CIV Water

What CIV Water does

CIV Water (Centrum voor Innovatief Vakmanschap Water) is a Dutch vocational education innovation center founded in 2013 and headquartered at WaterCampus Leeuwarden, Friesland. The organization operates as a public-private partnership bridging mbo (vocational) educational institutions and the Dutch water sector to develop 'wendbare vakmensen' (agile professionals) for water industry roles. Its core offering is the Rijke Hybride Leeromgeving (Rich Hybrid Learning Environment) — a teaching methodology that integrates classroom learning with workplace practice from the start of a program — wrapped around a catalog of 20+ co-developed training trajectories including Drinkwatertechniek (with Vitens), Waterkwantiteit (with Wetterskip Fryslân), Onderwaterdronepiloot, Analist van de Toekomst, and various keuzedelen (MBO elective modules), plus event formats such as Makathons, Nationale Projectweek Water, and Internationale Projectweken Water.

The organization is structured as a collaboration rather than a traditional corporate entity. It has a small core team of 10 staff (program manager, project leaders, project coordinators, internationalization support, three 'rode draad' anchor teachers, and a strategic advisor) and an extended network of partner schools (MBO Life Sciences/Aeres, Firda, Friesland College, Nordwin College, Deltion, Terra, Noorderpoort, Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein, NHL Stenden) and water sector clients (Vitens, Wetterskip Fryslân, Waterschap Noorderzijlvest, Waterschap Drents Overijsselse Delta, Waterschap Hunze & Aa's, WLN, Wetsus, Indymo, Staatsbosbeheer, It Fryske Gea). All programs are custom-developed in collaboration with clients and funded through public-private arrangements, Dutch educational and regional subsidies, and EU grants; no public pricing exists. The organization does not develop proprietary software products — its core 'technology' is its hybrid learning methodology, with recent additions including a VR/digital twin module for the Woudagemaal pumping station (developed with NHL Stenden).

CIV Water's go-to-market is hybrid: event-driven (conferences, project weeks, makathons, hackathons, EuroSkills) generates student and community awareness; community-led Learning Communities anchored in the WaterCampus Leeuwarden ecosystem sustain long-term relationships; and sales-led direct outreach closes custom training contracts with water boards, drinking water companies, and water tech firms. The organization co-founded the international PoVE Water platform in 2019 and the BARCOVE applied-research project in 2023, extending its model into Erasmus+ COVE partnerships across 8+ countries. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

CIV Water

Legal name

CIV Water

Website

https://civwater.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIV Water is a Dutch vocational education center that bridges mbo schools and the water sector through hybrid learning programs, developing custom training trajectories for water utilities, water boards, and students across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Treatment, Filtration & Softening Systems (EDAOACAJ)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Water sector education
• Mbo professional development
• Hybrid learning programs
• Water workforce training

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. Government-subsidized vocational training programs: CIV Water operates as a Centre for Innovative Craftsmanship (Centrum voor Innovatief Vakmanschap), a publicly funded vocational excellence initiative in the Netherlands. Revenue is derived from public-private partnership funding, subsidies, and co-funded training programs with partners. The organization develops custom training trajectories paid for by water sector companies and government bodies, with support from Dutch educational and regional development funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIV Water (Centrum voor Innovatief Vakmanschap Water) is a Dutch Center for Innovative Craftsmanship that develops and facilitates vocational training programs (ontwikkeltrajecten) bridging Dutch mbo vocational education with the water sector industry. The organization co-creates custom development trajectories with drinking water companies, water management boards, and mbo schools, delivering training programs, courses, project weeks, makathons, keuzedelen, and masterclasses that develop agile water-sector professionals through a hybrid learning model combining classroom instruction and workplace practice.

Product overview

CIV Water (Centrum voor Innovatief Vakmanschap Water) is an educational innovation center that operates as a platform of development trajectories and programs rather than a single product. The core offerings include long-running training programs (Waterkwantiteit, Drinkwatertechniek, Analist van de Toekomst), event-based programs (Makathons, Masterclasses, Projectweken), elective modules (Keuzedelen), and specialized courses (Drones, Underwaterdronepiloot, Milieuadviesbureau). All programs are developed collaboratively with educational institutions and water sector companies, featuring a hybrid learning approach that combines theoretical knowledge with practical workplace experience. The Rijke Hybride Leeromgeving serves as the overarching educational framework connecting all products, while the Ontwikkeltraject Woudagemaal represents an innovative digital twin/VR-based training development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Waterkwantiteit A 31-week training program for new rayonbeheerders (area managers) covering water quantity management, water system management, supervision and enforcement, and asset management. Developed in collaboration with Wetterskip Fryslân and MBO Life Sciences.
• Drinkwatertechniek Professional development training established in 2015 with Vitens, expanding knowledge of operators, mechanics, and technicians on drinking water distribution, geohydrology, extraction and purification, with emphasis on uniform working methods. Also offered as a keuzedeel (elective module) for mbo students.
• Analist van de Toekomst Four-module training program for drinking water professionals covering innovative technologies including DNA techniques, screening methods, online sensing, and effect-monitoring. Developed with Vitens, WLN, and Firda.
• Beheer en Onderhoud Watersystemen Three-day course for field professionals covering systematic maintenance and management of water systems, aquatic ecology, nature legislation, and climate change impacts.
• Makathons Large brainstorming sessions where mbo students and professionals from the water sector meet at companies to work on practical challenges and develop innovative solutions.
• Nationale Projectweek Water Annual national project week where mbo students learn about water purification and the water cycle, build mini water purification installations, conduct analyses, and visit the WaterCampus and Wetterskip Fryslân.
• Internationale Projectweken Water International two-week program where students from abroad work with Leeuwarden students on water purification, building water treatment installations and visiting the Kameleon island.
• Onderwaterdronepiloot Module teaching students to operate underwater drones for water quality measurements, GIS work, fieldwork, data processing, and LEGO robot programming. Collaboration between MBO and HBO students.
• Drones Course series preparing MBO Life Sciences students to handle drones professionally, providing foundation for official certification. Developed with Wetterskip Fryslân.
• Keuzedelen (Elective Modules) Set of elective modules for mbo students including Toekomstbestendig waterbeheer (Future-proof Water Management), Drinkwatertechniek (Drinking Water Technology), Afvalwater (Wastewater), and Waterkwaliteit (Water Quality).
• Masterclasses Short courses organized on burning topics where teachers, students, and professionals want to learn more. Topics have included Didactics, DNA Techniques, Wendbaar Vakmanschap (Agile Craftsmanship), and Bioinformatics.
• Ontwikkeltraject Woudagemaal E-learning module using a digital twin developed by NHL Stenden for Virtual Reality (VR) experience of the Woudagemaal pumping station. Enables operators to safely practice and learn processes without the station running.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46+ mbo students from 4 institutions participated in the 2025 National Project Week — a record, with demand so high some students were turned away
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.

• NHL Stenden HogeschoolsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Partnering in the Woudagemaal digital twin development — NHL Stenden developed the VR replica of the Woudagemaal pumping station that CIV Water is using as the basis for its VR/AR training module.
• BARCOVE Project (Building an Applied Research Facility Into CoVE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Started in 2023 based on the success of PoVE Water. Improves research skills of mbo-4 students — a group that normally only gets research experience at hbo and university level. Covers both water research and urban greening. Partners include Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein and international collaborators.
• Waterschap NoorderzijlvestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Water management board (merged into other bodies in some reorganizations). Worked with CIV Water on Asset Management training (2022), Introductiecursus Handhaving (2017), and Ecologisch waterbeheer in de praktijk program.
• Sportvisserij Groningen DrenthesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Fisheries organization contributing to the Ecologisch waterbeheer in de praktijk course, bringing practical knowledge of fish migration and aquatic ecology.
• WaddenfondssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Wadden Sea fund supporting the Ecologisch waterbeheer in de praktijk course, contributing to financing the program on Dutch Wadden region water ecology.
• WLN (Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Nederland)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Northern Netherlands water laboratory network. Partner in the Analist van de Toekomst training program, contributing technical expertise in water analysis and quality.
• PoVE Water (Platform of Vocational Excellence Water)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Cofounded by CIV Water in 2019 (with roots going back to 2014 EU investigation). An EU-aligned initiative under the Erasmus+ COVE program that connects mbo vocational education with the water sector internationally. Involves partners from 8+ countries. Runs international project weeks, teacher training weeks, hackathons, and barcodec research skill development for mbo students.
• Erasmus+ COVE ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019European Commission program (2021-2027, €400 million) for establishing dozens of Centres of Vocational Excellence (COVEs). CIV Water, through PoVE Water, is one of the founding initiatives behind this program. The COVE network creates international frameworks for vocational education in water technology and related sectors.
• Hogeschool Van Hall LaronsteinmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017University of applied sciences with water and environmental programs. Partner in the Onderwaterdronepiloot module — hbo students handle data analysis and processing while mbo students focus on operation, technology, and data collection. Also partner in the BARCOVE project.
• Indymo BVsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Underwater drone supplier and technology partner for the Onderwaterdronepiloot module. Provided drone hardware and technical expertise for the development of the underwater drone pilot training program.
• StaatsbosbeheermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Dutch national forest and nature management organization. Co-developed the Waterbeheer voor natuurbeheerders (Water Management for Nature Managers) 3-day course with CIV Water and It Fryske Gea, aiming to strengthen collaboration between water managers and nature managers.
• It Fryske GeamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Regional nature management organization for Friesland. Co-developed the Waterbeheer voor natuurbeheerders course with CIV Water and Staatsbosbeheer.
• Waterschap Drents Overijsselse DeltacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Water management board partnered with CIV Water for Watersysteembeheer courses (also offered in 2016), and Beheer en onderhoud training programs. Also participated in Introductiecursus Handhaving.
• VitenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Vitens is the largest drinking water company in the Netherlands. CIV Water developed the Drinkwatertechniek training program with Vitens in 2015 to broaden knowledge and develop new skills for Vitens operators, technicians, and mechanics. Additional joint programs include Analist van de Toekomst, Procescontrollers en Procestechnici, and Veilig werken met chemicaliën.
• WetsusmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology. Connected with CIV Water following a 2014 WaterCampus business event. Collaborates through PoVE Water and at the Wetsus Congress. EU representative for Wetsus and WaterCampus approached CIV Water to connect mbo education with international water sector partners.
• Wetterskip FryslâncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Water management board for Friesland province. Partnered with CIV Water on Waterkwantiteit (31-week rayonbeheerders course), Drones pilot program, Waterbeheer voor natuurbeheerders, and the Woudagemaal VR/digital twin training development.
• MBO Life SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Vocational college with water, laboratory, and environmental programs. Core educational partner involved in the Milieuadviesbureau, Drinkwatertechniek, Onderwaterdronepiloot, and numerous other training programs. Provides teacher hours and student cohorts.
• Aeres MBO LeeuwardencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Vocational college (part of the Aeres group). Core partner in Makathons, Milieuadviesbureau, Nationale Projectweek Water, and multiple other trajectories. Provides student cohorts and teaching staff.
• FirdacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Vocational college (mbo) specializing in, among others, laboratory technology. Core partner in Makathons, Analist van de Toekomst, International Project Weeks Water, and the Woudagemaal digital twin training. Firda has participated in EuroSkills as part of national representation.
• Friesland CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Vocational college in Friesland — one of the founding educational partners. Signed performance contracts in 2015 as part of the core partner group. Involved in the broader CIV Water network.
• Nordwin CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Vocational college in the northern Netherlands — one of the founding educational partners. Signed performance contracts in 2015 as part of the core partner group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Others

• Dutch Water Authorities (Unie van Waterschappen): Association of all Dutch water boards, coordinating policy, HR, and innovation across the regional water authorities. Comparable as the umbrella of the water-board partners CIV Water depends on (Wetterskip Fryslân, Waterschap Noorderzijlvest, etc.); relevant because changes in its HR/skills priorities directly affect CIV Water's demand.
• Wageningen University & Research - Water Group: Major Dutch university with water and environmental research and education. Relevant because it shapes Dutch water-sector R&D and talent, and is geographically adjacent to the WaterCampus ecosystem, but operates at academic research/degree level rather than vocational.
• European Federation of National Associations of Water Services (EurEau): European federation representing national water-utility associations on EU policy, training, and skills agendas. Comparable because it shapes the European water-skills agenda in which CIV Water's PoVE Water operates, but it is an industry association rather than a training provider.

Direct peers

• Vlario: Flemish knowledge and coordination center for the sewer and water sector, running training, events, and innovation programs for Flemish municipalities and contractors. Comparable to CIV Water in its public-private model and its role bridging vocational training and the water sector, but serving Flanders rather than the Netherlands.
• Wateropleidingen: Dutch training provider delivering courses and certification for drinking water and wastewater professionals. Most directly comparable to CIV Water in terms of audience (water sector workforce), subject matter (drinking water technology, process control), and Dutch B2B training model.

Broad incumbents

• KWR Watercycle Research Institute: Dutch water research institute performing applied scientific research for drinking water companies and water boards, with training and knowledge-transfer activities. Comparable because it serves the same Dutch water-sector employers as CIV Water and participates in workforce capability building, but is research-led rather than MBO-vocational.
• Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein: Dutch University of Applied Sciences offering water and environmental programs and partnering with CIV Water on joint MBO-HBO modules. Comparable because it addresses the same Dutch water-employer demand, but as a degree-granting HBO institution rather than a vocational MBO-focused center.
• IHE Delft Institute for Water Education: UNESCO-category institute delivering postgraduate water education and capacity development globally, including for water utilities and ministries. Comparable in its mission to build water-sector workforce capacity, but operating at MSc/PhD level rather than vocational MBO, and with a global rather than Dutch focus.
• Wetsus: European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology based at WaterCampus Leeuwarden; conducts applied research and hosts events and learning labs for water-tech professionals. Co-located with CIV Water and overlapping in water-education activities, but with a research/university-style mission and broader scope.

Regional players

• Aqua for All: Dutch foundation supporting safe water and sanitation entrepreneurship and capacity building in developing countries. Comparable as a Dutch-anchored organization with a water-sector capacity-development mission and international programs, but focused on emerging-market WASH rather than Dutch MBO vocational training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/civwater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CIV Water