BOMEN BETER BEHEREN

What BOMEN BETER BEHEREN does

Bomen Beter Beheren vzw is a Belgian non-profit association (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) headquartered in Steenhuffel with operations across Belgium and cross-border engagement with the Netherlands, dedicated to the preservation and expansion of trees outside forests. The organization serves as the primary professional association for tree management professionals in Belgium and the Netherlands, offering a tiered membership model (Student €59/year, Non-profit €90/year, Basic €115/year), continuing education through study days, the Arboweekend, congresses, and an annual international tree trip, plus formal certification pathways (ETW, ETT, VETcert) recognized under the European Arboricultural Council framework. Its content assets include the Richtlijnen Boombeheer, the Charter Boombescherming, the Dutch translation of the European Tree Protection Standard 2025, and the quarterly Vakblad Bomen magazine.

The organization operates on an Odoo-based website platform for content management, e-commerce, and event registration — no proprietary technology is developed or sold. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: membership subscriptions (the dominant recurring base), event and training registrations (where members receive significant discounts of 50% or more versus non-members), and a small merchandising e-commerce offering (branded bags, caps, and bottles). Distribution is entirely direct and self-serve via the website, supplemented by regional working groups in East Flanders/Flemish Brabant, Antwerp/Flemish Brabant NW, West Flanders, and Limburg that bring activities closer to local members.

The membership base of 500+ individuals and organizations spans tree care professionals, ETW/ETT-certified practitioners, students, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations in the green sector. The organization is officially recognized as an 'omgevingsorganisatie' by the Flemish Departement Omgeving, participates in three Green Deals (Klimaatadaptieve Omgeving, Tuinstraten, Lokaal Hout), and is governed by two permanent staff (Liesbeth Reekmans as policy coordinator, Aubry Dermine as Education and Movement staff) supported by volunteer board members, four regional working groups, and a co-chairmanship team (Bert and Kathleen) that succeeded Ruben Rogier in 2025.

Name

BOMEN BETER BEHEREN

Legal name

Bomen Beter Beheren vzw

Website

https://bomenbeterbeheren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bomen Beter Beheren vzw is a Belgian-Dutch non-profit professional association for tree management, offering tiered memberships, continuing education, ETW/ETT/VETcert certification, and publications to arborists, municipalities, and green-sector organizations across Belgium and the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arboricultural Professional Association and Training

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

Keywords

• Arboricultural professional association
• Tree care certification
• Urban forestry training
• Tree management education
• Green sector membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Steenhuffel

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: Annual membership fees with three tiers: Student (€59/year), Non-profit/public administrations (€90/person/year), and Basic (€115/year). Optional add-ons include magazine subscription (€35-37/year) and ISA Associated or Professional membership (€70-135/year). Membership runs a full calendar year from payment date.
2. Event and training registrations: Revenue from study days, lectures, tree trips, arboweekends, and congresses. Prices vary by event type and membership status (members receive discounted rates). For example, the Rewilding study day costs €125 for members and €250 for non-members.
3. E-commerce merchandise sales: Sale of branded merchandise through the webshop including bags (€8.26), caps (€12.40), and drink bottles (€20.66). Products are priced in EUR including VAT, with separate shipping costs.
4. Magazine 'Bomen' subscriptions: Quarterly publication (March, June, September, December) available as an add-on to membership at €35/year (non-profit) or €37/year (basic), or possibly as standalone subscription through the webshop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bomen Beter Beheren vzw is a Belgian non-profit professional association that delivers forestry and arboricultural education, certification pathways (ETW, ETT, VETcert), and a membership-based community for tree care professionals, municipalities, and green-sector organizations in Belgium and the Netherlands. Its core offerings include tiered annual memberships, technical publications, the quarterly Vakblad Bomen magazine, branded merchandise, and a recurring program of study days, congresses, and the annual Arboweekend. The organization generates revenue through subscription fees, event registrations, and merchandise sales rather than developing or selling its own software or technology products.

Product overview

Bomen Beter Beheren vzw is a non-profit membership organization for tree management professionals in Belgium and the Netherlands. The organization offers a tiered membership structure (Student at €59, Non-Profit at €90, Basic at €115), professional certifications (ETW, ETT, VETcert), educational events and courses, publications including the Charter Boombescherming and Vakblad Bomen magazine, and a merchandise webshop. The products and services are coordinated through a central platform that provides training, certification, knowledge sharing, and member resources for arborists and tree management professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studentenlidmaatschap (Student Membership) Discounted annual membership priced at €59/year for students enrolled in tree care, tree management, or green education programs in Belgium or the Netherlands. Includes significant discounts on activities (study days, tree cafés, lectures), discount on the Belgian tree climbing championship, and participation in the annual tree trip (members only). Optional add-ons include Magazine 'Bomen' 4x/year (+€35) and ISA Associated or Professional membership (+€70-135/year). Runs a full calendar year from payment date.
• Non-profitlidmaatschap (Non-Profit Membership) Group membership priced at €90 per person per year for non-profit organizations and public administrations, with a minimum of 2 members per organization. Provides the same activity discounts as Basic membership but at greater than 20% lower cost. Membership is not tied to specific individuals, allowing the organization to choose which staff attend each study day. Optional Magazine 'Bomen' 4x/year (+€35 per subscription). Several non-profit organizations have joined since the tier was introduced.
• Basis lidmaatschap (Basic Membership) Standard annual individual membership at €115/year for tree care professionals and enthusiasts. Provides significant discounts on activities (study days, tree cafés, lectures, Belgian tree climbing championship), participation in the annual tree trip (members only), and Optional 1: Magazine 'Bomen' 4x/year (+€37). Optional 2: Associated ISA Membership (+€70/year) or Professional ISA Membership (+€135/year). Runs a full calendar year from payment date.
• ETW – European Tree Worker Certificering European Tree Worker certification for professional tree care workers, recognized across Europe. Administered by Bomen Beter Beheren in Belgium through partner opleidingscentra (training centers). Counts toward continuing education hours for working tree care professionals.
• ETT – European Tree Technician Certificering European Tree Technician certification for advanced tree management professionals and technical advisors. Recognized across Europe and administered by Bomen Beter Beheren in Belgium through partner opleidingscentra (training centers). Builds on the ETW certification for those moving into technical advisory roles.
• VETcert – Certified Veteran Tree Specialist Certification for specialists in veteran tree management and preservation. Administered by Bomen Beter Beheren in Belgium, addressing the niche but growing field of veteran tree (old/ancient tree) care and assessment.
• Charter Boombescherming (Tree Protection Charter) A practical step-by-step guide for the construction sector, design and construction companies, clients, and public administrations to include tree experts in project design phases and protect existing trees during construction projects. Aims to ensure construction design coexists with maximum preservation of existing trees. Available as a downloadable publication from the BBB website.
• Vakblad Bomen (Tree Magazine) Quarterly professional journal on tree management published in March, June, September, and December. Available as an add-on to membership at €35/year (non-profit/public administration members) or €37/year (basic members), with the option of standalone subscription through the webshop. Covers professional news, research summaries, and best practices for tree management.
• Europese Standaarden (European Standards) Dutch translations of European standards for tree protection and arboricultural practices, including the European Tree Protection Standard 2025. Produced by BBB volunteers (Wim Peeters of VIVES campus Roeselare & Odisee, and Henk van Scherpenzeel of Vakgroep Boomverzorging Nederland). Available as downloadable content from the BBB website.
• Tas (Bag) Reusable bag with Bomen Beter Beheren logo, priced at €8.26 (including VAT). Shipping costs charged separately. Available through the BBB webshop.
• Muts (Hat) One-size hat featuring the Bomen Beter Beheren logo, priced at €12.40 (including VAT). Shipping costs charged separately. Available through the BBB webshop.
• Drinkfles (Water Bottle) Stainless steel water bottle with Bomen Beter Beheren logo, 500ml capacity, priced at €20.66 (including VAT). Shipping costs charged separately. Available through the BBB webshop.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Green Deal Tuinstraten (Green Deal Garden Streets)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BBB signed this new Green Deal in recent weeks, joining efforts to green street environments. Part of BBB's broader strategy to participate in multiple Green Deals covering different aspects of urban greening.
• Green Deal Lokaal Hout (Green Deal Local Wood)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BBB signed this new Green Deal in recent weeks alongside Green Deal Tuinstraten. Focuses on promoting local wood use, complementing BBB's tree management expertise.
• European Arboricultural Council (EAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EAC is BBB's 'European tree care mother' organization. BBB participates in EAC activities, promotes EAC's R&D grant scheme for tree nursery research, and contributed to European standard translations. EAC awarded the European City of the Trees 2025 award to Hamburg, which BBB reported on. The EAC Study Guide ETT was co-developed with BBB's involvement.
• Provincie Vlaams-BrabantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BBB co-organized the congress 'Bomen als bouwstenen' with Provincie Vlaams-Brabant, held at the Provinciehuis in Leuven on October 6, 2026. The province provides the venue and logistical support while BBB provides content and speakers.
• Green Deal Klimaatadaptieve Omgeving (Green Deal Climate-Adaptive Environment)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Launched in 2023 with over 100 partners (local governments, consultancy firms, architects, contractors, and nature organizations). Goal: make construction projects, urban development, and infrastructure greener. Bomen Beter Beheren actively contributes guidelines, training, and practical support for integrating trees in the built environment. BBB co-developed the 'Wisselboom' (exchange tree) initiative recognizing organizations making space for trees.
• Green Deal Klimaatbestendige Omgeving (Green Deal Climate-Resilient Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Earlier Green Deal participation. BBB is already an active partner contributing to guidelines, training, and practice support for putting trees at the center of urban development.
• Regional working groups (Oost-Vlaanderen/Vlaams Brabant, Antwerpen/Vlaams Brabant NO, West-Vlaanderen, Limburg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Four regional working groups organize local activities and engage members. Each group has its own leadership team of volunteers. Examples: Oost-Vlaanderen/Vlaams Brabant group includes Kjel Dupon, Ben Eylenbosch, Felipe Garcia Fons, Virginie Peeters, Sander Van Coillie, Willem Vanderlinen. These groups bring BBB activities closer to members across different regions.
• Regionale Landschappen (Regional Landscapes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegionale Landschappen is a network of landscape organizations in Flanders working on nature and landscape management. BBB partners with them for joint events and knowledge sharing. Their logo appears on BBB's partners page alongside other key organizations.
• BospluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosplus is active in forestry and tree-related initiatives in Belgium. Partner organization of BBB, appearing on the partners page. Collaboration focuses on shared goals around tree preservation and forest management.
• VVOG (Vlaamse Vereniging voor Onkruidbeheer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVVOG (Flemish Association for Weed Management) is listed as a partner of BBB, suggesting collaboration in the field of vegetation and tree management practices.
• BAAS (Belgian Arborist Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAAS is the Belgian national arborist association. BBB offers Associated ISA Membership in countries where the national arborist organization (like BAAS) has a cooperation agreement with ISA. BBB and BAAS share the goal of professionalizing arboriculture in Belgium.
• ArborescocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArboresco is listed as a partner organization. They receive discounted congress pricing alongside BBB and KPB-ISA members for the 'Bomen als bouwstenen' congress.
• EmbuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbuild (formerly Bouwunie/Federatie van de Bouw) is the most important representative of the construction sector in Flanders. BBB met with Embuild in January 2025 to discuss a protocol for groundwater pumping (bronbemaling), involving the association of well pumpers. BBB was given a podium at Greenexpo by Embuild in September 2024.
• InverdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInverde is a knowledge and training center for green and nature management. Listed as a partner. Tom Joye from Inverde moderated the panel discussion at the 'Toekomst van de Beuk' study day and participated in international symposiums alongside BBB representatives.
• ISA - International Society of ArboricultureflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBBB offers Associated ISA Membership (€70/year) and Professional ISA Membership (€135/year) to members. As a BBB member, administrative tasks are handled by the secretariat. This preferential rate is exclusively available to arborists in countries where English is not the official language and where the national arborist association (like BAAS) has a cooperation agreement with ISA. Members receive the bi-monthly ISA magazine 'Arborist News' (digital or by post) and access to ISA products at discounted rates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BAAS (Belgian Arborist Association): National Belgian arborist association that partners with BBB on the shared goal of professionalizing arboriculture in Belgium. It serves the same Belgian arborist constituency with overlapping certification and event offerings, making it the most direct peer.
• Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA): North American arborist association providing accreditation, training, and publications to tree-care companies. It is the US peer to BBB and is comparable as a membership-based industry association in arboriculture.
• KPB-ISA: Belgian chapter/affiliate of ISA that receives joint discounted pricing with BBB and Arboresco for the 'Bomen als bouwstenen' congress. It overlaps with BBB's Belgian arborist constituency and functions as a peer professional body.
• Arboricultural Association: UK professional body for arboriculture. It is the closest English-language equivalent to BBB, providing certification, training, publications, and member services to arborists, and serves as a comparable peer for benchmarking membership and event models.
• Vakgroep Boomverzorging Nederland: Dutch national tree-care association that co-produced the Dutch translation of the European Tree Protection Standard with BBB. It serves the same Dutch-speaking arborist constituency and competes with BBB for Netherlands-side members.
• Arboresco: Belgian tree organization that receives joint discounted congress pricing alongside BBB and KPB-ISA. It serves an overlapping professional tree-care constituency in Belgium and operates as a comparable peer for membership and events.

Regional players

• Inverde: Flemish knowledge and training center for green and nature management. It partners with BBB on events (e.g., moderating study days) and is comparable as a Flemish green-sector training and education provider.

Emerging players

• Bosplus: Belgian organization active in forestry and tree-related initiatives. It partners with BBB on shared tree preservation and forest-management goals and is comparable as a Belgian tree/forestry membership organization with partial overlap.

Broad incumbents

• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): Global arboriculture professional society; BBB offers preferential ISA membership to Belgian/Dutch arborists through a cooperation agreement. It is the broad incumbent international certification and networking body comparable to BBB's local membership model.
• European Arboricultural Council (EAC): European umbrella body for arboriculture, of which BBB is a member. EAC provides the certification framework (ETT, ETW) that BBB delivers locally and serves as the broader incumbent defining pan-European tree-care standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bomen-beter-beheren

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 BOMEN BETER BEHEREN