DAMA NL

What DAMA NL does

DAMA NL (Stichting DAMA NL, also known as DAMA Nederland) is a non-profit foundation and the Dutch chapter of DAMA International (Data Management Association International), headquartered in the Netherlands and operating primarily in Den Haag/Zoelen/Herveld. Founded around 2015, the organization is run by a volunteer board and a broader community of more than 100 professional volunteers organized across 15 active working groups covering topics such as Data Strategy, Data Quality, Data Maturity, Data Mesh, Data Science Governance, Metadata, Data Modeling, Serious Business Games, Data Management Research, and Sustainable Data Accessibility. Its mission is to connect organizations and data professionals to create value from data and to build a mature data management discipline in the Netherlands based on the DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBoK) framework. The organization explicitly positions itself as vendor-independent, and it does not sell a unified software platform.

DAMA NL's core products and services are knowledge artifacts, certification support, and community programs. The flagship product is the Dutch-language translation of the DAMA DMBoK v2, sold as a physical book (€79.95) and EPUB (€69.95) via its webshop. Supporting products include the Data Strategy Canvas (a downloadable framework built around ten data-strategy components), the Data Bedrevenheidsscan and Maturity Scan (organizational self-assessment tools based on DMBoK and Mike 2.0), the Data Quality Management System / Normenkader Datakwaliteit (aligned with ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, including a 'Metromodel' tool), and a public wiki (Datamanagement.wiki) maintained by working groups. DAMA NL facilitates the globally recognized Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) certification in the Netherlands through supervised 'Pay If You Pass' exam sessions at Hogeschool Utrecht, and contributes to the development of DMBoK 3.0.

The organization's revenue model is a mix of modest recurring membership fees (Individual Friend €75/year, Corporate Friend €500/year, Student Friend €20/year), one-time book sales, event ticketing (DAMA Drinks at €10–€20, annual Datamanagement Dag via Eventbrite), and certification facilitation. With approximately 35+ Corporate Friends and individual membership, total annual operating revenue is not publicly disclosed but is implied to be modest given the volunteer-driven cost structure. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: the annual Datamanagement Dag, regional DAMA Drinks informal networking sessions, webinars, working group activities, and speaking slots at third-party conferences (Heliview, Data Expo Utrecht, Data & Analytics Congres, Global Digital Collaboration Conference) serve as primary demand-generation channels. Strategic educational partnerships with Hogeschool Utrecht (co-developed Bachelor Data Management & BI) and authorized training partners (Data Kitchen, Highberg, Cibit) extend reach into formal curricula and professional certification pathways.

Name

DAMA NL

Legal name

Stichting DAMA NL

Website

https://dama-nl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DAMA NL is the Dutch chapter of DAMA International, a non-profit foundation that operates the largest data management community in the Netherlands through 15 working groups, 100+ volunteer professionals, and 35+ corporate Friends. It provides the Dutch DMBoK translation, CDMP certification support, and educational programs to Dutch data professionals, organizations, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zoelen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership / Friend subscriptions (Vrienden): DAMA NL operates on a membership/friend model with three tiers: Individual Friend (€75/year), Corporate Friend (€500/year), and Student Friend (€20/year). These packages fund the non-profit's operations and community activities.
2. DMBoK Book Sales: Sale of the Dutch translation of DAMA DMBoK v2. Physical printed edition priced at €79.95 (€71.95 for 20+ copies). EPUB digital edition priced at €69.95. Revenue supports the translation effort and DAMA NL activities.
3. CDMP Certification: DAMA NL facilitates the globally recognized Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) certification program, administered by DAMA International. Exam fees are collected through DAMA International (approx. $300 USD for PIYP model). DAMA NL organizes local 'Pay If You Pass' supervised exam sessions in collaboration with Hogeschool Utrecht.
4. Event ticketing: Revenue from ticket sales for DAMA NL Datamanagement Dag events and DAMA Drinks sessions. DAMA Drinks are priced at €10 for Friends and €20 for non-members; tickets to the annual Data Management Day are sold via Eventbrite.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DAMA NL is a non-profit foundation that serves as the Dutch chapter of DAMA International, providing knowledge products, professional certification support, and community programs centered on the DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBoK). It sells the Dutch translation of DMBoK v2 in physical and EPUB formats, facilitates the CDMP certification program, and operates voluntary working groups that produce practical tools (Data Strategy Canvas, Maturity Scan, Data Quality Management System). Its revenue comes from tiered memberships (Vrienden), book sales, event tickets, and training partnerships with educational institutions.

Product overview

DAMA NL (Stichting DAMA NL) is a non-profit, vendor-independent foundation that is the Dutch chapter of DAMA International. It does not sell a unified software platform but rather a portfolio of knowledge products, certification services, and community programs centered on the DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBoK). Core offerings include the DMBoK v2 in Dutch (physical and EPUB), the CDMP certification program, and the Data Strategy Canvas — a downloadable framework for designing organizational data strategies. Supporting products include the Data Bedreven Scan and Maturity Scan for organizational self-assessment, a growing wiki knowledge base (datamanagement.wiki), and approximately 11 active working groups producing whitepapers, webinars, and practical tools. Educational services are delivered in partnership with Hogeschool Utrecht (Bachelor and Master programs in Data Management) and authorized training partners. Community engagement is driven through annual events (Datamanagement Dag), regional DAMA Drinks meetups, and the Vrienden (Corporate Friends) sponsorship program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• CDMP certification grew from 9,965 Associates (Jan 2025) to 19,423 Associates (April 2026) globally, indicating strong growth in data management professional recognition.

Named customers6 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hogeschool Utrecht (HU University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024Hogeschool Utrecht is DAMA NL's primary educational partner. They co-developed the only Bachelor Data Management & BI program in the Netherlands. DAMA NL collaborates with HU on CDMP 'Pay If You Pass' supervised exam sessions. The annual DAMA NL Datamanagement Dag is hosted at the HU campus. The first 3 data management professionals graduated from HU in July 2024. Bas van Gils from Antwerp Management School and Guido Ongena from HU lead the Data Management Research working group.
• Heliview Conferences & TrainingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHeliview Conferences & Training organizes networking events across multiple professional fields for 40 years. They partner with DAMA NL on conferences including 'Data & AI in de Overheid', 'Informatiegestuurde Overheid', 'Dutch Data Forum', and 'De Toekomstgerichte Overheid'. DAMA NL speaks at Heliview events and maintains a booth presence.
• Data KitchencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerData Kitchen is a data expertise company with over 40 years of experience. They offer DMBoK-based CDMP exam preparation training and have trained more than 500 Data Professionals for the DAMA DMBoK CDMP exam. They are listed as a Friend of DAMA NL actively promoting the DAMA community.
• DeltiqminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeltiq has helped organizations create a data-driven culture for 15 years with a pragmatic approach focused on people, processes, and organizational structures rather than technology hype. They support DAMA Nederland as a Friend, contributing to knowledge sharing and the development of skills in the data management field.
• PremiumminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPremium is a group of experts helping organizations gain grip on data through pragmatic, pragmatic solutions for complex data and compliance challenges. They align with DAMA's philosophy and support DAMA NL as a Friend.
• Brightstone GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBrightstone Group supports organizations in facilitating and driving complex transformations in Finance, Risk, Data & Compliance domains by connecting their professionals and consultants.
• PostNLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPostNL is a Corporate Friend of DAMA NL. They hosted a DAMA Drinks event at their Den Haag HS office (Waldorpstraat 5), demonstrating their commitment to data management and the DAMA community.
• TenneT TSOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTenneT TSO shared their master and reference data management approach openly with the DAMA NL community. They developed an EAV-based (Entity-Attribute-Value) method allowing dynamic data model adaptation, with a working MS Access prototype available as a shared learning resource.
• Strategy AllianceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategy Alliance organized a DAMA Drinks event in Maastricht (April 2025) on the topic of Data Fabric and Data Mesh, demonstrating active community contribution.
• DAMA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAMA International is the global parent organization that publishes the DAMA DMBoK and administers the CDMP certification program. DAMA NL is the Dutch chapter, contributing to DMBoK 3.0 development, hosting Peter Aiken (President DAMA International) at Dutch events, and facilitating local CDMP exams.
• DIKW IntelligenceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDIKW is a full-service data consultancy that uses their own DIKW Data Management Framework (partially based on DAMA DMBoK) to guide organizations in achieving data governance and data management objectives.
• CibitminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCibit trains, guides, and leads people, teams, and organizations through digital transformation. They support DAMA's mission to spread the DAMA philosophy in the Netherlands, emphasizing that a solid foundation ensures professionals 'speak the same language'.
• PongminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPong supports organizations in making data-driven decisions and identifying risks, challenges, and opportunities through Data & Analytics and Data Management services.
• PGGMminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPGGM is a cooperative pension fund administrator that supports DAMA NL as a Corporate Friend, contributing to the data management community.
• Data Kitchen (Training Partner)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerData Kitchen offers CDMP exam preparation training based on DAMA DMBoK, having trained over 500 Data Professionals. They actively promote DAMA NL and the data management profession.
• Eerlijk DesignminorOthersEerlijk Design is DAMA NL's website development partner, credited as the web developer ('Webontwikkeling door Eerlijk Design') of the DAMA NL website.
• Clever RepublicminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClever Republic is a young consultancy organization with years of experience in implementing Data Intelligence, bridging business objectives and the required data(management) foundation.
• Data & Insights NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDAMA NL participates in the Data & Insights Network's annual Data & Analytics Congres (DAC), with DAMA NL members Bas van Gils and Erik Fransen providing introductions on data management using DAMA DMBoK. The two organizations are exploring mutual reinforcement opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Data Management Association of South Africa (DAMA SA): Another DAMA International chapter operating as a country-level non-profit for data management professionals. Comparable in mission and structure to DAMA NL, serving as a regional peer within the global DAMA chapter network.
• DAMA International: DAMA International is the global parent organization of DAMA NL, publisher of the DMBoK and administrator of the CDMP certification program. Most directly comparable as the umbrella association of which DAMA NL is the Dutch chapter, sharing the same brand, framework, and certification infrastructure.
• EDM Council: Global non-profit focused on data management and analytics best practices, known for the Data Management Capability Assessment Model (DCAM). Direct peer in the data management professional association space, with overlapping framework authority and certification-adjacent offerings to DMBoK/CDMP.
• DAMA UK: UK chapter of DAMA International, operating as an analogous country-level professional association for data management. Highly comparable in mission, structure (volunteer-led, non-profit), and offerings (events, working groups, CDMP support) to DAMA NL but serving the UK market.

Regional players

• NEN (Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute): Dutch national standards body, relevant as a Netherlands-based organization that promulgates data and quality standards (including ISO alignment referenced in DAMA NL's DQMS). Comparable as a domestic knowledge/standards organization with overlapping data quality and governance remit, though broader in scope.
• DGI (DAMA Germany / Datenwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Informationswissenschaft): German-language data management professional community affiliated with the DAMA ecosystem. Comparable as a regional DAMA-aligned non-profit serving data professionals in a neighboring market with similar educational and certification activities.

Emerging players

• IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis): Global non-profit professional association for business analysis with chapters, certifications (CBAP, ECBA), and a Body of Knowledge (BABOK). Highly comparable as a professional association model with chapter structure, certifications, and BoK-based knowledge products, though focused on business analysis rather than data management.

Broad incumbents

• BCS (British Computer Society / Chartered Institute for IT): UK-based chartered professional body for IT professionals with certifications, registered membership, and knowledge publications. Comparable as an established professional association model with chapter structures, certifications, and educational programs that DAMA NL's volunteer-led association model mirrors at smaller scale.
• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, risk, security, and audit professionals, offering certifications like CISA and CISM. Comparable as an established, large-scale professional association with global chapters, certifications, and knowledge frameworks that overlaps with DAMA NL's data governance remit at a broader IT governance level.

Others

• DataONE: Data Observation Network for Earth, a community-driven data management initiative focused on environmental and scientific data. Comparable as a community-led data management initiative with educational and best-practice outputs, though in a specialized scientific domain rather than enterprise data management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dama_nl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dama-nl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 DAMA NL