Nationale Boomgaardenstichting

What Nationale Boomgaardenstichting does

Nationale Boomgaardenstichting (NBS) is a Belgian non-profit association (vzw), founded in 1985 and based in Vliermaal (Kortessem) in the Flemish Region of Belgium, dedicated to the preservation, study, and promotion of traditional high-stem (hoogstam) orchards. Its core assets are the Genebank Flanders, a living collection of heritage fruit varieties, and Pomologia, a quarterly scientific journal on pome fruit published continuously since 1985. The organization serves hobbyist and semi-professional orchard owners, schools, municipalities, and partner research institutions, and is networked across Benelux heritage-orchard initiatives.

NBS operates on a membership-based model: members receive the Pomologia journal, access the genebank's plant material, and participate in field days, demonstration events, and study trips. Program delivery is increasingly executed in partnership with public bodies (Vlaams Departement Omgeving, LEADER Haspengouw) and applied-research partners such as PXL, with operational orchard services routed through a sister social-purpose entity, NBSW Maatwerk vzw. Recent activity includes a commissioned Milieuzorgplan, mechanical harvesting research and demonstration, an educational outreach project targeting schools, and resumed international study travel.

NBS employs 6 staff. The organization does not disclose revenue, income, or grant totals; funding appears to derive from a mix of member dues, publication subscriptions, project grants (LEADER, regional government), and partnership-funded activities. There is no public-facing commercial product line beyond publications and paid study events, and there is no evidence of equity investment, acquisition activity, or AI/ML capability.

Name

Nationale Boomgaardenstichting

Legal name

Nationale Boomgaardenstichting vzw

Website

https://boomgaardenstichting.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nationale Boomgaardenstichting is a Belgian non-profit (vzw), founded in 1985 and based in Vliermaal, Belgium, that preserves traditional high-stem orchards through its Genebank Flanders collection and Pomologia quarterly journal, serving members, schools, and municipalities across Flanders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orchard Preservation Services

NAICS

Nursery and Tree Production (111421), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (11321)

SIC

Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Collection, Processing & Storage (Provenance/Genetics) (AFAMACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tree Preservation & Construction Site Tree Protection (HSAIADAL), Forest Seed Orchards & Breeding Programs (AFAMADAB), Biodiversity & Habitat Enhancement (Pollinator Strips, Buffer Zones, Riparian Restoration) (AFAGAMAG)

Keywords

• Heritage orchard preservation
• Fruit tree conservation
• Pomology publications
• High-stem orchards
• Orchard advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vliermaal (Kortessem)

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Nationale Boomgaardenstichting vzw preserves, documents, and promotes traditional high-stem orchards and fruit tree biodiversity in Flanders. Its core offerings include the quarterly Pomologia journal, seasonal heritage fruit tree sales via the Plantactie programme, an online shop selling books, propagation materials, and fruit, comprehensive orchard advisory services covering planting, pruning, and pest management, and downloadable educational bundles for schools. The Genebank Flanders conservation programme preserves heritage fruit varieties, and on-site planting and pruning services are delivered through the sister organization NBSW Maatwerk vzw.

Product overview

Nationale Boomgaardenstichting vzw is a Belgian nonprofit organization (vzw = vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and research of high-stem orchards and fruit tree biodiversity in Flanders. The organization operates as a membership-based association offering a combination of publications, advisory services, educational programs, and commercial activities through its shop. Its core offerings include: the quarterly membership journal Pomologia, the Genebank Flanders conservation program for fruit genetics, various orchard projects (including natural orchards, school programs, and food forest initiatives), comprehensive orchard advisory services (covering planting, pruning, pest management, and fruit processing), and a seasonal tree ordering service (plantactie). The organization also provides a shop offering books, materials, and fruit products, and collaborates with social enterprise NBSW Maatwerk for planting and maintenance services. All offerings are interconnected through the organization's mission to preserve Flemish orchard heritage and promote sustainable fruit cultivation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pomologia: The member journal of the Nationale Boomgaardenstichting, published 4 times per year in March, July, September, and December.

Products and services

• Pomologia quarterly journal Quarterly magazine covering traditional orchards, fruit variety profiles, and pomology in Flanders, distributed as a membership benefit to individual orchard owners and enthusiasts.
• Plantactie seasonal fruit tree ordering Seasonal ordering campaign for heritage high-stem fruit trees, fulfilled through regional pickup points in Vliermaal, Mechelen, East Flanders, and West Flanders, targeted at individual orchard owners.
• Online shop (Winkel) Online shop offering pomology books, orchard propagation materials, and seasonal fruit, with bpost shipping at EUR 7 for packages under 2 kg and regional pickup.
• NBSW Maatwerk orchard services Contracted on-site orchard services including planting, pruning, and related maintenance work for heritage high-stem orchards, delivered through the sister organization NBSW Maatwerk vzw for individual owners and municipalities.
• Educational bundles for schools Downloadable educational bundles about traditional orchards, fruit varieties, and biodiversity, developed for Flemish primary and secondary schools under the LEADER project.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NBSW Maatwerk vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBSW Maatwerk vzw is the sister organization of the Nationale Boomgaardenstichting. It carries out practical orchard planting and pruning services on behalf of NBS clients. NBS mentions that the VAT number of NBSW is BE 0479 456 845, and clients wishing to have orchard work done are referred to NBSW. The two organizations share a common mission of orchard preservation.
• Vlaams Departement OmgevingminorOthersIn June 2025, the NBS was commissioned by the Flemish Department of Environment (Vlaams Departement Omgeving) and MINA to write the first draft of an environmental care plan (milieuzorgplan). The plan describes the association's efforts to minimize its ecological footprint and contribute to a future-proof organization.
• De SapmobielminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Sapmobiel is a mobile juicing service linked to the NBS and referenced as a useful partner link. The Sapmobiel offers mobile apple juicing services, with a calendar available on the Sapmobiel website. NBS promotes the Sapmobiel on its homepage.
• EuropomminorOthersEuropom is a European pomology association referenced as a useful link on the NBS website. It is a network organization for European fruit and orchard preservation societies.
• NBS MechelenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional NBS Mechelen is a local branch/distribution point of the Nationale Boomgaardenstichting, facilitating regional participation in tree ordering and orchard activities in the Mechelen area.
• PXL (Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg)minorOthersStudents from PXL (Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg) participated in the NBS's 2025 mechanical harvesting demonstration days (mechanisch oogsten), working together with experienced fruit growers to research the effects of cable shaker and catch-frame harvesting techniques on yield and fruit quality.
• LEADER HaspengouwminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe brochure 'Hoogstamboomgaarden in Haspengouw' (High-stem orchards in Haspengouw) was developed within the LEADER project 'Wandelen als streekproduct' (Walking as a regional product). LEADER is a European rural development programme supporting local action groups in rural areas.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Vlaams Centrum voor Agro- en Visserijmarketing (VLAM): Flemish agri-marketing organization that promotes Flemish agricultural products including fruit. Adjacent ecosystem player that overlaps with NBS on Flemish fruit promotion and education, though not focused on heritage-variety preservation.

Regional players

• Boomgaardenstichting Nederland: Direct Dutch counterpart focused on preservation and promotion of traditional high-stem orchards in the Netherlands. Operates a comparable membership, advisory, tree-sale, and genebank model, making it the most analogous peer to NBS.
• Center for Fruit Culture (Fruktulturcenter) Sweden: Swedish non-profit dedicated to preserving cultivated fruit varieties through inventory, propagation, and educational activities. Closely comparable Nordic counterpart to NBS in non-profit heritage-fruit conservation.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): UK charity promoting horticulture through publications, advice, education, and gardens. Comparable in editorial/journal (e.g., The Garden), member advisory, and educational programming, though at much larger scale and broader scope than NBS.
• East Malling Research (NIAB EMR): Historic UK fruit-research center referenced in NBS's 2025 South England study tour. Comparable in pomology research and orchard-cultivation expertise, though operating as a commercial research institution rather than a member association.
• Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN): Dutch national institute under Wageningen University managing plant genetic resources including fruit collections. Comparable in genetic-resource stewardship mission but operating as a large publicly funded institution rather than a member-driven non-profit.

Direct peers

• European Pomology Network (Europom): European network of pomology and fruit-preservation societies explicitly linked from NBS's website. Directly comparable mission of coordinating heritage-orchard preservation across European countries and amplifying the work of national organizations like NBS.
• ProSpecieRara: Swiss foundation dedicated to preserving rare and heritage plant varieties, including fruit varieties, through a network of conservation gardeners and a membership model. Highly comparable to NBS in mission, structure, and member-driven conservation activities.
• Arche Noah: Austrian non-profit focused on conservation and propagation of heritage seeds and plants, including fruit varieties, via a seed library, membership magazine, and educational programs. Closely mirrors NBS's editorial, educational, and member-based approach.
• Irish Seed Savers Association: Irish non-profit operating an apple variety repository, heritage orchard, and educational programs to conserve traditional fruit varieties. Directly comparable in genebank, educational, and member-publication activities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Nat.Boomgaardenstichting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nationale-boomgaardenstichting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Nationale Boomgaardenstichting