student and funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ciosnl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciosnl
• Instagraminstagram.com/novacollegecios
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciosnl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Ciosnl