What Achterbosch Architecten does

Achterbosch Architecten is a private architecture practice founded in 1998 and headquartered in Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands, with a team of approximately 13 professionals. The firm specialises in biobased and circular architecture, designing buildings using natural materials such as hemp fibre insulation, cross-laminated timber (CLT), Accoya wood, reed, clay, and natural stone. Its core methodology targets fully demountable, energy-neutral buildings with 100% reusable materials, supported by research collaborations on the health impacts of biobased indoor environments with Biotrack/NL LAB and Maarsingh & Van Steijn. Notable reference projects include the 86% biobased Nieuwehorne demonstration house, the BREEAM Excellent-certified WaterCampus Leeuwarden, and the award-winning Meijie Mountain Hotspring Resort in Liyang, China (WAN-Awards 2017).

The firm serves a diversified mix of clients across healthcare (Philadelphia Care Foundation, Stichting KennemerHart), provincial and municipal governments (Provincie Fryslân, Gemeente Leeuwarden), real estate developers (Harns Invest, BruZan Projecten), and private residential clients, primarily within Friesland with selective work elsewhere in the Netherlands and China. Revenue is generated through project-by-project professional services commissions, with fees determined by project scope, complexity, and client type. The firm is a member of GEAR architectencoöperatie, CRAFT+, and Circulair Friesland, and participates in the Fryske Vezelhennepdeal committing to hemp insulation in 1,000+ regional projects. In November 2024, Achterbosch entered a strategic bundling with Wind Architecten Adviseurs under the Wind Groep umbrella while retaining its own brand identity.

Name

Achterbosch Architecten

Legal name

Achterbosch Architecten

Website

https://achterboscharchitecten.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Achterbosch Architecten is a 13-person Friesland-based architecture firm specialising in biobased and circular building design using natural materials such as hemp, CLT timber, and wood, serving healthcare, government, residential, and commercial clients primarily in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Biobased building design
• Circular construction architecture
• Sustainable healthcare architecture
• Restoration and renovation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeuwarden

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design and Consulting Services: Professional services revenue from architectural design, renovation, restoration, and urban planning projects for private and public clients. Projects are commissioned individually with fees based on project scope, complexity, and scale.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Achterbosch Architecten provides professional architectural design services focused on biobased and circular construction for residential, healthcare, public, and commercial buildings across Friesland and select international markets. The firm specialises in designing with natural materials such as hemp fibre insulation, cross-laminated timber, Accoya wood, reed, and natural stone, with services spanning new builds, renovation, restoration, and urban planning. Notable projects include the BREEAM Excellent WaterCampus Leeuwarden, the circular It Swettehûs bridge control centre, and the WAN-Awards 2017-winning Meijie Mountain Hotspring Resort in China.

Product overview

Achterbosch Architecten is an architecture firm offering specialized architectural design services rather than a traditional software product. The core offering consists of biobased and circular architecture services, with particular expertise in healthcare architecture, residential buildings, and public facilities. The firm operates as part of Wind Groep and collaborates through networks like GEAR architectencooperatie and CRAFT+. Their portfolio includes notable projects such as the WaterCampus Leeuwarden (BREEAM Excellent certified), Elfstedenhal ice arena, and award-winning international projects like the Meijie Mountain Hotspring Resort in China. The firm specializes in sustainable design using natural materials including wood, hemp fiber insulation, and other renewable resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biobased Architecture Services Architectural design services specialising in biobased construction using natural materials such as wood, hemp fibre, straw, reed, flax, clay, and natural stone, with focus on sustainability, circularity, and the health and wellbeing impacts of the built environment. Offered to private clients, developers, healthcare operators, and public sector clients.
• Healthcare and Wellness Architecture Specialised architectural services for healthcare buildings including care farms, clinics, hospitals, residential care facilities, and wellness centres, integrating therapeutic environments with sustainable and biobased design principles. Targeted at healthcare foundations, care operators, and institutions.
• Residential Architecture (Private and Multi-Family) Architectural design services for private single-family homes, villas, biobased homes, CLT houses, renovations of historic farms, and multi-family apartment buildings, extended-stay residences, and mixed-use residential developments. Includes full design from concept through construction.
• Public and Commercial Architecture Architectural design services for public buildings, government infrastructure, office buildings, and commercial spaces, including circular and energy-neutral designs. Examples include the Elfstedenhal ice arena, It Swettehûs bridge control centre, and Energie Kenniscentrum Leeuwarden. Targeted at government bodies, developers, and commercial clients.
• Restoration and Renovation Architecture Architectural restoration and renovation services for historic buildings, regional courts, farmhouses, and adaptive reuse projects, with focus on preserving cultural heritage while adding modern functionality and sustainability. Delivered under the expertise of the firm's restoration specialist Rudolf de Haas.
• International Hospitality and Resort Architecture Architectural design services for international leisure and resort projects, including spa resort masterplanning, clubhouses, treehouses, and wellness facilities in distinctive natural settings. Demonstrated by the WAN-Awards 2017-winning Meijie Mountain Hotspring Resort in Liyang, China.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Biobased Woning Nieuwehorne demonstration house is composed of 86% biobased construction materials
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wind Architecten Adviseurs (Wind Groep)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024In November 2024, Achterbosch Architecten and Wind Architecten Adviseurs announced a strategic bundling of forces under Wind Groep. Both firms maintain their individual names while combining knowledge, networks, and staff. Achterbosch brings expertise in private residential, healthcare, and education; Wind Architecten specialises in housing, sports, and education — creating complementary capabilities for larger projects.
• GreenInclusivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024GreenInclusive is the producer of Hempwool — locally produced hemp fibre insulation from Friesland. As a key partner in the Fryske Vezelhennepdeal and developer of the Biobased Woning Nieuwehorne (86% biobased), GreenInclusive is a core supply chain and project partner for Achterbosch's biobased construction methodology.
• GEAR architectencoöperatiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchterbosch Architecten is a member of the GEAR architectencoöperatie cooperative. Through this partnership the firm collaborates on major public and commercial projects including the Elfstedenhal (2015), WaterCampus Leeuwarden (2015), BioBizzHub (2020), Ministerie van Maak (2022), and Afsluitdijk Wadden Center (2018). GEAR projects typically involve large-scale public commissions from municipalities and provinces.
• CRAFT+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRAFT+ is a coalition of seven leading Friesland architecture firms united within Circulair Friesland to promote circular and regenerative architecture. Achterbosch Architecten participates as a member, contributing to joint research projects, workshops, and demonstration projects. Specific project contributions include 'Gezond biobased wonen' (healthy biobased living) and Friese kerken (Friesland churches circular renovation).
• Circulair FrieslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchterbosch Architecten is an active member of Circulair Friesland, a network organisation bringing together businesses, governments, and knowledge institutions for a circular economy in Friesland. The firm participates in the Fryske Vezelhennepdeal (launched October 2024) committing to hemp insulation in 1,000+ projects.
• Maarsingh en Van SteijnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPsychology practice Maarsingh en Van Steijn is closely involved in the Parkeergarage De Revius project as a future tenant and co-researcher on health impacts of nature-inclusive wooden buildings. They collaborate with Achterbosch on wellness and health research in architecture.
• Hoeksterpoort Holding B.V.minorOthersInitiator of the Parkeergarage De Revius redevelopment project above the existing municipal parking garage. Kroeze & Partners Projecten acts as developer on this project.
• Biotrack (NL LAB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotrack, a Leeuwarden company under NL LAB, develops measurement equipment for indoor microorganisms and microbiome mapping. They collaborate with Achterbosch on research demonstrating health benefits of biobased materials, finding 10x fewer pathogens in biobased vs concrete homes.
• Marc Koehler ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Duinhuis Terschelling project (2014). Marc Koehler Architects led the design while Achterbosch Architecten handled the engineering through to construction execution.
• Maarsingh en Van SteijnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchterbosch collaborates with Maarsingh & Van Steijn on research into architecture and wellbeing/health of various user groups including children and elderly. Research aims to demonstrate that natural forms and materials positively influence wellbeing across healthcare, education, and residential settings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• RAU Architects: Dutch architecture practice specialised in regenerative and circular design, comparable in scale and mission to Achterbosch. Both firms position around sustainability-driven design for residential, public, and institutional clients in the Netherlands and beyond.
• ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Rotterdam-based Dutch architecture and urbanism practice working on sustainable, socially-oriented buildings and area development. Comparable mid-size practice profile and emphasis on circular, health-focused, and socially regenerative architecture within the Dutch market.
• Wind Architecten Adviseurs: Sister architecture firm under Wind Groep following the November 2024 bundling with Achterbosch Architecten. Both firms maintain their names while sharing networks and staff; Wind Architecten specializes in housing, sports, and education, making it the most operationally comparable direct peer.
• SeARCH: Dutch architecture practice active in residential, healthcare, and public commissions with a strong contextual and sustainable design ethos. Comparable mid-size Dutch competitor for the same client segments Achterbosch serves (care, residential, public).
• Marc Koehler Architects: Dutch architecture practice collaborating with Achterbosch Architecten on the Duinhuis Terschelling summer house project (2014). Comparable in size, focus on sustainable/hybrid building methods, and serving Dutch residential and public clients.

Broad incumbents

• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm known for cultural, educational, and healthcare projects in the Netherlands and internationally. Direct overlap with Achterbosch in healthcare (e.g., care facilities) and public work, but at substantially greater scale.
• UNStudio: Large Dutch architecture firm with global reach, working across residential, mixed-use, healthcare, and public typologies. Overlaps with Achterbosch on Dutch healthcare and public projects but competes as a much larger incumbent rather than a niche specialist.
• MVRDV: One of the largest Dutch architecture firms, headquartered in Rotterdam, with major projects across cultural, residential, and public sectors. Competes with Achterbosch for high-profile Dutch public commissions but at vastly different scale and with a much broader typology portfolio.
• Powerhouse Company: Larger Dutch architecture firm with an explicit focus on sustainable, energy-positive design across residential, mixed-use, and cultural projects. Overlaps with Achterbosch on circular/energy-conscious architectural services but operates nationally and internationally with a significantly broader portfolio.

Others

• Finch Buildings: Wooden construction methodology partner used by Achterbosch for projects such as the Parkeergarage De Revius. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but the closest comparable technical node for timber/biobased building construction in the Dutch market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/achterboscharchitecten
• Instagraminstagram.com/achterboscharchitecten

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Achterbosch Architecten