Diff
Diff B.V. is a Dutch private technical staffing firm headquartered in Rotterdam that operates the Werken in de Techniek platform, matching engineers and technicians with Dutch industrial employers across permanent placement, temporary staffing, and contract detachment services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Diff does
Diff B.V. is a privately held Dutch technical recruitment and staffing firm headquartered at Westblaak 175 in Rotterdam, operating the Werken in de Techniek platform to connect engineers, technicians, and other technical professionals with industrial employers across the Netherlands. The company runs a two-sided marketplace covering five core technical disciplines — mechanical engineering (Werktuigbouwkunde, 187 vacancies), electrical engineering (Elektrotechniek, 133), installation technology (Installatietechniek, 91), mechatronics (Mechatronica, 63), and metalworking (Metaalbewerking, 59) — alongside additional verticals such as automotive, climate technology, and construction & infrastructure, totaling 865+ live vacancies.
The business model spans three service lines: werving en selectie (permanent placement), technisch uitzendbureau (temporary staffing under VCU safety certification), and technische detachering (contract detachment/secondment). Revenue is generated via standard professional-services mechanics — placement fees on permanent hires and markups on temporary and detached billings. Customer concentration is distributed across 10 named featured employer partners spanning maritime services (Van Wamel), agriculture/horticulture (Plant Products, Prins Maasdijk), energy (Van Vulpen), sustainability/innovation (N+P), technology (DCI), manufacturing (Baktec), industrial valves (Mokveld Valves), logistics (Den Hartogh), and construction equipment (ELM Bouwmachines). The firm holds 51–100 employees and VCU, SNA, KVK, and G-account compliance documentation appropriate for Dutch temp staffing.
Diff's technology stack centers on the Werken in de Techniek web platform and a candidate-facing AI-assistent for job matching; no proprietary AI models, APIs, SDKs, or patents are publicly disclosed, indicating thin technical differentiation. The company claims two decades of operational experience despite a 2018 corporate registration date — a discrepancy that may reflect a rebrand or carried-over client base rather than greenfield launch — supported by 132+ Google reviews as a candidate-side reputation signal.
Diff firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Diff
- Legal name
- Diff B.V.
- Website
- https://diff-technische-vacatures.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Diff B.V. is a Dutch private technical staffing firm headquartered in Rotterdam that operates the Werken in de Techniek platform, matching engineers and technicians with Dutch industrial employers across permanent placement, temporary staffing, and contract detachment services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Diff industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Technical Staffing Services
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mechanical, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Staffing (BPACADAG), Skilled Trades & Industrial Direct Hire (BPACAFAG)
Keywords
Where Diff is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Diff business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Technical Recruitment Services: Revenue generated through staffing and recruitment services for technical professionals, including temporary staffing, permanent placement, and contracting arrangements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Diff product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Diff operates a Dutch technical recruitment and staffing business through the Werken in de Techniek platform, connecting technical professionals with employers across mechanical, electrical, metalworking, mechatronics, and installation technology disciplines. The firm sells three professional service lines to employers: werving en selectie (permanent recruitment), technisch uitzendbureau (temporary staffing), and technische detachering (technical contracting/secondment). At the time of the source it lists 865+ vacancies and partners with named Dutch industrial companies such as Van Wamel, Plant Products, Van Vulpen, N+P, DCI, Baktec, Mokveld Valves, Den Hartogh, ELM Bouwmachines, and Prins Maasdijk.
Product overview
Diff operates a platform for technical vacancies and staffing services in the Netherlands. With two decades of experience, they connect technical professionals with companies through multiple service offerings: the Werken in de Techniek platform (core job board with 865 vacancies), Werving en Selectie (direct recruitment), Technisch Uitzendbureau (temporary staffing), and Technische Detachering (detachment/secondment services). The company specializes in technical fields including mechanical engineering (187 vacancies), electrical engineering (133 vacancies), metalworking (59 vacancies), mechatronics (63 vacancies), and installation technology (91 vacancies).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Werken in de Techniek Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 865+ technical vacancies available across 12 disciplines
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Diff
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Diff technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Diff partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Van WamelcoreMaritime service company that recruits technical professionals through Diff's platform. Displayed as a featured employer partner on the Werken in de Techniek website.
- Plant ProductscoreCompany partner that sources technical talent through Diff for positions described as 'snel en betrouwbaar' (fast and reliable).
- Van VulpencoreEnergy sector employer partner described as 'de energieke verbinder van Nederland' (the energetic connector of the Netherlands).
- N+PcoreSustainability and innovation-focused company that recruits through Diff's technical staffing platform.
- DCIcoreTechnology company employer partner described as 'wij lopen voorop' (we lead the way).
- BaktecminorManufacturing employer partner focused on quality, described as 'Quality without compromise'.
- Mokveld ValvesminorIndustrial valve manufacturer emphasizing quality and innovation, recruiting technical professionals through Diff.
- Den HartoghminorLogistics company recruiting technical talent through Diff, described as 'Spreid je vleugels bij Den Hartogh' (Spread your wings at Den Hartogh).
- ELM BouwmachinesminorConstruction equipment company focused on personal growth opportunities for employees, recruiting through Diff.
- Prins MaasdijkminorAgricultural company offering growth opportunities, recruiting technical professionals through Diff.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Diff competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olympia: Dutch-founded staffing agency with broad temporary and permanent placement services including technical and industrial roles. Comparable as a domestic Dutch competitor targeting similar SMB and mid-market technical employers.
- ASA Talent: Dutch staffing and recruitment firm placing technical, industrial, and professional candidates on temporary and permanent bases. Comparable as a domestic Dutch competitor with a similar hybrid permanent/temp service model.
- Randstad: Dutch-founded global staffing leader operating Tempo-Team and a dedicated technical/engineering segment in the Netherlands. Directly comparable to Diff as a technical staffing platform, though at vastly greater scale and broader geographic scope.
- Brunel International: Dutch-headquartered specialist in technical, engineering, and professional staffing. Brunel's core business model of placing engineers and technical specialists on permanent, contract, and secondment bases is highly comparable to Diff's three service lines.
- Adecco Group (Tempo-Team Netherlands): Global staffing leader whose Tempo-Team brand operates a large general staffing and technical placement business in the Netherlands. Comparable as a competing channel for temporary and permanent technical placements.
Emerging players
- Covalen: Ireland-based specialist technical and engineering staffing provider with a niche focus on technical permanent and contract placements. Comparable as a smaller, technical-segment-focused staffing peer with a similar candidate-employer matching model.
Broad incumbents
- Robert Walters: UK-listed professional staffing firm with Netherlands operations focused on permanent and contract placement of engineering and technical professionals. Comparable on higher-skill technical permanent placements in the Dutch market.
- Michael Page: Global professional recruitment firm with a Netherlands office placing engineering, technical, and industrial professionals. Comparable on permanent placement of technical talent, with similar mid-market to enterprise client base.
- ManpowerGroup: Global staffing conglomerate with operations across the Netherlands offering temporary, permanent, and contract placements including technical and industrial roles. Overlaps with Diff's temporary and contract staffing offerings as part of a broader portfolio.
- Hays: UK-listed specialist in professional and technical recruitment with a strong Netherlands office. Comparable for permanent and contract placement of engineering and technical professionals, though Hays operates across more sectors than Diff.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Diff social profiles
Digital presenceDiff compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Diff financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Diff leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Diff funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Diff 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 Diff
What does Diff do?
Diff operates a Dutch technical recruitment and staffing business through the Werken in de Techniek platform, connecting technical professionals with employers across mechanical, electrical, metalworking, mechatronics, and installation technology disciplines. The firm sells three professional service lines to employers: werving en selectie (permanent recruitment), technisch uitzendbureau (temporary staffing), and technische detachering (technical contracting/secondment). At the time of the source it lists 865+ vacancies and partners with named Dutch industrial companies such as Van Wamel, Plant Products, Van Vulpen, N+P, DCI, Baktec, Mokveld Valves, Den Hartogh, ELM Bouwmachines, and Prins Maasdijk.
Is Diff a public or private company?
Diff is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Diff founded?
Diff was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Diff based?
Diff is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Diff make money?
One revenue line is on record: technical Recruitment Services.
Who are Diff's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olympia, ASA Talent, Randstad, Brunel International and Adecco Group (Tempo-Team Netherlands). Covalen is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Robert Walters, Michael Page, ManpowerGroup and Hays.
Does Diff have an API?
No public API is recorded for Diff.
What industry is Diff in?
Diff's product category is Technical Staffing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAFAC, Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare), with a secondary code of BPACADAG, Mechanical, Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Staffing. Its SIC code is 7361.