What eX:plain does

eX:plain (Stichting eX:plain) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Amersfoort that specializes in the design, administration, and certification of professional examinations across regulated sectors in the Netherlands and select international markets. The organization operates an end-to-end examination value chain from system design and accreditation governance through to delivery at its own examination center in Amersfoort, a national network of locations, online proctoring, and aftercare, supported by ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications and NRTO quality marks.

The platform architecture spans 100+ interconnected ICT systems, with proprietary assets including Explainsafe (an online safety and gate instruction platform serving 575,000+ users across energy, construction, and industrial sectors), Webconnect (exam scheduling), the Beveiligers Praktijk Hub (digital practical workbooks), Smart Educational Tools / SET (textbooks, e-learning, and a MemoTrainer with spaced repetition), and serious-gaming products (OK-games with Erasmus UMC Rotterdam, V-game for security officers) developed through the Just Game It subsidiary. The Associatie voor Examinering label, operating since 1941, anchors the educational examinations portfolio (PDB, PDL diplomas) for financial administration, payroll, HR, and secretarial sectors.

Revenue is generated through a mix of per-candidate examination fees (over 500,000 exams per year, including 200,000+ VCA candidates and 24,000+ BOA examinations), subscription-based platform licensing for Explainsafe and e-learning products, incompany training contracts, accreditation fees, and textbook sales, with pricing generally proposal-based and tailored to organizational needs. eX:plain serves enterprise, government, and individual customers — including Eneco, Vattenfall, Tata Steel, Cargill, Rijkswaterstaat, and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security — via sector-specific managers and referral partnerships with SSVV, GMP+ International, Stichting ExTH, EMWO, KSF, and Erasmus UMC Rotterdam.

Name

eX:plain

Legal name

Stichting eX:plain

Website

https://explain.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

eX:plain is a Dutch non-profit foundation that designs, administers, and certifies professional examinations across regulated sectors, serving enterprises, government bodies, and individuals through proprietary platforms and a national examination network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Examination and Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Safety, Security & Emergency Services (OSHA, Fire, EMS, Security CE) (EDAAALAK), Public Safety & Government Licensure/Entrance Exam Prep (Civil service, law enforcement, firefighting) (EDANAIAN), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM), Training & Competency Programs (Food Safety, HACCP, PCQI, Internal Auditor) (AFALANAF)

Keywords

• Examination certification services
• Professional competency assessment
• Online proctoring services
• Safety training platform
• Serious gaming training

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort, Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Examination and Certification Services: eX:plain develops and administers examinations and certifications for various sectors, including VCA, GPI, BOA, KSF Branch Certificate, BROK, GCP-WMO, GMP+, and diplomas such as PDB and PDL. Revenue is generated through examination fees charged per candidate, annual accreditation fees, and certification fees. The company handles over 500,000 examinations per year.
2. Training and Education Services: The company offers professional training programs for security officers, BOAs, and practical instructors through its BoekUwTraining platform. Training revenue is generated through per-participant course fees and incompany training contracts. Programs include coaching skills, practical examination training, and security sector-specific training.
3. E-learning and Learning Materials: Sale of educational materials (textbooks, workbooks) under the Smart Educational Tools (SET) label, along with e-learning licenses and the Explainsafe platform subscriptions. Revenue is generated through textbook sales, e-learning licenses, and platform subscriptions. In 2022, there were 3,995 e-learning licenses for books and v-game.
4. Platform Licensing (Explainsafe): Explainsafe is offered as a subscription-based platform for companies to manage safety instructions for employees, contractors, and visitors. The platform supports over 575,000 users across energy, construction, and industrial sectors. Pricing is proposal-based and tailored to organizational needs.
5. Serious Gaming Products: Serious games (OK-games, V-game) are offered through license-based models. The OK-games are available via free trial licenses with paid licensing for organizational deployment. Licensing covers installation across multiple computers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

eX:plain develops, administers, and certifies professional examinations across sectors including construction safety (VCA), private security (BOA), healthcare research (GCP-WMO/BROK), customer contact (KSF), animal feed (GMP+), and energy/petrochemical. The company runs its own examination center in Amersfoort, a national network of locations, and online proctoring, handling 500,000+ exams annually. Supporting products include the Explainsafe safety instruction platform, serious games, e-learning environments, and practical workbooks for skills development.

Product overview

eX:plain operates as a comprehensive examination and certification services company with a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core eX:plain service handles exam development, assessment, and administration (500,000+ exams annually), supported by specialized sub-brands: Associatie voor Examinering (80+ years of independent examination services with recognized diplomas like PDB and PDL), Explainsafe (online safety instruction platform with 575,000+ users), and Smart Educational Tools/SET (educational materials and e-learning). Supporting products include Just Game It (serious gaming and VR applications), OK-game and V-game (sector-specific training games), Beveiligers Praktijk Hub (digital workbooks), Webconnect (exam scheduling), and Online Proctoring (remote examination monitoring). The portfolio spans examination services, learning management, serious gaming, and certification management across construction, healthcare, security, energy, and business services sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eX:plain Examination and Certification Services End-to-end examination development, administration, and certification services covering VCA (construction safety), GPI (port instruction), BOA (special investigation officers), GCP-WMO/BROK (medical research), GMP+ (animal feed auditors), and KSF (customer contact) certifications. Serves sector organizations, government bodies, and educational institutions.
• Associatie voor Examinering Independent examination institute offering recognized diplomas including Praktijkdiploma Boekhouden (PDB) and Praktijkdiploma Loonadministratie (PDL). Partners with educational institutions, training institutes, industry organizations and employers in financial administration, payroll, management, HR, secretarial, and entrepreneurship sectors.
• Explainsafe Platform Online gate, access, and safety instruction platform providing multi-media safety instructions, assessments, and registration management for construction, industry, energy, and healthcare sectors. Serves employees, contractors, suppliers, and visitors with multi-language content delivery.
• Just Game It Subsidiary developing digital learning materials through serious gaming, VR applications, and digital educational platforms for education, healthcare, and various industries.
• Smart Educational Tools (SET) Educational materials brand offering textbooks, Smart-e-learning platform with practice questions, self-tests, and MemoTrainer spaced repetition tool for exam preparation. Available via free mobile app with materials aligned to SVPB and ExTH theory exams.
• Beveiligers Praktijk Hub Digital practical workbook supporting practical guidance and assessment of aspiring security officers with interactive practical assignments and direct feedback.
• OK-game First-person serious game developed with Erasmus UMC Rotterdam for operating room staff, featuring scenarios for anesthesia assistant and operating room assistant roles using EPA (Entrustable Professional Activities) framework for competency assessment.
• V-game Virtual incident training game for security guards (in training) to practice handling various incidents during closing rounds through a virtual company environment with unique building layouts and randomly varied incidents.
• Smart-e-learning Platform Digital learning environment offering practice questions, self-tests, MemoTrainer with spaced repetition algorithm, animations, videos, and a free mobile app for study preparation aligned with SVPB and ExTH theory exams.
• KSF Branchecertificaat National quality standard for customer contact, offering certification through examinations or accredited internal training programs with two levels: Vakbekwaam Professional and Vakbekwaam Expert.
• Online Proctoring
• Webconnect

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ examinations administered per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• bolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 June 2026bol was one of the first four organizations to receive accreditation for its internal training program under the renewed KSF Branch Certificate Vakbekwaam Professional, on June 3, 2026. Their training programs are now recognized as meeting national quality standards for customer contact professionals.
• MedipointminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 June 2026Medipoint was one of the first four organizations to receive accreditation for its internal training program under the renewed KSF Branch Certificate Vakbekwaam Professional, on June 3, 2026.
• VattenfallminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 June 2026Vattenfall was one of the first four organizations to receive accreditation for its internal training program under the renewed KSF Branch Certificate Vakbekwaam Professional, on June 3, 2026.
• KSF (Klantenservice Federatie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024eX:plain has been the execution partner for the KSF Branch Certificate since 2024. The KSF Branch Certificate provides a national quality standard for professional customer contact. eX:plain administers examinations and accredits internal training programs under the renewed KSF system, which now includes two levels: Vakbekwaam Professional and Vakbekwaam Expert.
• GMP+ InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019eX:plain has been a strategic cooperation partner of GMP+ International since 2019. Together they have developed assessment matrices and corresponding examinations for GMP+ auditor certification in animal feed safety. eX:plain translated these examinations into 8 languages. The GMP+ certification scheme covers animal feed safety across producers, suppliers, and traders globally.
• EMWO (Examenbureau Medisch Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006eX:plain has been the executor and developer for EMWO since 2006, handling BROK and GCP-WMO certification for ethical and integer clinical research. EMWO's sole client is the Dutch Clinical Research Foundation (DCRF). This partnership has introduced a uniform standard for the knowledge level of researchers and research assistants in clinical research across the Netherlands.
• SSVV (Stichting Samenwerking voor Veiligheid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnereX:plain is the strategic partner of SSVV for executing examination systems. SSVV is a cooperative of 26 (sector) organizations in Dutch industry, holder of the VCA certification scheme. eX:plain develops and executes VCA examinations, the Generieke Poortinstructie (GPI), and SSVV training guide products (SOG). SSVV's mission is to make working in high-risk environments structurally safer and healthier across the entire supply chain.
• Stichting ExTH (Exameninstelling Toezicht en Handhaving)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnereX:plain supports Stichting ExTH in all facets of BOA (Buitengewoon Opsporingsambtenaren) examination: from developing competency requirements to actual exam administration. ExTH has a foundation board with representatives from employers, mbo education, and the National Police, overseeing examination commissions that ensure BOAs across different domains possess the required competencies.
• DCRF (Dutch Clinical Research Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCRF is the sole client of EMWO and sets the mandate for GCP-WMO examination standards in Dutch clinical research. eX:plain executes the examination and certification on behalf of EMWO, which is commissioned by DCRF.
• Erasmus UMC RotterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnereX:plain collaborated with Erasmus UMC Rotterdam to develop two serious games (OK-games) for training operating room staff. The OK-game for Operating Theatre Assistants and the OK-game for Anesthesia Staff are based on EPA (Entrustable Professional Activities) methodology, optimizing medical staff training through digital simulation.
• DUTCH Consortium (Healthcare Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnereX:plain participates in the DUTCH consortium — a collaboration between University Medical Centers, training institutions, top clinical and general hospitals, universities, and public/private parties in Educational Technology and Medical Technology. The consortium works on transforming education, re-skilling, and up-skilling of healthcare professionals through scalable digital learning materials and physical and virtual simulation.
• GCVB (Governance Code Veiligheid in de Bouw)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Governance Code Veiligheid in de Bouw (GCVB) is a coalition of leading construction enterprises and clients committed to improving safety culture in the Dutch construction sector. eX:plain develops and manages the Generieke Poortinstructie (GPI) on behalf of SSVV, which is mandatory on all construction sites of GCVB member companies.
• Nationaal Huidfonds (National Skin Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnereX:plain collaborated with the National Skin Fund to develop a free safety instruction 'Working Safely in the Sun' (in Dutch and English), addressing skin damage prevention for outdoor workers. Available through huidfonds.explainsafe.nl from April 2026.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC services company offering certification, testing, and training across industrial, product, and person-certification schemes. Competes with eX:plain for international industry certifications (e.g., ISO, safety, food).
• Pearson VUE: Pearson's professional certification arm operates one of the world's largest high-stakes testing networks, including online proctoring via OnVUE. Competes with eX:plain for international industry scheme delivery (e.g., IT, healthcare) and proctoring scale.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major that delivers certifications across construction, energy, food safety, and industrial sectors. Overlaps with eX:plain's VCA, SOG, GMP+, and energy-sector certification service lines at international scale.
• SGS Société Générale de Surveillance: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company, with substantial person-certification and training business in industrial safety, food, and energy — directly comparable to eX:plain's scheme-delivery and certification programs.

Direct peers

• Kryterion (a ServiceSource company): Online proctoring and certification delivery provider with a global network of secure testing centers (Webassessor platform). Direct competitor to Explainsafe-style delivery and to eX:plain's expanding proctoring services.
• PSI Services: PSI delivers end-to-end assessment and certification programs (test development, psychometrics, online proctoring, credentialing) for professional and licensure certifications, directly comparable to eX:plain's full-lifecycle examination service offering.
• Meazure Learning (formerly Pearson VUE competitor): Specialized test delivery and online proctoring provider for professional and certification programs. Comparable to eX:plain's combined examination-center and online proctoring model with similar psychometric and program-management capabilities.
• Prometric: Global test delivery and online proctoring network serving professional certification and licensure exams. Direct competitor to eX:plain's Webconnect scheduling, in-center delivery, and online proctoring services across regulated sectors.

Others

• NBN (Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut): Dutch national standards body that issues and coordinates sector standards relevant to eX:plain's certifications. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor — provides standards underpinning certification schemes eX:plain operates.

Regional players

• CINOP: Dutch-sector expertise and training organization supporting vocational and sector-specific competency development. Adjacent to eX:plain's sector certification work in Dutch construction, safety, and customer-contact markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ex-plain

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 eX:plain