Maharishi European Research University

What Maharishi European Research University does

MERU (Maharishi European Research University) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation (Stichting MERU/MVU) headquartered in Vlodrop, Netherlands, that operates as the international home of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) organization. Founded in 1975 in Weggis, Switzerland, and relocated to its current campus in 1990 when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi made it his residence, MERU delivers in-residence and online courses, retreats, and events based on Maharishi Technologies of Consciousness — including Transcendental Meditation, TM-Sidhi, Maharishi Vedic Pandit recitation, Maharishi AyurVeda, and Maharishi Vastu architecture. The campus sits within De Meinweg National Park and is one of the few locations outside India offering live daily Vedic Pandit recitation, recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage.

The organization's product portfolio spans MERU Academy (in-residence and online courses from beginner TM retreats through advanced TM-Sidhi and Science of Creative Intelligence), Vedic recitation retreats, the Maharishi AyurVeda Health Centre (wellness treatments launched 2026), MERU Apartments (on-campus luxury accommodations), seasonal Winter and Summer Assemblies, and gift cards. Course delivery combines in-residence programming at the Vlodrop campus with a dedicated online learning platform (online.meru.international). The Maharishi AyurVeda curriculum has received formal approval from India's Ministry of Ayush.

MERU generates revenue through one-time fees for courses (€65 single-day celebrations to €1,400+ multi-day retreats, €108–€450 for online courses), Ayurvedic wellness treatments, on-campus accommodation, and gift cards. Distribution relies on direct-to-consumer enrollment via a multi-language website (English, Dutch, French), TM teacher referrals, social media, and a 2026-launched affiliate program. The customer base is the global TM community — practitioners, Sidhas, wellness-oriented individuals, certified TM teachers, and a developing segment of healthcare professionals pursuing accredited AyurVeda training.

Name

Maharishi European Research University

Legal name

Stichting MERU/MVU – Maharishi European Research University – Maharishi Vedic University

Website

https://meru.international

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MERU is a Dutch nonprofit foundation serving as the international headquarters of the Transcendental Meditation movement, offering in-residence and online courses, Vedic retreats, and Ayurvedic wellness programs to the global TM community from its Vlodrop, Netherlands campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness Education and Meditation Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSADAJAF

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Meditation, Mindfulness & Breathwork

SECONDARYTHAGAMAB

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Wellness, Spa & Health Retreats

SECONDARYTHAJAHAE

Ayurveda & Traditional Healing (Ayurvedic Retreats, Panchakarma, Herbal Therapies)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Wellness & Spa Experiences (Retreats, Thermal Baths, Yoga)

SECONDARYEDAAAHAH

Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Education (Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness)

SECONDARYTHAJAHAA

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Wellness & Spa Experiences (Retreats, Thermal Baths, Yoga)

SECONDARYTHAJAKAK

Wellness & Mindfulness Classes (Yoga Workshops, Meditation, Breathwork)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Workshops & Classes (Arts, Crafts, Skills & Local Lessons)

SECONDARYTHAGAMAF

Ayurveda & Traditional Medicine Retreats

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Wellness, Spa & Health Retreats

Keywords

• Meditation education
• Transcendental meditation courses
• Wellness retreats
• Ayurvedic treatments
• Vedic science learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Vlodrop, NP

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. In-residence courses and retreats: MERU generates revenue through paid in-residence courses and retreats held at its Vlodrop campus. Pricing ranges from €65 for single-day celebrations to €1,400+ for multi-day TM learning retreats. Prices vary by course type and duration, with meals and accommodation often charged separately.
2. Online courses: MERU offers online courses including Science of Creative Intelligence (€450), Maharishi's Insights into Vedic Science (€108), and The Eight Limbs of Yoga (€120). These are delivered through the online platform (online.meru.international).
3. Wellness and Ayurvedic treatments: The Maharishi AyurVeda Health Centre provides authentic Ayurvedic treatments and care, generating revenue as part of MERU's wellness offerings.
4. Accommodation and apartment stays: MERU offers on-campus accommodation including the MERU Apartments (luxury apartments on the campus), with rooms available for course participants. Refund policies differ for MERU-provided vs third-party accommodation.
5. MERU Gift Cards: MERU Academy Gift Cards are available for purchase, allowing customers to give the gift of knowledge-based courses to others.
6. Affiliate program: Starting in 2026, MERU offers an affiliate program where partners can earn commissions for inviting participants to MERU Academy courses. Affiliates receive a personal tracking link after approval of their promotion plan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MERU (Maharishi European Research University) operates as a non-profit educational and wellness organization offering in-residence and online courses, retreats, and events based on Maharishi Technologies of Consciousness. Core offerings include Transcendental Meditation instruction (TM and TM-Sidhi programs), Vedic recitation retreats featuring live Maharishi Vedic Pandits, online courses on Vedic Science and Yoga, and Maharishi AyurVeda wellness treatments delivered at its Vlodrop, Netherlands campus.

Product overview

MERU (Maharishi European Research University) operates as a platform offering wellness and educational programs centered on Maharishi Technologies of Consciousness. The core offering is MERU Academy, providing in-residence and online courses, retreats, and events teaching Transcendental Meditation (TM), Vedic Science, Yoga, and Ayurveda. The product portfolio includes TM courses (from beginner to advanced TM Sidhi), online learning via the online.meru.international platform (Science of Creative Intelligence, Total Knowledge, Family Health courses), Vedic recitation retreats featuring live Maharishi Vedic Pandits, and the newly opened Maharishi AyurVeda Health Centre for wellness treatments. Supporting offerings include accommodation (MERU Luxury Apartments), gift cards for course experiences, and seasonal assemblies for extended community programs. The organization is based at Vlodrop, Netherlands, and serves the global TM community through both digital and physical delivery channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Scientific research shows TM reduces stress and anxiety, improves cognitive function, and supports better cardiovascular health.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered significant and minor.

• Indian Ministry of AyushsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Indian Ministry of Ayush approved a number of MERU's courses on Maharishi AyurVeda, recognizing them as conforming to its values of spreading authentic knowledge of India's ancient medical systems. Approved offerings include a Master of Science in AyurVeda for healthcare professionals and five short 16-lesson courses for the general public. This represents a significant step toward worldwide recognition of Maharishi AyurVeda knowledge.
• Willemen construction companyminorOthersWillemen construction company was selected as the quality builder for MERU's apartment building project. Wout Schoof from Willemen participated in the foundation stone ceremony for the Academy and Residence Building in June 2023.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 1440 Multiversity: California-based retreat and learning campus offering workshops on wellness, mindfulness, and personal growth with on-site lodging and dining. Comparable newer-generation holistic retreat center with a similar workshop-plus-accommodation monetization model.
• Ananda in the Himalayas: Luxury AyurVeda and yoga retreat in northern India offering residential wellness programs, Ayurvedic treatments, and meditation retreats. Closely comparable on the AyurVeda + meditation + residential retreat combination and on premium international pricing.
• Isha Foundation: Sadhguru's foundation offering yoga, meditation (Isha Kriya), and wellness programs at its ashram and globally. Directly comparable as a competing spiritual organization offering residential retreats, structured courses, and a global community model.
• Maharishi International University: Sister institution of MERU in Fairfield, Iowa, offering accredited higher-education programs grounded in the same Maharishi Technologies of Consciousness. Directly comparable as a TM-movement educational provider, though structured as an accredited US university rather than a retreat campus.
• Chopra Foundation / Chopra Center: Deepak Chopra's meditation and AyurVeda organization offering retreats, certifications, and online programs. Comparable on AyurVeda + meditation integration and on monetizing both consumer retreats and professional training in mind-body medicine.
• Transcendental Meditation / Maharishi Foundation: The global TM movement's outreach arm, responsible for teaching the TM technique to new meditators worldwide. Directly comparable as the primary customer-acquisition and course-distribution channel feeding MERU's advanced programs.
• Art of Living International: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's global meditation and yoga movement operating retreats, teacher trainings, and online programs across 150+ countries. Closely comparable as a competing Indian-origin meditation organization offering residential retreats, wellness programs, and global community courses.

Broad incumbents

• Esalen Institute: Pioneering personal-growth and human-potential retreat center on the California coast offering residential workshops in mindfulness, somatic practice, and consciousness studies. Comparable as an established retreat-center incumbent with a similar 'human potential' positioning.
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: Long-running holistic education and retreat center in Rhinebeck, NY, offering workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings across wellness, meditation, and personal growth. Comparable as a multi-program residential retreat campus with a similar workshop/events monetization model.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: The largest yoga and holistic-health retreat center in the US, operating a 300+ acre campus in the Berkshires with residential retreats, RYT trainings, and wellness programs. Closest comparable Western retreat-center incumbent in scale and operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MERUAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/MERUVlodrop
• Instagraminstagram.com/meru.international
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maharishi-european-research-university

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Maharishi European Research University