EL CID Introductieweek Leiden

What EL CID Introductieweek Leiden does

EL CID Introductieweek Leiden is a non-profit student organization that operates the official annual introduction week for first-year students at five Leiden educational institutions: Universiteit Leiden, Hogeschool Leiden, and three mbo institutions (mbo Rijnland, ROC Mondriaan, Leidse Instrumentenmakers School). Established in the late 1960s, the organization runs a five-day orientation program each August (scheduled August 10-14, 2026), serving approximately 3,500 first-year students per cycle. Governance rests with a rotating board of six full-time student board members (Voorzitter, Vicevoorzitter, Secretaris, Penningmeester, and two portfolio leads) who serve one-year terms, supported by three standing committees (VrijCie, AcCie, MediaCie) and a network of over 1,000 upper-year volunteers serving as Mentors, Crew, MediaCrew, and other roles.

The core offering is the annual five-day program structured around small mentor-led groups (approximately 15 students per group) that rotate through information markets, study association blocks, city tours, the LEF closing festival, and an afterparty. The technology stack includes a digital event management platform with QR-code wristbands for participant identification and access control, plus a custom mobile application providing event schedules, venue information, and city/association details from registration through October. Revenue is generated primarily through a €99 per-participant registration fee that covers vegetarian meals, wristband access, and app subscription, supplemented by ancillary streams including optional sleep hall accommodation, afterparty tickets (€4.50), public LEF festival tickets (€10), and tiered replacement fees for lost wristbands. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through elcidweek.nl and via institutional email invitations sent by the five partner schools to incoming students.

Name

EL CID Introductieweek Leiden

Legal name

EL CID (Enige Leidse Commissie Introductie Dagen)

Website

https://elcidweek.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EL CID Introductieweek Leiden is a non-profit student organization that runs the official annual five-day introduction week for approximately 3,500 first-year students from Universiteit Leiden, Hogeschool Leiden, and three Leiden mbo schools, governed by a rotating student board and supported by over 1,000 volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Orientation Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Onsite Operations & Event Staffing Management (THAHACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms (THAHAFAB), Housing & Travel Booking + Registration (Integrated Event Housing) (THAHAFAH)

Keywords

• Student orientation programs
• Introduction week services
• Student life events
• Campus integration services
• Higher education events

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiden

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Participant Registration Fees: One-time registration fee of €99 per participant covering daily lunches, evening meals, wristband access, and app subscription.
2. Sleep Hall Accommodation: Optional paid accommodation at Universitair Sportcentrum from August 9-14, 2026. Small additional fee on top of registration.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Afterparty tickets sold at €4.50. Leids Eerstejaars Festival (LEF) tickets at €10 for general public (participants/volunteers free).
4. Lost Wristband Replacement: Replacement wristbands available at decreasing rates: €79 (Tuesday), €59 (Wednesday), €39 (Thursday), €9 (Friday).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EL CID organizes the official five-day introduction program for incoming first-year students of Universiteit Leiden, Hogeschool Leiden, and the Leiden mbo institutions, running annually (e.g., August 10-14, 2026). The program delivers mentor-guided group activities across the city, study orientation sessions, an information market with 100+ student and study associations, social events including a closing festival (LEF) and afterparty, and digital support via a mobile app and QR-coded wristband for seamless event access. Participants pay a €99 registration fee that covers daily lunch and dinner, wristband access, and the app subscription; optional add-ons include sleeping hall accommodation and festival tickets.

Product overview

EL CID Introductieweek Leiden is a student introduction week organization that operates as a single integrated program for first-year students. The core offering is the annual EL CID Introductieweek (August 10-14, 2026), which provides participants with mentor-guided group activities, an informational mobile app, and optional sleeping hall accommodation. Supporting the main event are three volunteer committees (VrijCie, AcCie, MediaCie) and various volunteer roles including Mentors, Crew, Sjoof drivers, FoodCrew, Night Watch, and MediaCrew. The organization also runs an afterparty event as a follow-up to the main week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LEF (Leids Eerstejaars Festival): The highlight festival of the EL CID week, taking place on Thursday at Park Landskroon featuring music artists and entertainment.
• VrijCie (VrijwilligersCommissie)
• AcCie (ActiviteitenCommissie)
• MediaCie (MediaCommissie)

Products and services

• EL CID Introductieweek 2026 The official five-day introduction week program for incoming first-year students of Universiteit Leiden, Hogeschool Leiden, and the Leiden mbo institutions, combining mentor-led group activities, an information market, city tours, social events, and a closing festival to orient participants to Leiden's city, study, and student life. Registration (€99) includes daily vegetarian lunch and dinner, wristband access, and app subscription.
• EL CID Mobile App Mobile application for registered participants providing event schedules, venue information, association listings, study-program information, and practical tips for student life in Leiden. Included in the standard registration fee and active from registration through the end of October.
• Slaapzaal (Sleeping Hall) Accommodation Optional overnight accommodation for participants at the Universitair Sportcentrum in Leiden, available August 9-14, 2026, for students who have not yet secured permanent housing. Sold separately on top of the €99 registration fee; participants bring their own mat, sleeping bag, and pillow.
• EL CID Afterparty Post-event celebration with music and social activities for EL CID mentor groups, with general-public tickets sold at €4.50 per person.
• LEF (Leids Eerstejaars Festival) Highlight festival of the EL CID week with music artists and entertainment at Park Landskroon on the Thursday of the introduction week; tickets free for registered participants and volunteers, €10 for general public.
• EL CID Polsbandje (Wristband Access Pass) QR-coded wristband issued to verified participants upon registration that grants access to all EL CID events throughout the week, with color variations distinguishing participants under 18 from those 18 and older.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 3,500 first-year students participate annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sligro LeidencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSligro Leiden provides catering services for the EL CID week, including daily lunches and evening meals. Partnership focuses on sustainability: vegetarian meals only, separating lunch waste, using recyclable cups instead of plastic, and electric delivery vehicles.
• Voedselbank LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll unopened leftover food from lunches is donated to Voedselbank Leiden, reducing waste while supporting the local community.
• Studentenverenigingen (Student Associations)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFive major student associations (Minerva, Augustinus, SSR, Catena, Quintus) participate in events like the Voorzittersdebat and Veelzijdige Verenigingen Avond. Many associations offer special introduction programs during EL CID.
• Universiteit LeidencoreOthersThe organizing institution that commissions the EL CID board to run the introduction program. Provides office space at Studentencentrum Plexus and coordinates with other educational institutions.
• Watersportverenigingen LeidenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious water sports associations in Leiden participate in the Watersportmarkt event, showcasing sports and offering trial sessions during the introduction week.
• StudieverenigingenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDozens of study associations throughout Leiden organize activities during EL CID, including games, pub quizzes, and brunches. Part of the Studieblok program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Leidsch Studenten Genootschap Minerva: One of the five major Leiden student associations that partners with EL CID during the Voorzittersdebat and other events. Relevant as an ecosystem participant whose membership funnel depends on EL CID week.

Direct peers

• Amsterdam University College Intro Week: Introduction programming for incoming students at a Dutch university college. Smaller in scale but uses the same model of mentor groups, city orientation, and association integration that EL CID operates at much larger volume.
• Introductieweek Universiteit Utrecht: Utrecht University's official introduction week for incoming students. Operates the same model of mentor groups, association info market, and week-long social/academic program delivered by a student committee — directly comparable in function and audience.
• KEI-week Groningen: The annual introduction week for first-year students at the University of Groningen and Hanze UAS. Closely comparable in scope, structure (mentor groups, info market, festival, sleep accommodation) and non-profit student-board governance.
• OWL (Orientation Week Leiden): The complementary orientation week in the same city, run for international students at Leiden's institutions. It mirrors EL CID's model (mentor-led, registration-driven, app-supported) for a parallel cohort, making it the closest functional peer operating side-by-side with EL CID.

Broad incumbents

• Hogeschool Leiden: Co-commissioning institution that channels its hbo students into EL CID. Operates adjacent student-life and orientation services internally and is therefore both a channel partner and a partial overlapping provider.
• Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Netherlands: National network of ESN sections that organize orientation and social programming for international (primarily exchange) students across Dutch universities. Overlaps with EL CID's international-student orientation remit, but at a broader national scale and with a different volunteer structure.
• Universiteit Leiden: The commissioning institution that hosts EL CID at Studentencentrum Plexus and provides the primary participant funnel. Comparable as the broader educational-services organization that EL CID serves, and structurally the most consequential partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmAvw86bQLgtQfR9SvduZVg
• Facebookfacebook.com/elcidintroductieweek
• Instagraminstagram.com/elcidweek
• TikToktiktok.com/@elcidweek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elcidweek

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 EL CID Introductieweek Leiden