De Groene Grachten
De Groene Grachten is a Dutch sustainability advisory firm founded in 2012 (Amsterdam) that helps owners of monumental and historic buildings plan and execute energy retrofits, serving homeowners, cultural institutions, churches, schools, MKB, and governments through proprietary tools and 25+ specialist advisors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What De Groene Grachten does
De Groene Grachten B.V. is a Dutch sustainability advisory firm founded in 2012 and headquartered in Amsterdam, specializing in the energy transition of monumental and historically valuable buildings. The company employs 25-30 specialists across seven disciplines (building physics, architectural history, installation engineering, climate adaptation, permits, subsidies and financing, and execution management) to deliver services ranging from compact Expert Sessions and official Energielabel certification to comprehensive integral sustainability plans and multi-year execution support. Its core digital products are De Groene Menukaart, an online platform covering 100+ sustainable measures across 18 building types and integrated with 55+ Dutch municipalities, and Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument, a free self-assessment tool that funnels monument owners into paid advisory engagements.
The firm monetizes through a mix of project-based professional advisory fees, government-funded Ontzorgingsprogramma contracts (subsidized free advisory delivered under provincial programs in Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Utrecht, and Zeeland), and the DUMAVA subsidy value chain, where its designated DuMo-adviseur status gives it a near-exclusive role in writing the mandatory advisory report required for cultural/monument subsidy applications covering 20-40% of retrofit costs. It serves five primary segments: homeowners and VvE's owning historic residential property, governments (provinces and municipalities), maatschappelijk vastgoed (cultural institutions, churches, schools, theatres, museums), MKB in historic commercial premises, and area-based collectives pursuing heat transition. Distribution combines direct field advisory, government referral channels, the De Groene Menukaart municipal integrations, and the annual Week van het Duurzaam Erfgoed conference co-organized with Nationaal Restauratiefonds and Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed.
In 2026, De Groene Grachten joined Stella Groep, a five-organization collective (with WarmteTransitieMakers, Greenvis, Endor Energy, and NIWT) bundling building-level monument expertise with area-level heat transition specialists. The company has expanded its De Groene Menukaart methodology into Spain, Portugal, and Italy (2025), and participates in the LIFE BIOMATINE European consortium developing biobased insulation for historic social housing. It has received FD Gazelle recognition for six consecutive years (2020-2025) and targets providing all 140,000 Dutch monuments with a sustainable plan.
De Groene Grachten firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- De Groene Grachten
- Legal name
- De Groene Grachten B.V.
- Website
- https://degroenegrachten.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- De Groene Grachten is a Dutch sustainability advisory firm founded in 2012 (Amsterdam) that helps owners of monumental and historic buildings plan and execute energy retrofits, serving homeowners, cultural institutions, churches, schools, MKB, and governments through proprietary tools and 25+ specialist advisors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
De Groene Grachten industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heritage Building Sustainability Advisory
- NAICS
- Building Inspection Services (54135)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)
Keywords
Where De Groene Grachten is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
De Groene Grachten business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Advisory Services: Core revenue stream from consulting services. The Expertsessie provides compact expert site visits and targeted advice for specific questions. Advies op Maat (Custom Advice) delivers comprehensive integral sustainability plans including building intake, energy modeling, scenario development, and roadmaps. Services are priced as one-time professional engagements with billing based on scope and project complexity. Revenue is predominantly one-time/project-based with some recurring from monitoring and execution management phases.
- Execution & Project Management: Ongoing revenue from project execution management including permit applications, contractor selection, quality control during construction, and usage monitoring/handover. This phase follows advisory engagements and can extend multi-year per project, providing recurring revenue from existing clients.
- Free Tools & Government-Funded Programs: De Groene Menukaart and Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument serve as freemium lead generation tools. De Groene Grachten also delivers subsidized/free advisory through government-funded Ontzorgingsprogramma (Disburdening Programs) funded by provinces (Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Utrecht, Zeeland) for MKB and maatschappelijk vastgoed. These programs generate revenue from government contracts while generating leads for paid services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Expertsessie - Compact expert advisory session for specific questions |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Advies op Maat - Comprehensive integral sustainability advisory |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | EPA-Maatwerkadvies / Energielabel - Official energy performance certification |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Ontzorgingsprogramma Maatschappelijk Vastgoed - Free subsidized advisory for cultural institutions |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Ontzorgingsprogramma MKB - Free advisory for small businesses in historical buildings |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
De Groene Grachten product offering
Product offeringCore offering
De Groene Grachten is a specialized sustainability advisory firm that helps owners of monumental and historical buildings in the Netherlands make their properties more energy-efficient and sustainable while preserving heritage character. Their core offerings include compact expert advisory sessions, comprehensive custom sustainability plans (Advies op Maat), official Energy Performance Advice (EPA-Maatwerkadvies/Energielabel), planning services, and full execution management. These advisory services are supported by two proprietary digital tools: De Groene Menukaart, an online platform with 100+ sustainable measures across 18 building types in 55+ municipalities, and Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument, a free self-assessment tool for monument owners.
Product overview
De Groene Grachten operates as a sustainability advisory firm for historical monuments and buildings in the Netherlands, offering a portfolio of interconnected services and digital tools. The core offering consists of advisory services (Expertsessie, Advies op Maat, EPA-Maatwerkadvies) that help property owners assess and plan sustainable renovations, supported by planning (Planvorming) and execution support (Uitvoerbegeleiding) services. These are complemented by two key digital tools: De Groene Menukaart (an online platform providing sustainable measures information for 18 building types) and Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument (a free self-service assessment tool). The company also provides knowledge-sharing services including lectures, workshops, and the annual Week van het Duurzaam Erfgoed event. Together, these products and services form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting monument owners from initial assessment through implementation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- De Groene Menukaart: An online tool for homeowners to discover sustainable opportunities for historic buildings, covering 100+ measures and 18 building types including houses, churches, mills, forts, museums, theaters, and estates.
- Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument
Products and services
- De Groene Menukaart
- Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument
- Expertsessie
- Advies op Maat (Custom Advice)
- EPA-Maatwerkadvies / Energielabel
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy savings of 18,674 kWh/year for theatre LED lighting upgrade
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use De Groene Grachten
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
De Groene Grachten technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
De Groene Grachten partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Stella GroepcoreStella Groep is a five-organization collective formed June 2026, bundling De Groene Grachten with WarmteTransitieMakers, Greenvis, Endor Energy, and Het Nederlands Instituut voor Warmtetransitie (NIWT). The collective aims to accelerate the energy transition of the built environment from building to area level. De Groene Grachten contributes its monument and heritage building expertise to the collective, which operates as a unified commercial entity.
- LIFE BIOMATINE ConsortiumcoreEuropean LIFE program consortium including municipality Amsterdam, BOEi, Lieven de Key (housing corporation), Building Balance, Structural Collective, and De Groene Grachten. Project promotes biobased insulation in historic social housing and monuments in Amsterdam (Spaarndammerbuurt: 556 homes; Centrale Markthal). De Groene Grachten serves as expert partner for technical, legal, and financial feasibility studies and advisory. Targets 1,500 homes, 10 monuments, 350,000 kg CO2 avoided.
- Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science)coreGovernment ministry providing strategic backing for the monument sustainability mission. The Ministry's support legitimizes De Groene Grachten's work in the heritage sector and aligns with national cultural preservation policy.
- TU DelftcoreTechnical university partnership providing research and academic credibility. TU Delft contributes technical expertise and research capabilities to monument sustainability innovation.
- Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands)coreCo-organizer of the Week van het Duurzaam Erfgoed alongside Nationaal Restauratiefonds and De Groene Grachten. Government agency responsible for national heritage policy, providing regulatory alignment and sector authority.
- Nationaal Restauratiefonds (National Restoration Fund)coreCo-organizer of the Week van het Duurzaam Erfgoed alongside Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed and De Groene Grachten. Key financial partner providing subsidized loans and grants for monument restoration and sustainability projects.
- Provincie Noord-HollandcoreProvincial government that funds the Ontzorgingsprogramma Maatschappelijk Vastgoed, under which De Groene Grachten delivers free advisory to cultural institutions, religious heritage, and other social real estate in the province. Direct funding channel.
- Provincie Noord-BrabantminorProvincial government partner supporting monument sustainability initiatives in Noord-Brabant.
- Provincie LimburgminorProvincial government partner supporting monument sustainability initiatives in Limburg.
- Provincie OverijsselminorProvincial government partner supporting monument sustainability initiatives in Overijssel.
- Provincie Noord-HollandminorDuplicate - same provincial partner as above.
- Gemeente AmsterdamcoreMunicipal government partner and host city. Collaboration on De Groene Menukaart Amsterdam edition and the LIFE BIOMATINE project. Also partner in 'De kade als energiefabriek' initiative for kademuren renovation.
- Gemeente LeidenminorMunicipal government partner supporting monument sustainability initiatives in Leiden.
- Gemeente GroningenminorMunicipal government partner supporting monument sustainability initiatives in Groningen.
- Monumentenwacht Noord-HollandminorMonument inspection and advisory organization for Noord-Holland, providing building condition assessments and referring monument owners to De Groene Grachten for sustainability advice.
- Monumentenwacht Noord-BrabantminorMonument inspection and advisory organization for Noord-Brabant, providing building condition assessments and referring monument owners for sustainability advice.
- Duurzaam BouwloketminorSustainable construction information platform providing guidance on sustainable building practices, with cross-referral relationship with De Groene Grachten for monument-specific sustainability queries.
- Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)minorGovernment agency for entrepreneurship and sustainability, providing national subsidy frameworks (ISDE, EIA) that De Groene Grachten helps clients navigate.
- VNG (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten)minorAssociation of Dutch Municipalities, representing and supporting municipal governments in sustainability policy, including monument retrofits.
- EIT Climate KICminorEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community, providing European network and support for climate innovation in the built environment.
- BOEiminorMonument development organization within LIFE BIOMATINE consortium, owner of the Centrale Markthal pilot project. Collaborates with De Groene Grachten on biobased insulation feasibility and execution.
- Building BalanceminorSustainability organization within LIFE BIOMATINE consortium contributing to biobased insulation research and knowledge sharing for historic buildings.
- Structural CollectiveminorTechnical engineering collective within LIFE BIOMATINE consortium providing structural engineering expertise for biobased insulation solutions in monumental buildings.
- Lieven de KeycoreAmsterdam housing corporation and owner of the monumentale Tasmanblokken complex (557 homes). Within LIFE BIOMATINE, De Groene Grachten conducts feasibility studies and provides advisory for biobased wood fiber insulation. De Groene Grachten also consulted on a permit for heat pump on the roof and permission for vacuüm-glas (vacuum glass) at Reguliersgracht location.
- De WarmteTransitieMakerscoreHeat transition specialists who developed zonetechniekkaarten (heat technology maps) for historic city centers including Haarlem. Partnered with De Groene Grachten to combine building-level expertise with area-level heat transition planning. De WarmteTransitieMakers is also part of Stella Groep collective. The partnership developed an integrated approach for historic city centers making the heat transition feasible in historic areas.
- Gemeente HaarlemminorMunicipal government partner for the heat transition project in Haarlem's historic city center. Collaborates with De Groene Grachten and De WarmteTransitieMakers on developing area-based heat transition approaches.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
De Groene Grachten competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BOEi: BOEi is a Dutch foundation that develops and repurposes monumental buildings. Both operate at the intersection of heritage preservation and energy transition in the Netherlands, and are explicit co-partners in the LIFE BIOMATINE consortium, with DGG advising on biobased insulation for BOEi's Centrale Markthal pilot.
- Stadsherstel Amsterdam: Amsterdam-based organization that acquires, restores, and maintains heritage buildings. Stadsherstel works on the same Dutch monumental building stock as De Groene Grachten; Stadsherstel focuses on ownership and physical restoration while DGG focuses on sustainability advisory, making them complementary as well as comparable.
- W/E Adviseurs: Dutch building physics and sustainability consultancy serving the Dutch built environment. Both deliver sustainability and energy advisory for Dutch property owners; W/E Adviseurs operates across all building types while DGG specializes in monuments, putting them in direct competition for the heritage subset.
- DWA (Bureau voor Energie): Dutch energy and sustainability consultancy providing technical advice for buildings, installations, and renewable energy. Comparable to DGG as a Dutch-focused energy advisory firm, though DWA covers the full building stock and energy infrastructure rather than specializing in heritage.
- Duurzaam Bouwloket: Dutch sustainability information platform providing guidance to property owners on sustainable building practices. Both serve as primary Dutch sustainability information hubs with a cross-referral relationship explicitly noted in DGG's data, but Duurzaam Bouwloket focuses on generic residential guidance while DGG specializes in monuments.
- Nationaal Restauratiefonds: Dutch National Restoration Fund providing subsidized loans and grants for monument restoration and sustainability. Both co-organize the Week van het Duurzaam Erfgoed and serve the same Dutch heritage building market, but the Restauratiefonds provides financing while DGG provides the sustainability advisory that often precedes a loan application.
- WarmteTransitieMakers: Dutch heat-transition specialists developing area-level approaches such as zonetechniekkaarten for historic city centers (e.g., Haarlem). Closely comparable to DGG as a heritage-aware built-environment sustainability firm; the two are co-partners in the Stella Groep collective and jointly pursue area-based historic-center projects.
Broad incumbents
- Arcadis: Major Dutch-headquartered engineering and sustainability consultancy. Operates broadly across the Dutch built environment with sustainability and energy advisory practices that overlap with DGG, but serves all asset types globally rather than specializing in monuments.
- Sweco: European engineering consultancy with significant Dutch operations providing sustainability, energy, and building physics advisory. Comparable as a broad incumbent in Dutch building sustainability, though Sweco is far larger and more diversified than the monument-focused DGG.
- Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC): Dutch organization administering BREEAM-NL certification and broader sustainable-building policy. Overlaps with DGG in setting sustainability standards for the Dutch built environment, but DGBC focuses on certification frameworks rather than project-level monument advisory.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
De Groene Grachten social profiles
Digital presenceDe Groene Grachten financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
De Groene Grachten leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
De Groene Grachten funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
De Groene Grachten 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 De Groene Grachten
What does De Groene Grachten do?
De Groene Grachten is a specialized sustainability advisory firm that helps owners of monumental and historical buildings in the Netherlands make their properties more energy-efficient and sustainable while preserving heritage character. Their core offerings include compact expert advisory sessions, comprehensive custom sustainability plans (Advies op Maat), official Energy Performance Advice (EPA-Maatwerkadvies/Energielabel), planning services, and full execution management. These advisory services are supported by two proprietary digital tools: De Groene Menukaart, an online platform with 100+ sustainable measures across 18 building types in 55+ municipalities, and Zelfscan Duurzaam Monument, a free self-assessment tool for monument owners.
Is De Groene Grachten a public or private company?
De Groene Grachten is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was De Groene Grachten founded?
De Groene Grachten was founded in 2012.
Where is De Groene Grachten based?
De Groene Grachten is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does De Groene Grachten make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are execution & Project Management and free Tools & Government-Funded Programs.
Who are De Groene Grachten's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BOEi, Stadsherstel Amsterdam, W/E Adviseurs, DWA (Bureau voor Energie), Duurzaam Bouwloket, Nationaal Restauratiefonds and WarmteTransitieMakers. Broad incumbents are Arcadis, Sweco and Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC).
Does De Groene Grachten have an API?
No public API is recorded for De Groene Grachten.
What industry is De Groene Grachten in?
De Groene Grachten's product category is Heritage Building Sustainability Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAK, Sustainability & ESG Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54135.