HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland)

What HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland) does

HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Breda that operates as an SVH-recognized training provider for the hospitality sector. Founded around 2004, the organization delivers mandatory compliance training under the Dutch Alcoholwet, Warenwet, and NVWA framework, including the SVH Sociale Hygiëne diploma (alcohol licensing), HACCP food safety certification, Allergenen management, SVH Leermeester trainer certification, Praktisch Leidinggeven leadership training, and BHV emergency response. HSN maintains an omnichannel delivery model combining the HSN Academy online video platform (hosted on The Huddle, featuring short-form videos of max 6 minutes, written summaries, quizzes, and 500+ practice exam questions) with classroom training at 22 Dutch cities and on-site InCompany training for groups of 10 or more. Seventeen professional trainers deliver instruction across all formats, supported by SVH and SBB ecosystem partnerships.

The business model is primarily transactional B2C/B2SMB: individuals and organizations pay per-course enrollment fees, with freemium access to the first module of each online course as a top-of-funnel acquisition mechanism, group discounts at 10+ persons, and customized quotes for in-company delivery. Supplementary revenue comes from ancillary compliance materials (practice exams, age stickers, allergen stickers, HACCP registration lists) and a free co-branded Horeca Inhaakkalender social media calendar produced with ConcreetAdvies. Customer segments span commercial hospitality operators (restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels), individual hospitality workers, SBB-recognized training companies seeking Leermeester-certified staff, paracommercial venues (sports clubs, community centers), and healthcare hospitality (zorghoreca) institutions. The organization is led by Director Gabriëlla Café and has accumulated 5,000+ Trustpilot reviews at 9.6/10 over 20 years of operation.

Name

HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland)

Legal name

Horeca Stichting Nederland

Website

https://hsn-horeca.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland) is a Dutch non-profit foundation and SVH-recognized training provider delivering mandatory hospitality compliance courses (Sociale Hygiëne, HACCP, Allergenen, Leermeester) via online platform HSN Academy, 22-city classroom network, and in-company training across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Training Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Safety, Sanitation & HACCP Training (EDAOAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Training (EDAGANAI), Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE/EHS) Publishing (MPAJACAF)

Keywords

• Hospitality training services
• Vocational certification courses
• Food safety training
• Alcohol licensing training
• Workplace safety training

Headquarters

HQ city

Breda

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Course Fees: Individuals pay course fees to enroll in online video training, classroom courses, or exam preparation. Courses include Social Hygiene (Sociale Hygiëne), HACCP, Allergenen, SVH Leermeester, Praktisch Leidinggeven, and BHV. SVH computer exams are scheduled independently by participants.
2. In-Company / Group Training: Organizations book on-site training for groups at their own location. The website notes group bookings for 10 or more persons and offers an InCompany request form. Pricing is customized based on group size and course type.
3. Supporting Products and Materials: HSN sells supplementary materials including practice exams (proefexamens), age stickers (leeftijdsticker), allergen stickers (allergenensticker), HACCP registration lists, and the free Horeca Inhaakkalender social media planning calendar.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland) is an SVH-recognized training provider for the Dutch hospitality sector, delivering mandatory and professional certification courses including Sociale Hygiëne (Social Hygiene), HACCP, Allergenen, SVH Leermeester, Praktisch Leidinggeven, and BHV. Courses are delivered via online video training (HSN Academy), in-person classroom sessions at 22 Dutch locations, and on-site InCompany training for groups of 10 or more. Training leads to official SVH diplomas and certificates that satisfy legal compliance under the Alcoholwet, Warenwet, and NVWA regulations.

Product overview

HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland) is an SVH-recognized training provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of hospitality training programs in the Netherlands. The offering consists of a unified online learning platform (HSN Academy) combined with classroom-based and in-company training programs. Core products include Social Hygiene (Sociale Hygiëne) training for alcohol licensing compliance, HACCP food safety certification, Allergen management, SVH Meester trainer certification, and Practical Leadership (Praktisch Leidinggeven) courses. The HSN Academy provides online video-based training with short modules, quizzes, and practice exams, while classroom courses are delivered at 20+ locations across the Netherlands. The company also offers corporate InCompany training delivered at client premises, and a combined HACCP & Allergenen course providing bundled certification at a discounted rate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sociale Hygiëne Online (Video Training) Online video training preparing participants for the official SVH Sociale Hygiëne exam, covering SVH theory book content with unlimited online practice exams and computer-based examination. Required for hospitality staff working with alcohol under the Alcoholwet.
• Sociale Hygiëne Video Training (English) English-language online video training for the SVH Social Hygiene exam, allowing non-Dutch-speaking hospitality professionals to obtain required alcohol licensing certification.
• HACCP Online Video Training Online training teaching food safety, hygiene practices, and the Hygiënecode voor de Horeca, concluding with an HACCP exam and certificate for NVWA compliance.
• HACCP Online Video Training (English) English-language online HACCP training covering food safety and the Hygiënecode voor de Horeca with exam and certificate.
• Allergenen Online Video Training Online training covering food hypersensitivity, the 14 legally required allergens, allergen legislation, and how to set up an Allergen Management System for hospitality businesses.
• Allergen Video Training (English) English-language online allergen training covering the 14 legally required allergens and allergen management practices under the Allergenenwet.
• HACCP & Allergenen Online Combicursus Combined online training covering both HACCP food safety and allergen management, providing complete food safety certification at a discounted bundled rate.
• SVH E-learning Sociale Hygiëne SVH-recognized digital e-learning version of the Social Hygiene training with computer-based SVH examination.
• SVH E-learning Borrelshop SVH e-learning course specifically targeted at Borrelshop (drink shop with on-site consumption) staff requiring Social Hygiene certification.
• Sociale Hygiëne Examentraining Online exam preparation training specifically designed for candidates preparing for the SVH Social Hygiene examination.
• Sociale Hygiëne Spoedcursus (Klassikaal) 1-day classroom course with SVH examination for the Social Hygiene diploma, meeting Alcoholwet requirements for commercial hospitality businesses.
• Sociale Hygiëne Spoedcursus (English) English-language 1-day classroom Social Hygiene course with SVH examination for non-Dutch-speaking hospitality staff.
• SVH Leermeester Cursus 3-day classroom training preparing participants to become certified SVH Meester (master trainer) and qualify as an SBB-approved training company for mentoring MBO students.
• SVH Leermeester Cursus (English) English-language 3-day classroom SVH Leermeester training for hospitality professionals seeking to become certified master trainers.
• Praktisch Leidinggeven Horeca 2-day classroom training focused on developing practical leadership skills for hospitality managers, covering coaching, delegation, and team management.
• HACCP Cursus Horeca (Klassikaal) 1-day classroom HACCP training covering the Hygiënecode voor de Horeca with certificate for NVWA compliance.
• Allergenen Cursus (Klassikaal) 1-day classroom allergen training teaching the legally required allergen information practices under the Allergenenwet.
• BHV Cursus (Basis Blended Learning) Basic emergency response (BHV) training using a blended learning approach for hospitality staff.
• BHV Cursus (Herhaling) Refresher course for BHV (emergency response) certification renewal.
• InCompany Trainingen On-site training programs delivered at client locations including Sociale Hygiëne, Leermeester, Praktisch Leidinggeven, HACCP, and Allergenen courses, customized for groups of 10 or more employees.
• Proefexamens (Practice Exams) Over 500 practice exam questions and homework assignments available for self-assessment, supporting candidates preparing for official SVH exams.
• Leeftijdsticker (Age Sticker) Age verification sticker for hospitality businesses selling alcohol, supporting compliance with legal age control requirements.
• Allergenensticker (Allergen Sticker) Allergen information sticker for hospitality businesses serving food, supporting compliance with allergen labeling requirements.
• HACCP Lijsten (HACCP Lists) HACCP registration lists used by hospitality businesses to document food safety and hygiene controls for NVWA inspections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants can earn the SVH Social Hygiene diploma in 1 day via the Spoedcursus (express course).
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Restaurant K-eet (Breda)minorOthers · 20 September 2024Restaurant K-eet, located at Wilhelminapark in Breda, hosted the HSN Trainersdiner 2024 event. This is a venue partnership for the annual trainer appreciation event. The restaurant provided the dining experience for HSN's 20th anniversary celebration.
• SVH - Stichting Vakbekwaamheid HospitalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVH is the key industry authority for hospitality competence in the Netherlands. HSN is SVH-recognized for multiple courses (Sociale Hygiëne, Social Responsibility/Engels, Leermeester). SVH develops the exams that HSN candidates take, and SVH recognition confirms that HSN's training programs meet branch quality standards.
• SBB - Stichting Beroepsonderwijs BedrijfslevencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBB manages the recognition of workplace training companies (erkend leerbedrijf) for MBO students in the Netherlands. HSN's SVH Leermeester training enables hospitality companies to meet the SBB requirement of having a certified Praktijkopleider/Leermeester on staff, making HSN an indirect partner in the SBB ecosystem.
• KHN - Koninklijke Horeca NederlandminorOthersKHN (Royal Dutch Hospitality Association) is referenced in the context of industry collaboration with SVH. KHN represents the interests of Dutch hospitality businesses. HSN's training content references KHN in photography credits, suggesting a general industry alignment.
• Avant (Avant.nl)minorOthersAvant is shown as a partner logo on the HSN website. Avant is a Dutch provider of educational and training solutions. Nature of partnership is not explicitly detailed beyond logo display.
• ConcreetAdvies (Petra Venekamp)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcreetAdvies, led by Petra Venekamp, co-authors the Horeca Inhaakkalender (hospitality social media calendar) together with HSN. The calendar is distributed for free to HSN customers as a marketing and content tool. This is an annual co-creation partnership for industry content.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Laudius: Laudius is a Dutch home-study training provider offering vocational courses including hospitality, food safety, and leadership programs. It competes directly with HSN's online training portfolio for individual learners across the Netherlands.
• SVO (Stichting Vakopleidingen voor de voedselindustrie): SVO is a Dutch vocational training foundation focused on the food industry, offering courses in food safety, HACCP, and processing. It is directly comparable to HSN's food-safety and HACCP certification offering and targets a similar operator and food-handler audience.
• NHA Opleidingen: NHA is one of the largest Dutch distance-learning institutions, offering vocational courses including hospitality training. It directly competes with HSN for individual learners seeking self-paced certification and exam preparation, particularly in the SVH Social Hygiene and HACCP categories.
• NTI (Nederlands Talen Instituut / NTI Nederland): NTI is a large Dutch online learning institution offering MBO, HBO, and vocational courses including hospitality tracks. It competes with HSN for the same self-paced Dutch learner who needs accredited diplomas at flexible schedules.
• LOI (Leidse Onderwijsinstellingen): LOI is a major Dutch distance-learning provider with hospitality, food safety, and management training programs. It overlaps with HSN's online and classroom-style vocational offerings and targets the same individual learner segment seeking recognized certifications.
• HACCP Nederland: HACCP Nederland specializes in HACCP certification and food safety training for Dutch operators, directly overlapping with HSN's HACCP core course. It targets the same regulated hospitality and food-service customer base.

Others

• KHN (Koninklijke Horeca Nederland): KHN is the Royal Dutch Hospitality Association representing operators across the country. It does not deliver training itself but is an ecosystem partner whose members constitute HSN's primary customer base, making it thematically relevant for peer analysis.
• SBB (Stichting Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven): SBB manages the recognition of workplace training companies (erkend leerbedrijf) for MBO students in the Netherlands. While not a competitor, SBB is an enabling ecosystem participant because HSN's SVH Leermeester training unlocks SBB recognition for its customers — making SBB critical to HSN's value proposition.
• SVH (Stichting Vakbekwaamheid Hospitality): SVH is the Dutch hospitality competence authority that develops the official exams and grants recognition to training providers including HSN. While not a direct competitor — SVH sets the standards rather than delivers training — it is the central ecosystem participant whose recognition enables HSN's regulatory moat.

Broad incumbents

• ROC (Regionale Opleidingscentra): ROC schools are the regional Dutch vocational education centers delivering MBO hospitality programs that include BPV placements requiring SVH Leermeester supervision. They are broader incumbents — not direct competitors for compliance courses — but operate in the same skills ecosystem and share student flows with HSN.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horeca-stichting-nederland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 HSN (Horeca Stichting Nederland)