Bureau Wbtv

What Bureau Wbtv does

Bureau Wbtv (legal name: Raad voor Rechtsbijstand Bureau Wbtv) is a Dutch government state entity, established in 2009 and headquartered in 's-Hertogenbosch, that operates as a department of the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand (Council for Legal Aid) under the authority of the Minister of Justice and Security. Its statutory mandate is the execution of the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Wbtv), which makes it the sole administrator of the national Register beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Rbtv) and the supplementary Uitwijklijst — the only legally recognized registry of sworn interpreters and translators in the Netherlands. The organization serves two primary constituencies: certified interpreters and translators (who must register, renew, and maintain PE points to work on legal-aid and government matters) and afnameplichtige instanties — courts, the IND, police, and the Public Prosecution Service — which are statutorily required to source language professionals exclusively from the Rbtv.

The core technology platform is the Mijn Wbtv self-service portal, integrated with DigiD for authentication and with Justis for digital VOG (Certificate of Conduct) processing via iDEAL payment. The public-facing search portal zoekeentolkvertaler.bureauwbtv.nl allows any party to find certified language professionals by language, name, Wbtv number, or postal code, while a separate Intermediairsportaal supports channel partners (AVB Vertalingen, Global Talk, TVcN). Supporting tools include a Power BI dashboard for public statistics, online complaint and objection forms routed to the Klachtencommissie Wbtv and Commissie voor Bezwaar, and a monthly stakeholder newsletter.

Bureau Wbtv does not operate a commercial revenue model. It is publicly funded by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security as part of the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand budget and collects only statutory, wettelijk vastgesteld fees — €125 per registration application, €75 per renewal, and €33.85 per digital VOG (versus €41.35 via paper municipal route). The organization has 6 employees, no subsidiaries, no external investors, and no M&A or funding activity. Its market scope is the Netherlands only, with key ecosystem partners including 40+ recognized PE training providers and Dutch and Belgian educational institutions whose diplomas qualify graduates for the register.

Name

Bureau Wbtv

Legal name

Raad voor Rechtsbijstand Bureau Wbtv

Website

https://bureauwbtv.nl

Company type

Public

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bureau Wbtv is a Dutch government entity under the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand that administers the national Register beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Rbtv), serving certified interpreters/translators and mandatory-sourcing legal institutions (courts, IND, police, Public Prosecution) across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

's-Hertogenbosch

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Bureau Wbtv is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security as part of the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand. The organization does not generate commercial revenue but operates under government mandate to implement the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Wbtv).
2. Registration and Renewal Fees: Statutory fees collected from interpreters and translators for registration applications (€125) and renewal requests (€75). These are wettelijk vastgestelde (legally mandated) fees under the Wbtv legislation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bureau Wbtv operates the national Register beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Rbtv) — the official Dutch registry of sworn interpreters and translators — and runs the Mijn Wbtv self-service portal through which professionals register (€125), renew (€75), track PE points, and submit digital VOG applications. The organization is a government body under the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand, mandated by the Ministry of Justice and Security to implement the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Wbtv).

Product overview

Bureau Wbtv operates a unified registry platform centered on the Rbtv (Register beëdigde tolken en vertalers), the official national register of sworn interpreters and translators in the Netherlands mandated by the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers. The system comprises the core Rbtv database accessible to the public for finding qualified language professionals, supplemented by the Uitwijklijst for languages without formal testing. Registered professionals access the Mijn Wbtv self-service portal to manage their registrations, submit renewal requests, and track PE points. Intermediaries use the dedicated Intermediairsportaal. The platform also includes administrative tools such as complaint and objection forms, a Power BI Dashboard for public statistics, and a monthly newsletter for stakeholder communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rbtv (Register beëdigde tolken en vertalers) The main public national registry of sworn interpreters and translators in the Netherlands, mandated by the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Wbtv). Contains names, credentials, contact details, language combinations, and specializations of qualified language professionals authorized to provide certified translation and interpretation in legal and administrative proceedings. Searchable by name, language, Wbtv-number, and postal code.
• Mijn Wbtv

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Raad voor RechtsbijstandcoreOthersBureau Wbtv is an integral part of the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand (Council for Legal Aid), which is the parent government organization overseeing legal aid in the Netherlands. Bureau Wbtv operates under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and Security to implement the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Wbtv).
• AVB VertalingenmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAVB Vertalingen serves as a key intermediary for assigning interpreters and translators in legal aid cases ('toevoeging' procedures). They facilitate connections between legal professionals and registered interpreters/translators under the legal aid system administered by the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand.
• Global TalkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal Talk is an intermediary organization for assigning interpreters in legal aid cases. Like AVB, they operate under contract with the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand for providing interpretation services in procedures covered by legal aid ('toevoeging').
• Justis (Ministry of Justice and Security)coreTechnology or IntegrationJustis, the central authority for integrity screenings under the Ministry of Justice and Security, processes VOG (Certificate of Conduct) applications submitted through Bureau Wbtv's digital system. Bureau Wbtv forwards applications to Justis, which issues the certificates.
• Erkende PE-aanbieders (Recognized Training Providers)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBureau Wbtv recognizes and designates educational institutions and training providers that offer accredited continuing professional development (PE) courses for registered interpreters and translators. Includes over 40 recognized providers such as ITV Hogeschool, Capabel Hogeschool, Radboud in'to Languages, and various universities.
• Educational Institutions for Interpreter/Translator TrainingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with universities and hogescholen (universities of applied sciences) in the Netherlands and Belgium whose diplomas qualify graduates for registration in the Rbtv. Includes Universiteit van Amsterdam, ITV Hogeschool, Zuyd Hogeschool, Vertaalacademie Maastricht, and Belgian institutions like KU Leuven and Universiteit Antwerpen.
• Nationale PolitiemajorOthersThe National Police are a key stakeholder and afnameplichtige (mandatory sourcing) organization that must use certified interpreters from the Rbtv for criminal proceedings. Bureau Wbtv provides the police with access to verified interpreter resources.
• Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND)majorOthersThe Immigration and Naturalization Service is a mandatory sourcing organization that must use certified interpreters and translators from the Rbtv for immigration proceedings. IND also provides inpasbaarheidsverklaring (compatibility statements) for interpreters that Bureau Wbtv verifies and records in the register.
• Tolk- en Vertaalcentrum Nederland (TVcN)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTVcN operates under a contractual sourcing agreement with the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand for interpreters and translators from the Uitwijklijst (alternative list for languages without formal testing available).

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Lionbridge: Global translation and interpretation services provider. Operates in the same industry Bureau Wbtv regulates, but as a commercial service provider rather than a certification body.
• RWS Group: Major language services and translation technology company. Competes in the downstream translation market that Bureau Wbtv-certified professionals serve.
• Translated.net: Translation services platform combining human and AI translation. Operates in the same translation market and provides an alternative sourcing channel for clients who might otherwise use the Rbtv.

Emerging players

• DeepL: AI-powered translation platform emerging as a partial substitute for human certified translation in certain use cases, representing a long-term disruptive force on Bureau Wbtv's downstream market.

Direct peers

• Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association (ITIA): Ireland's professional association certifying translators and interpreters with a recognized register and code of ethics, providing a smaller-jurisdiction parallel to Bureau Wbtv's national mandate.
• NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters): Australia's national certification body for translators and interpreters, operating a government-endorsed credentialing system analogous to the Rbtv. Closest international equivalent in scope and mandate.
• American Translators Association (ATA): US-based professional association providing translator/interpreter certification, continuing education, and a code of professional practice. Comparable in registry and standards-setting role, though operating without statutory mandate.
• CIOL (Chartered Institute of Linguists): UK-based professional chartered body for linguists, administering certification, continuing professional development, and a code of conduct for translators and interpreters — directly comparable to Bureau Wbtv's registry and PE functions.

Others

• EULITA (European Legal Interpreters and Translators Association): European-wide association promoting quality standards for legal interpreters and translators. Adjacent standards-setting body relevant to Bureau Wbtv's mandate under EU legal proceedings.
• FIT (Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs): International federation of translator associations worldwide. Comparable as the umbrella standards-setting body; Bureau Wbtv's Wbtv framework aligns with FIT's professional norms.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bureau-wbtv

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 Bureau Wbtv