Apprentice
Apprentice provides Mijn Leeromgeving, a Dutch secondary-education digital learning platform with modules for profile theses, internships, career and culture dossiers, plus yearbook and school-newspaper production services, serving 350–500+ schools in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersArnhem, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Apprentice does
Apprentice Praktische Communicatie B.V., trading as Apprentice Uitgevers and Apprentice XM, is a privately held Dutch software-plus-services company headquartered in Arnhem that has served secondary education since 2004. Its core product is Mijn Leeromgeving (My Learning Environment), a web-based electronic learning environment (ELO) developed in-house and accessible via a cloud portal with iOS/Android apps. The platform integrates with Dutch school administration systems (Magister, Somtoday, Kennisnet) to provide single sign-on and is bundled with more than ten modules covering profile theses (PWS), LOB/career orientation dossiers, internship management, culture dossiers, Plusdocument certificates, study skills, bilingual education (TTO), citizenship, life skills, and a personal timeline functioning as a digital student CV. Built method-independently in close collaboration with Dutch teachers, it is complemented by creative publishing services — a cloud-based yearbook editor (~46,732 yearbooks/year, the largest such volume in the Netherlands), a school-newspaper editor, and a custom educational reader service.
Apprentice monetizes primarily through annual school subscriptions for Mijn Leeromgeving (price-escalation capped at 10% per year), per-unit pricing on printed yearbooks, newspapers, magazines, readers and certificates, and one-off printing of Plusdocuments and profile theses. Print fulfillment for digital projects is contractually tied to the platform ("obligatory to order through Apprentice unless otherwise agreed"), producing a coupled SaaS-plus-services revenue model. Go-to-market is sales-led and content-driven: weekly webinars, a Dutch-language blog, social channels, free inspirational books as lead magnets, and direct consultative demos targeting secondary-school coordinators in the Netherlands and Belgium. Named partners include Magister, Somtoday, Kennisnet, Google Docs, Microsoft Office 365, OnlyOffice, Britannica, CJP (Cultuurkaart) — the most strategic co-development relationship — and Dutch pedagogical method providers Creathlon, De Wereld van LOB, Studielift123, and De Wereld van STUVA.
The company describes itself as a small team, has no publicly disclosed funding rounds, no known institutional investors, and operates from a single Arnhem office. It serves approximately 350–500+ secondary schools, with cited market-share metrics of 43% of Dutch secondary schools using the Plusdocument and 5,500+ school-newspaper editions / 4.5M copies distributed since 2004. Customer concentration is low across a diversified education-sector base, and the business shows steady, moderate-growth characteristics driven by continuous module expansion, Belgium geographic extension, and embedded print-services lock-in rather than AI differentiation.
Apprentice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Apprentice
- Legal name
- Apprentice Praktische Communicatie B.V.
- Website
- https://apprenticexm.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Apprentice provides Mijn Leeromgeving, a Dutch secondary-education digital learning platform with modules for profile theses, internships, career and culture dossiers, plus yearbook and school-newspaper production services, serving 350–500+ schools in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Apprentice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Technology (EdTech Platform for Secondary Schools)
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interactive Practice & Skill-Building (Drills, Games, Mastery Practice) (EDAFACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL), Study Habits & Homework Systems Workshops (EDAMAIAL), Job Search Strategy & Application Skills (EDAAAKAC)
Keywords
Where Apprentice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arnhem
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Apprentice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Annual Portal Subscription: Schools pay an annual fixed fee for access to Mijn Leeromgeving (My Learning Environment), covering all digital modules such as portfolio, LOB dossier, PWS, internship module, culture dossier, personal timeline, and more. The subscription is annual with price escalation capped at 10% per year.
- Yearbook and Memory Book Printing: Production and distribution of printed yearbooks, farewell books, and almanacs. Schools deliver final files via the portal, and Apprentice manages printing, binding, finishing (softcover/hardcover, lamination) and delivery. Per-unit pricing based on format, page count, and print run. Obligatory to order through Apprentice unless otherwise agreed.
- School Newspaper and Magazine Printing: Printing and delivery of school newspapers and magazines produced by student editorial teams using the online editor. Custom quotes based on format, page count, and print run.
- Plusdocument and Profile Thesis Printing: Printing and delivery of certificates such as Plusdocuments (Montessori/Dalton certificates) and profile theses (PWS) completed by students in the digital environment.
- Reader Production and Distribution: Production and postal delivery of compiled educational readers, with savings up to 40% compared to market rates. Schools or students can order via integrated webshop with iDeal or credit card payment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Portal Subscription — digital learning environment with all modules |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Print products — yearbooks, newspapers, magazines, readers |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Inspirational Book |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Apprentice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Apprentice provides a comprehensive digital learning environment (Mijn Leeromgeving) for Dutch secondary schools, integrating modules for portfolios, profile theses, career orientation, internships, and personal timelines. Alongside the platform, the company produces printed yearbooks, school newspapers, magazines, and educational readers for schools and students. All offerings integrate with school administration systems like Magister and Somtoday for seamless single sign-on access.
Product overview
Apprentice is a digital partner for secondary education in the Netherlands, offering a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core product is Mijn Leeromgeving (My Learning Environment), a complete electronic learning environment (ELO) developed since 2014. This central platform connects multiple specialized modules including Portfolio (for assignments and grading), Profielwerkstuk (profile thesis tracking), LOB Dossier (career orientation), Stagemodule (internship management), Persoonlijke Tijdlijn (personal timeline/CV), Plusdocument, Cultuurkaart-dossier (cultural development), Studievaardigheden (study skills), Tweetalig onderwijs (TTO/bilingual education), Burgerschap (citizenship), Levensvaardigheden (life skills), and Quest (hybrid gamification). Alongside the learning environment, Apprentice offers creative publishing services: Jaarboek (yearbook creation with templates and printing), Schoolkrant (school newspaper/magazine), and Readerservice (custom reader compilation). All modules integrate with school administration systems like Magister and Somtoday.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mijn Leeromgeving (My Learning Environment) Complete electronic learning environment (ELO) for Dutch secondary education (voortgezet onderwijs) where students and teachers access online education, share and create assignments and knowledge. Serves as the central platform connecting all other modules with single sign-on via LAS integration.
- Jaarboek (Yearbook) Online yearbook creation service for Dutch secondary schools, allowing schools and student editorial teams to build yearbooks, almanacs, and farewell books using a cloud-based editor with customizable templates, multi-user collaboration, live chat support, and full-colour printing with various finishing options.
- Schoolkrant (School Newspaper / Magazine) Full-colour online school newspaper and magazine editor that enables student journalism teams to collaboratively design and publish school newspapers or magazines, with options for digital publication or print delivery.
- LOB Dossier (Career Orientation Dossier) Career orientation and guidance module enabling students to systematically develop career competencies with integrated tests (study choice, personality, mbo professions, self-evaluation of life skills, profile choice), progress tracking, and personal timeline integration.
- Profielwerkstuk (Profile Thesis Module) Digital environment for managing the full profile thesis (PWS) process, including step plans, agenda, digital logbook, automatic APA-formatted source list, custom rubrics and assessment forms, group formation, and real-time progress monitoring for coordinators and teachers.
- Stagemodule (Internship Module) Centralised platform for managing the full internship lifecycle, including placement site selection from a school-specific or Apprentice-managed database, digital internship agreements, progress tracking, assignments, video uploads via app, and evaluation by teachers.
- Portfolio Portfolio module allowing teachers to set up explanations and assignments and track student progress across all subjects and school years in a method-independent manner.
- Persoonlijke Tijdlijn (Personal Timeline) Digital CV for secondary school students, allowing them to accumulate proof of completed assignments, external experiences, internships, and extracurricular activities in one portable record accessible even after leaving school.
- Plusdocument Cross-school-year document allowing students to highlight unique talents, developments, competencies, skills, and experiences beyond their diploma and grades, commonly known as a Montessori or Dalton certificate.
- Cultuurkaart-dossier (Culture Dossier) Digital portfolio, dossier and timeline for monitoring cultural development of students, with image, video, document, PowerPoint, and YouTube/Vimeo upload support. Integrated with CJP Cultuurkaart for discounted cultural bookings.
- Studievaardigheden (Study Skills) Study skills module developed in partnership with De Wereld van STUVA, providing a digital portfolio for structured guidance in developing study skills from year 1 through graduation, with class-level progress bars by period, sub-assignment, or subject.
- Tweetalig Onderwijs (TTO / Bilingual Education) Bilingual education portfolio module providing an efficient and structured learning environment for TTO schools to track personal development and the TTO curriculum in alignment with Nuffic quality standards.
- Burgerschap (Citizenship Education) Citizenship education module developed in partnership with Creathlon, supporting schools in developing high-quality citizenship education with customizable materials, assignments, skills tracking, and alignment with Nufic quality standards.
- Levensvaardigheden (Life Skills) Life skills module developing the WHO's ten core life skills (self-awareness, empathy, communication, etc.) through assignments and practical experiences, with progress tracked in an online portfolio.
- Quest: Hybrid Game Environment Hybrid play environment combining digital planning and task management with real-world music creation and task execution. Uses Deci & Ryan's motivation theory to stimulate intrinsic motivation and includes an automatic bonus/malus system for deadline management.
- Readerservice Platform for compiling and distributing educational readers from multiple sources, automatically indexed with renumbered pages, styled to school branding, with an integrated webshop, iDeal/credit card payment processing, and 48-hour delivery, offering up to 40% cost savings versus market rates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 43% of Dutch secondary schools already use the Plusdocument
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Apprentice
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Apprentice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature10 records
Apprentice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- MagistercoreLAS (Learning Administration System) integration allowing teachers and students to log in to Apprentice using existing Magister credentials. Enables import of class groups and student data into Mijn Leeromgeving without creating separate accounts.
- SomtodaycoreLAS integration allowing teachers and students to log in using Somtoday credentials. Enables import of Somtoday class groups and student data into Mijn Leeromgeving.
- Google DocscoreIntegration with Google Docs allowing users to edit documents directly within the Apprentice platform. Part of a suite of text editor integrations including Office 365 and OnlyOffice.
- Microsoft Office 365coreIntegration with Office 365 allowing users to create and edit documents within the Apprentice environment. Enables familiar workflow for students and teachers already using Microsoft tools.
- CJP (Cultuurkaart)flagshipApprentice and CJP jointly developed the Cultuurkaart-dossier — a digital portfolio, dossier and timeline for structuring cultural development of students. CJP offers the dossier at a reduced rate of €2.25 per student (instead of €7.95) for schools using the CJP Cultuurkaart, providing financial benefit and integrated cultural activity booking.
- CreathloncoreIntegration of Creathlon's WHY method (combining citizenship education, social studies, philosophy, and personal development) within Apprentice's platform. Lesson materials, progress, and insights are automatically linked to the learning tracking system, creating an organised citizenship education dossier. Supports schools in meeting NUFFIC quality standards.
- De Wereld van LOBcoreThe Wereld van LOB method is available as an online learning line within Apprentice, covering career development from first-year through final exam year. Part of both the LOB-dossier and Studievaardigheden (study skills) modules. Provides a narrative career method with continuous learning tracks for vmbo, havo, and vwo.
- Studielift123coreComplete LOB learning line within the Apprentice environment, covering career orientation from first year to graduation. Automatically builds a student portfolio in Apprentice. Directly usable in mentor lessons, with assignments suitable for both independent and class-based work. Designed to add structure, overview and coherence to a school's LOB programme.
- NufficminorNuffic is the Dutch organisation for internationalisation of education, responsible for certifying bilingual education (TTO) schools. Apprentice's TTO portfolio module supports schools in meeting Nuffic quality standards by structuring the three TTO pillars: language proficiency, global citizenship, and personal development.
- De Wereld van STUVAcoreSTUVA method (De Wereld van STUVA) integrated into Apprentice's Studievaardigheden module. Covers study skills and career skills for students in secondary education through a learning line from first year to graduation. Includes psycho-education in assignments so students understand why strategies work. Teachers get progress bars at class level, by period, sub-assignment, or subject.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Apprentice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Itslearning: European-headquartered learning management system serving K-12 and higher education with course content, assignments, and collaboration tools. Comparable as a competing ELO/LMS provider in the European education market with overlapping module-based functionality.
- Bureau ICE / Stagemarkt: Dutch specialist provider of internship management and matching software for MBO and secondary education. Comparable as a Dutch-market direct peer focused specifically on internship/stage management, directly competing with Apprentice's Stagemodule.
- Learnbeat: Dutch EdTech platform offering digital practice, testing, and learning content for secondary education. Comparable as a Dutch-market direct peer competing for secondary school digital learning budgets with curriculum-aligned content.
- Prowise (Prowise Learn): Dutch-headquartered EdTech company offering interactive screens, educational software, and digital learning tools for primary and secondary schools. Comparable as a Dutch-market EdTech peer targeting similar school buyers with overlapping digital learning functionality.
Emerging players
- Squla: Dutch EdTech platform focused on adaptive practice and learning for primary and secondary students. Comparable as an emerging Dutch-market player in digital learning content and practice, intersecting with Apprentice's interactive practice and skill-building modules.
Broad incumbents
- Canvas (Instructure): Major global LMS platform serving K-12 and higher education. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering digital curriculum, assignments, and integrations, though less localized to Dutch secondary education specifics than Apprentice.
- Malmberg (Sanoma): Dutch educational publisher owned by Sanoma providing digital learning environments and method-based content for Dutch schools. Comparable as a broader incumbent in Dutch EdTech that competes for the same ELO/digital learning budgets, though typically tied to specific learning methods.
- Google Classroom: Google's free classroom management and assignment tool widely adopted in K-12. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing free ELO-adjacent functionality that could substitute for some Apprentice modules.
- Microsoft Teams for Education: Microsoft's education-focused collaboration and classroom platform with LMS-like functionality. Comparable as a broad incumbent potentially competing for the same Dutch school ELO use cases, with strong Microsoft 365 integration that Apprentice also partners with.
Regional players
- Heutink ICT / Heutink iXperium: Dutch supplier of educational materials, technology, and digital learning solutions to primary and secondary schools. Comparable as a regional Dutch EdTech peer serving the same school customer base with overlapping digital learning offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Apprentice social profiles
Digital presenceApprentice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Apprentice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Apprentice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Apprentice 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 Apprentice
What does Apprentice do?
Apprentice provides a comprehensive digital learning environment (Mijn Leeromgeving) for Dutch secondary schools, integrating modules for portfolios, profile theses, career orientation, internships, and personal timelines. Alongside the platform, the company produces printed yearbooks, school newspapers, magazines, and educational readers for schools and students. All offerings integrate with school administration systems like Magister and Somtoday for seamless single sign-on access.
Is Apprentice a public or private company?
Apprentice is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Apprentice founded?
Apprentice was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Apprentice based?
Apprentice is headquartered in Arnhem, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Apprentice make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Annual Portal Subscription is the primary driver. The others are yearbook and Memory Book Printing, school Newspaper and Magazine Printing, plusdocument and Profile Thesis Printing and reader Production and Distribution.
Who are Apprentice's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Itslearning, Bureau ICE / Stagemarkt, Learnbeat and Prowise (Prowise Learn). Squla is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Canvas (Instructure), Malmberg (Sanoma), Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams for Education. Heutink ICT / Heutink iXperium is listed as a regional player.
Does Apprentice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Apprentice.
What industry is Apprentice in?
Apprentice's product category is Education Technology (EdTech Platform for Secondary Schools). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFACAC, Interactive Practice & Skill-Building (Drills, Games, Mastery Practice), with a secondary code of BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8200.