Travel Active
Travel Active is a Dutch direct-to-consumer operator of cultural exchange programs — High School, Au Pair, Language Travel, and Volunteer Work — placing participants in 30+ countries and serving primarily individuals aged 16-50+ seeking study, work, and travel experiences abroad.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Travel Active does
Travel Active (legally Travel Active Programmes BV) is a privately held Dutch cultural-exchange operator headquartered in Amsterdam, founded in 1989/1990. The company organizes study, work, and travel-abroad experiences for individual consumers — primarily aged 16 to 50+ — across four core program lines: High School exchanges (e.g., €13,750 for 5-10 months in the US), Au Pair placements (from €495), Taalreizen/Language Travel (6 languages across 60+ destinations), and Vrijwilligerswerk/Volunteer Work (30+ countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America). It also operates two sub-brands — High School Holland and Au Pair Holland — that handle the inbound direction (hosting international students in Dutch host families, with 120+ students placed annually via High School Holland).
The business is built on a direct-to-consumer distribution model with no disclosed intermediary or reseller channels. Acquisition is driven by a multi-channel mix including SEO-optimized blog content, organic social (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), paid Google search, free magazine distribution (digital and postal), and high-touch info days plus personal online consultations. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time program fees (with a 30% deposit at booking), supplemented by an optional cancellation-guarantee product (5% of total cost plus €5.50) and an affiliate-referral relationship with Tasman Verzekeringen for specialized travel and study-abroad insurance. The technology stack is light: no proprietary platform, mobile app, API, or disclosed AI capabilities — the value proposition rests on personalized matching, vetted local partner organizations in 30+ countries, visa and insurance assistance, and 24/7 emergency support.
Travel Active firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Travel Active
- Legal name
- Travel Active Programmes BV
- Website
- https://travelactive.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Travel Active is a Dutch direct-to-consumer operator of cultural exchange programs — High School, Au Pair, Language Travel, and Volunteer Work — placing participants in 30+ countries and serving primarily individuals aged 16-50+ seeking study, work, and travel experiences abroad.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Travel Active industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Exchange Programs
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (56152)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs (THAKAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips (EDAIAHAD), Secondary School Exchange Programs (Academic Year/Semester) (EDAIAHAB), Paid Placement & Au Pair/Working Holiday Placement Programs (EDAIAFAD), In-Country Placement, Homestay & On-Ground Coordination Services (EDAIAGAM)
Keywords
Where Travel Active is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Travel Active business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Program Fees: One-time fees for participation in exchange programs including High School, Au Pair, Language Travel, and Volunteer Work programs. Fees vary by program type, destination, and duration.
- Cancellation Guarantee: Optional 5% of total program cost plus €5.50 administration fee for cancellation protection.
- Travel Insurance: Partnership with Tasman Verzekeringen for specialized travel and study abroad insurance packages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | High School in America - 5 to 10 months |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Au Pair in Australia - Plus package from 6 months |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Save Our Wildlife Project Namibia - Wildlife volunteer work |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Cancellation Guarantee |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Deposit requirement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Travel Active product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Travel Active organizes and facilitates cultural exchange programs for individuals, including High School exchange placements, Au Pair live-in positions with host families, immersive Language Travel courses in 6 languages across 60+ destinations, and Volunteer Work projects in 30+ countries. Programs are sold directly to consumers with a full-service approach that includes program matching, visa assistance, insurance facilitation, host family coordination, and 24/7 emergency support. The company also operates two sub-brands—High School Holland and Au Pair Holland—focused on inbound placements in the Netherlands.
Product overview
Travel Active operates as a travel and cultural exchange organization offering multiple interconnected educational travel programs. The core portfolio includes High School exchange programs, Au Pair placements, Taalreizen (language travel with 6 languages across 60+ destinations), and Vrijwilligerswerk (volunteer work in 30+ countries). Supporting services include gap year programs, career breaks, and information days. The company also maintains two sub-brands: High School Holland (hosting foreign students in the Netherlands) and Au Pair Holland (Dutch au pair placement), all supported by an online appointment booking system. With 35+ years of experience in cultural exchanges, the organization focuses on personalized guidance and reliable partner organizations worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- High School Holland: A sub-brand focused on hosting foreign high school students with Dutch host families, bringing international exchange students to the Netherlands. Annually welcomes over 120 enthusiastic students.
- Au Pair Holland
Products and services
- High School (High School Exchange Program) High school exchange program allowing students (typically aged 16-18) to study abroad at a foreign high school while living with a host family, available in destinations including USA, Canada, and several European countries. Includes placement, host family, school matching, and visa assistance.
- Au Pair Program Au pair program enabling participants to live with a local host family, care for children, and receive pocket money while traveling, working, and living abroad in countries like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Includes host family matching and program support.
- Taalreizen (Language Travel) Language travel programs offering courses in 6 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, and Japanese) across more than 60 destinations worldwide, with courses starting from age 16 with no maximum age limit.
- Vrijwilligerswerk (Volunteer Work Abroad) Volunteer work programs in over 30 countries across 3 continents (Africa, Asia, Latin America), offering opportunities ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months, including placements in education, wildlife conservation, medical, construction, and community development.
- Tussenjaar (Gap Year Program) Gap year programs combining study, volunteer work, and travel experiences for personal development and cultural exchange, designed for individuals seeking a structured year abroad.
- Career Break Program Career break programs allowing professionals to take time off for meaningful travel and cultural exchange experiences abroad.
- Infodagen (Information Days and Online Appointments) Information days and online appointments where prospective participants can learn about all program options, hear stories from former participants, and receive personalized advice from Travel Active teams.
- High School Holland (Sub-brand) Sub-brand program hosting foreign high school students with Dutch host families, with over 120 students annually welcomed to the Netherlands, featuring local coordinators and school matching services.
- Au Pair Holland (Sub-brand) Sub-brand matching au pairs with Dutch host families in the Netherlands, providing professional, personalized placement services.
Companies that use Travel Active
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Travel Active technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Travel Active partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Volunteer Correct (Stichting Volunteer Correct)coreFounded in 2017 by Niko and Reinier of Volunteer Correct to establish quality guidelines for responsible volunteering in collaboration with Better Care Network Netherlands. Travel Active is one of the founding organizations and their programs are fully compliant with these guidelines, recognized as responsible volunteering providers.
- Better Care Network NetherlandscoreCollaborated with Volunteer Correct and Travel Active to develop quality guidelines for sustainable and responsible volunteering practices, particularly for work with children and vulnerable groups.
- Tasman VerzekeringenminorSpecialized insurance provider offering travel and study abroad insurance packages specifically designed for program participants. Regular travel insurance often lacks coverage for exchange programs.
- Travel DoctorminorVaccination consultation partner providing advice on required and recommended vaccinations for travel to various destinations.
- Local Partner OrganizationscoreVetted local partner organizations in each destination country that provide on-site support, project placements, accommodation arrangements, and emergency assistance for participants.
- IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst)minorDutch Immigration and Naturalization Service providing visa services for international students coming to the Netherlands through High School Holland program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Travel Active competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lattitude Global Volunteering: UK-based charity placing young volunteers in teaching and community projects abroad. Comparable to Travel Active's volunteer work vertical in target demographic (16-25), program structure, and educational positioning.
- InterExchange: US-based nonprofit offering work, travel, au pair, and cultural exchange programs. Overlaps directly with Travel Active's au pair and work abroad offerings, with similar participant profiles and on-ground support model.
- CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): US-based nonprofit operating study abroad, high school exchange, and gap year programs globally. Closely comparable to Travel Active's High School and cultural exchange programs, with similar consulting-led GTM and destination breadth.
- Projects Abroad: International volunteer abroad organization offering placements in 30+ countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Directly comparable to Travel Active's volunteer work vertical with similar placement model and durations.
- AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study): Cultural exchange and educational travel provider offering high school abroad, au pair, and study abroad programs across multiple continents. Direct competitor in the high school and au pair verticals with overlapping target customers.
- Cultural Care Au Pair: US Department of State-designated au pair agency operating in the US and Europe. Directly comparable to Travel Active's Au Pair program, though primarily serves inbound placements to the US rather than Dutch outbound placements.
- Nacel Educational Travel: International educational travel organization offering high school exchange, language, and student programs across multiple countries. Closely comparable to Travel Active's high school and language travel programs with similar European roots.
Emerging players
- GoOverseas: Online marketplace and review platform for study, work, volunteer, and language travel programs. Functions as a discovery and comparison channel that competes with Travel Active's content marketing for SEO and customer acquisition.
- Worldpackers: Online marketplace connecting travelers with volunteer and work-exchange opportunities globally. Digital-first competitor to Travel Active's volunteer work vertical, with lower friction but less human curation.
Broad incumbents
- EF Education First: Global education company offering language travel, study abroad, and cultural exchange programs across dozens of countries. Directly comparable to Travel Active's language travel vertical, but operates at vastly larger scale with proprietary schools and a broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Travel Active social profiles
Digital presenceTravel Active financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Travel Active leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Travel Active subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Travel Active funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Travel Active M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Travel Active
What does Travel Active do?
Travel Active organizes and facilitates cultural exchange programs for individuals, including High School exchange placements, Au Pair live-in positions with host families, immersive Language Travel courses in 6 languages across 60+ destinations, and Volunteer Work projects in 30+ countries. Programs are sold directly to consumers with a full-service approach that includes program matching, visa assistance, insurance facilitation, host family coordination, and 24/7 emergency support. The company also operates two sub-brands—High School Holland and Au Pair Holland—focused on inbound placements in the Netherlands.
Is Travel Active a public or private company?
Travel Active is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Travel Active founded?
Travel Active was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Travel Active based?
Travel Active is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Travel Active make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are cancellation Guarantee and travel Insurance.
Who are Travel Active's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lattitude Global Volunteering, InterExchange, CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), Projects Abroad, AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study), Cultural Care Au Pair and Nacel Educational Travel. Emerging players are GoOverseas and Worldpackers. EF Education First is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Travel Active have an API?
No public API is recorded for Travel Active.
What industry is Travel Active in?
Travel Active's product category is Cultural Exchange Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAGAE, Language Immersion & Cultural Exchange Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIAHAD, Short-Term Secondary Immersion & Cultural Exchange Trips. Its NAICS code is 561520.