AH Vrij

What AH Vrij does

AH Vrij Groen, Grond en Infra B.V. is a privately held Dutch civil engineering and landscaping firm headquartered at Stoelmatter 41, 2292 JM Wateringen, Netherlands, founded approximately 68 years ago (1956). The company operates three integrated divisions — Groen (green/landscaping), Grond (ground/soil), and Infra (infrastructure) — providing sport field construction and maintenance, green space installation and care, tree planting and arboriculture, soil trading, earthmoving, BRL 7000-certified soil remediation, vacuum excavation, railway works, site preparation, event terrain construction, winter/ice services, paving, and direct-to-consumer bulk material supply. Its primary customers are Dutch municipalities and government agencies (Gemeente Den Haag, Delft, Westland, Rijswijk, Staatsbosbeheer, ProRail, HTM Personenvervoer), professional and amateur sports clubs (ADO Den Haag, Sparta Rotterdam, Vitesse Delft, and approximately 100 amateur clubs in the region), event organisers (Cirque du Soleil, Johan Cruijff Arena, De Kuip), and private developers, concentrated in Zuid-Holland with selected exposure to Amsterdam and Haarlem through the GOO4it consortium.

The technology base combines owned industrial assets with selective proprietary methods. Fleet includes a Benelux-unique rail-bound suction truck, GPS-guided Liebherr excavators with semi-automatic and automatic digging modes, a fully computer-controlled concrete batching plant with continuous mixing, and an expanding electric and low-emission line (Liebherr R922 electric excavator, Volvo L90H wheel loader, electric cranes, electric tractor, electric knijperwagen, Mercedes eActros 600). AH Vrij deploys the proprietary E-Grass® stabilisation layer for event terrain, brought-to-NL Henfrees halfverhardingsfrees combined with NoDust binder, Leica Geosystems GPS control, and underground modular water-management systems (Trewatin buffer cellar, Permavoid sub-field crates, DutchBlue World BlueLay, Rainup moisture sensors) for climate-adaptive sports fields. The firm holds 16+ certifications — ISO 9001, ISO 14001, VCA**, CO2 Prestatieladder Level 5, BRL 7000, BRL 9335, BRL 9348, RAG, Groenkeur BRL Groenvoorziening and BRL Boomverzorging, ISA sport floors, NIWO, SCL Trede 3 — and is recognised by SBB as an erkend leerbedrijf for 15 vocational programmes.

Revenue is generated through three streams: project-based construction and maintenance services (primary), won predominantly via Dutch public tenders and long-term municipal contracts (e.g., 20+ year soil supply with Gemeente Den Haag, 15-year ADO Den Haag grass maintenance); recurring grounds maintenance contracts with municipalities and amateur sports clubs; and direct-to-consumer e-commerce for bulk materials (Biggelspecie €129.90–€166.65/m³, Sand-cement €108.64–€155.90/m³, sand, soil, compost) via webshop.ahvrij.nl with delivery within two working days across the greater Den Haag region. Pricing on materials is publicly disclosed; project work is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

AH Vrij

Legal name

AH Vrij Groen, Grond en Infra B.V.

Website

https://ahvrij.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AH Vrij is a privately held Dutch civil engineering and landscaping firm providing green, ground, and infrastructure services to municipalities, government agencies, sports clubs, and event organisers across Zuid-Holland with 68 years of operating history.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering and Construction Services

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape, Turf & Groundskeeping Trades (EDAOAOAC)

Keywords

• Civil engineering services
• Soil remediation services
• Sports field construction
• Grounds maintenance services
• Bulk construction materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Wateringen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based construction and maintenance services: AH Vrij's primary revenue stream is project-based work for municipal and government clients, obtained through public tenders, and for sports clubs and event organisers. Projects span green (sport field renovation, tree planting), ground (soil remediation, earthworks), and infra (railway, road building). Long-term maintenance contracts (e.g., 15-year maintenance on ADO Den Haag field, 20-year soil supply contract with Gemeente Den Haag) provide recurring project revenue.
2. Bulk materials e-commerce (webshop): Sale of construction materials directly to consumers and contractors via webshop.ahvrij.nl, including sand, concrete products (biggelspecie, sand-cement, stamp concrete), and soil/compost. Products are delivered by AH Vrij's own fleet, with free unloading by truck-mounted crane. Delivery within 2 working days in the greater Den Haag region.
3. Long-term grounds maintenance contracts: AH Vrij holds long-term maintenance contracts with municipalities (e.g., Gemeente Delft, Gemeente Westland) and sports clubs (e.g., circa 100 amateur clubs) for ongoing grounds maintenance, including mowing, irrigation, and seasonal preparation. These provide recurring service revenue under annual or multi-year agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AH Vrij is a Dutch civil engineering and construction company operating across three divisions - Groen (green/horticulture), Grond (soil/ground), and Infra (infrastructure). It provides project-based construction, maintenance, and remediation services for municipalities, government agencies, professional and amateur sports clubs, and private developers. Services include sports field construction and maintenance, soil supply and earthworks, BRL 7000-certified soil remediation, vacuum excavation (including a Benelux-unique rail-bound suction truck), railway maintenance, site preparation, event terrain construction, and winter road services. It also sells bulk materials (sand, soil, compost, aardvochtig beton) directly via an e-commerce webshop.

Product overview

AH Vrij is a construction and civil engineering company operating across three divisions — Groen (green/horticulture), Grond (soil/ground), and Infra (infrastructure) — offering both services and physical products. The service portfolio includes green area installation and maintenance, sports field construction (natural and artificial turf), tree care, soil trading, earthmoving, soil remediation (BRL 7000-certified), vacuum excavation, railway works, site preparation, event terrain construction, ice control, and paving. The product side includes direct-to-consumer sales via a webshop of sand, soil, compost, and moist earth concrete (aardvochtig beton) with various strength grades, as well as RAG-certified soil substrates. The three divisions are interconnected; for example, sports field projects combine green services (turf installation), ground services (soil mixtures, remediation), and infra services (drainage, paving). The company also maintains a CO2 Performance Ladder Level 5 certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Groenaanleg (Green Area Installation) Installation service for gardens, parks, green spaces, and sports fields, including tree planting. Designed for municipalities, sports clubs, and developers in Zuid-Holland.
• Groenonderhoud (Green Area Maintenance) Ongoing maintenance service for green areas, sports fields, and planted landscapes. Includes mowing, irrigation, and seasonal preparation under annual or multi-year contracts.
• Sportvelden (Sports Field Construction) Construction and maintenance service for sports fields, including natural grass and artificial turf systems. Targets professional and amateur sports clubs across Zuid-Holland.
• Bomen (Tree Care) Tree planting, pruning, and arboricultural services certified under Groenkeur BRL Boomverzorging.
• Groenrecycling (Green Waste Recycling) Processing and recycling service for green waste materials.
• Cultuurtechniek (Landscape Engineering) Landscape engineering and civil works for green environments.
• Grondhandel (Soil Trading) Trading and supply of various soil types and ground materials from the company's own soil depot in Wateringen. BRL 9335 and RAG certified.
• Grondverzet (Earthmoving) Earthmoving and soil displacement services using AH Vrij's own GPS-guided fleet.
• Bodemsanering (Soil Remediation) BRL 7000-certified soil remediation and decontamination service for contaminated sites, compliant with Wet milieubeheer, Wet bodembescherming, Waterwet, and Besluit Uniforme Saneringen.
• Grondzuigtechniek (Vacuum Excavation) Vacuum excavation service using suction trucks for damage-free digging near cables, pipes, and tree roots. Includes a Benelux-unique rail-bound suction truck for railway applications.
• Spoorwerkzaamheden (Railway Works) Railway infrastructure construction and maintenance services including track maintenance, ballast recycling, and railway-side greenery.
• Woon-/Bouwrijp maken (Site Preparation) Site preparation and development services including ground preparation, soil improvement, drainage, and road construction for property developers.
• Evenemententerreinen (Event Terrain) Construction and maintenance of event terrain using E-Grass stabilised surfaces that remain dry, firm, and green under heavy vehicle loads.
• Gladheidsbestrijding (Winter/Ice Control) Winter road safety services including pre-emptive and reactive salting, snow removal, and brine water supply for tram tracks, using AH Vrij's own fleet of seven ice removal vehicles.
• Verhardingen (Paving and Surface Installation) Paving and surface installation service including element paving, semi-hard surfaces, asphalt, and concrete slabs. Uses the Henfrees machine for milling, mixing, profiling, and compacting in a single pass.
• Zand en Grond Webshop (Bulk Materials) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce webshop selling sand, soil, and compost products for home delivery in the greater Den Haag region, with delivery within 2 working days and free unloading by truck crane.
• Aardvochtig beton (Moist Concrete Products) BSB-certified moist earth-moist concrete products (Biggelspecie, Zand-cement, Stelspecie, Stampbeton) in various strength grades (100-300 kg cement per m3), produced in AH Vrij's computer-controlled concrete batching plant and delivered under BRL-9348.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero net new material used for Cirque du Soleil Malieveld foundation — existing grauwacke layer reused, eliminating transport emissions and 30 cm new crushed rubble
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• Gebr. Van Kessel (in consortium GOO4it)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2025AH Vrij participates in the GOO4it consortium alongside Van Kessel, PLANN ingenieurs, DOMO, and TU Delft (The Green Village). The consortium is developing the Urban Greenflow System for the Scale Up Toekomstbestendige Kunstgrasvelden programme, commissioned by Gemeente Amsterdam and Gemeente Haarlem. The system captures rainwater in underground buffers for field cooling and peak-buffering.
• PLANN ingenieurs (in consortium GOO4it)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2025PLANN ingenieurs is the engineering partner in the GOO4it consortium with AH Vrij, Van Kessel, DOMO, and TU Delft for the Scale Up Toekomstbestendige Kunstgrasvelden programme, designing the Urban Greenflow System's hydraulic and engineering components.
• The Green Village (in consortium GOO4it)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2025The Green Village (TU Delft ecosystem) is a partner in the GOO4it consortium, contributing research and innovation expertise to the Urban Greenflow System for climate-adaptive artificial turf fields.
• Gemeente Amsterdam and Gemeente HaarlemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2025The municipalities of Amsterdam and Haarlem jointly commissioned the Scale Up Toekomstbestendige Kunstgrasvelden programme, giving three consortia — including GOO4it (with AH Vrij) — the opportunity to develop a new generation of artificial turf fields contributing to climate adaptation, circularity, and local energy generation. The first pilot fields are planned for 2026.
• StaatsbosbeheercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaatsbosbeheer (Dutch State Forestry Commission) is AH Vrij's most significant long-term partner. AH Vrij has maintained the Malieveld grass field for years under a direct contract, and has executed multiple nature restoration projects including Ecologische Verbindingszone Zuidrand (2022), Duinherstel Dichte Del (Berkheide, Wassenaar), and recurring nature restoration assignments across Zuid-Holland. AH Vrij was chosen as the partner that thoroughly knows the site and knows how to handle its dynamic nature, including large demonstrations at Malieveld.
• Domo Sport GrasscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomo Sport Grass is a recurring project partner for artificial turf field installations. AH Vrij collaborated with Domo Sport Grass on Sportpark Tanthof renovation (Gemeente Delft), KRSV Vredenburch football field conversion (Gemeente Rijswijk), and other sports field projects. AH Vrij handles ground preparation, remediation, drainage, and base construction while Domo supplies and installs the artificial turf mat.
• HB AdviesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHB Advies designed the innovative water management system for the Innovatief sportpark in Moerwijk Noord (s.c.s.v. De Ster and HC Den Haag). The system integrates Trewatin buffer cellar and Permavoid sub-field water storage, enabling climate-adaptive water management, irrigation reuse, and field cooling.
• TrewatinmajorTechnology or IntegrationTrewatin supplied the buffer cellar for the Innovatief sportpark in Moerwijk Noord. The underground buffer stores rainwater for irrigation reuse and contributes to field cooling, reducing the urban heat island effect.
• PermavoidmajorTechnology or IntegrationPermavoid supplied the sub-field modular crate system used under the artificial turf at Innovatief sportpark Moerwijk Noord. The system captures and stores rainwater, releasing it via capillary action to the BlueLay shockpad for field cooling.
• B.A.S. Begeleiding en Advies SportterreinencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerB.A.S. Begeleiding en Advies Sportterreinen provides supervision and advisory services for sports field projects. AH Vrij works with B.A.S. on Sportpark Tanthof renovation (Gemeente Delft) and KRSV Vredenburch football field conversion (Gemeente Rijswijk).
• Krinkels BVmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAH Vrij and Krinkels BV jointly operate an integrated outdoor space maintenance contract for the municipality of Delft (AH Vrij handles perceel zuid, Krinkels handles perceel noord). The companies share a dependance on Lagosweg in Delft, with charging infrastructure and materials storage. Together they bring more than 100 years of combined experience. AH Vrij also partners with Krinkels on Kleurkeur ecological mowing in Delft.
• HTM Personenvervoer NVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTM (Haagsche Tramweg Maatschappij) is a long-term client for railway maintenance and winter services. AH Vrij provides ice prevention at tram stops and bus halts, supplies 10,000 litres of brine water per fill for HTM's de-icing trams, and has cleaned HTM depots. AH Vrij's rail-bound suction truck is deployed on HTM rail tracks.
• BAM Infra NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAM Infra Nederland collaborated with AH Vrij on resurfacing and asphalting AH Vrij's own depot yard in Wateringen. AH Vrij performed all preparatory work; BAM Infra applied the asphalt layer.
• Argos Project ManagementminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArgos Project Management and AH Vrij have a longstanding collaborative relationship delivering multiple outdoor space development projects. Argos handles project management while AH Vrij executes ground works and site preparation. Collaboration includes the Pathé Den Haag/Ypenburg cinema development and other projects.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Gebr. Van Kessel: Van Kessel is a Dutch infra and civil contractor that is the GOO4it consortium partner with AH Vrij for the Scale Up Toekomstbestendige Kunstgrasvelden programme. Comparable in scope across cable/pipe work, earthworks, and Dutch infrastructure maintenance, making it a directly comparable mid-market Dutch green/infra player.
• Krinkels BV: Krinkels BV is the most directly comparable Dutch green/ground/infra contractor and is explicitly partnered with AH Vrij on the Gemeente Delft integrated maintenance contract (AH Vrij handles perceel zuid, Krinkels handles perceel noord) and shares the Lagosweg dependance. Both firms operate across green, ground, and infra for Dutch municipalities with overlapping certifications and customer base.
• Domo Sport Grass: Domo Sport Grass is a recurring project partner of AH Vrij on artificial-turf sports field installations (Sportpark Tanthof, KRSV Vredenburch). Although more specialised (turf mat supply/installation vs AH Vrij's ground/remediation), the two firms are jointly delivered on the same sports-field projects and serve the same Dutch municipal and club customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Dura Vermeer: Dura Vermeer is a Dutch construction and infrastructure group operating across civil, residential, and commercial build. As a broad incumbent, it competes for many of the same Dutch municipal tenders where AH Vrij bids, particularly on larger integrated packages combining infra and site preparation.
• Heijmans: Heijmans is a large Dutch listed construction group with infrastructure, civil engineering, and spatial-development activities overlapping AH Vrij's portfolio. While much larger and broader, Heijmans competes for many of the same municipal tenders and could enter AH Vrij's niche as sustainability scoring on tenders increases.
• VolkerWessels: VolkerWessels is one of the largest Dutch construction groups with infrastructure, civil engineering, and energy divisions. As a broad incumbent, it competes with AH Vrij on Dutch municipal and ProRail-related tenders, with significantly greater scale and capital.
• Koninklijke BAM Groep: BAM Infra Nederland is explicitly a project partner of AH Vrij (resurfacing of AH Vrij's own depot in Wateringen) and is one of the largest Dutch construction groups. BAM competes for civil-engineering and infrastructure tenders and has the scale and balance sheet to potentially bid into AH Vrij's territory on larger integrated contracts.
• Ballast Nedam: Ballast Nedam is a Dutch construction and infrastructure firm with broad capabilities in civil works, mobility, and digital construction. As a major listed Dutch player, it overlaps with AH Vrij's infrastructure and site-preparation work and could pressure pricing on competitive tenders.
• Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster: Boskalis is a large Dutch dredging and maritime services group, far broader and larger than AH Vrij, but it shares a Dutch heritage and operates in adjacent heavy-civil/infrastructure categories (including rail and earthworks). It is a broad incumbent with overlap on large Dutch infrastructure projects.

Others

• Antea Group: Antea Group is a Dutch engineering and environmental consulting firm active in soil, water, and infrastructure advisory. While not a direct contracting competitor to AH Vrij, it operates in adjacent environmental/remediation categories and competes for related municipal consulting and project-supervision contracts in the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjRvqCQ5aJ7gR3xK6L6rXDQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ahvrij
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ah-vrij-groen-grond-en-infra

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 AH Vrij