TCMAcademie

What TCMAcademie does

TCM Academie Nederland (TCMA) is a private Dutch educational institution founded in 2002 in Amsterdam by Tileke Bos, Gerard Smienk, and Marijke Pfeiffer (with Katinka van Duijn joining two years later). It delivers HBO-level (higher professional education) training in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), accredited by CPION for its Medische Basiskennis (MBK) program (40 EC) and aligned with PLATO end terms, NVA, and Zhong standards. Its core portfolio comprises a three-year Acupunctuur Opleiding (200 EC), a one-year MBK preparatory course (€2,395), and a continuing education catalog including oncology specialization (€1,600), a 1.5-year Kruidenopleiding in herbal medicine (€1,995-€2,095 per year), auricular acupuncture, and modular nascholingen at €140-€150 per day.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer, cohort-based model with primary delivery at Hotel Mitland in Utrecht and clinical internships at Centrum Integrale Geneeskunde (CIG) in Amsterdam. TCMA recruits career changers and healthcare-adjacent professionals through open days, online information evenings, and direct enrollment, then monetizes them across a multi-year funnel: MBK prerequisite → three-year acupuncture degree → continuing education modules → €100/year alumni membership. Revenue streams are predominantly one-time tuition fees with a modest recurring component via the alumni subscription and pay-as-you-go nascholingen. The institution employs 14 staff and draws on a network of approximately 25 named instructors, many of whom are TCMA alumni themselves.

Following the deaths of co-founders Gerard Smienk (August 2022) and Marijke Pfeiffer (March 2025), and the gradual integration of TCM-Postgraduate activities under TCMA, the organization is currently transitioning under a new board led by Roland van der Putten (Bestuursvoorzitter) and Paul Pelsma. The addressable market is the Dutch acupuncture profession, estimated at ~2,200 registered practitioners with broad supplementary insurance coverage.

Name

TCMAcademie

Legal name

TCM Academie Nederland

Website

https://tcma.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TCM Academie Nederland is a Dutch HBO-level educational institution offering CPION-accredited acupuncture, medical basic knowledge, herbal medicine, and continuing education programs, serving career changers and practicing acupuncturists in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Complementary Medicine Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation Support (PT/OT Aide) (EDAOAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB)

Keywords

• Acupuncture training
• Traditional chinese medicine
• Continuing medical education
• Herbal medicine training
• Healthcare professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. MBK Opleiding (Medical Basic Knowledge Course): One-year preparatory course in medical basic knowledge required for entering the acupuncture program. Tuition is charged for the full course year consisting of 20 lesson days.
2. Three-year Acupuncture Training: Three-year HBO-level acupuncture training program totaling 200 EC. Revenue from tuition fees for the complete professional training program.
3. Nascholingen (Continuing Education): Medical Western continuing education courses offered at €140-€150 per day. WM-B and WM-C accredited courses providing 2 EC per day. Professional development for practicing acupuncturists.
4. Oncology and Acupuncture Course: 10-day oncology specialization course consisting of 5 two-day modules. Full course costs €1600 (€1500 early bird before July 1, 2026). Individual modules cost €330 each.
5. Kruidenopleiding (Herbal Medicine Training): 1.5-year herbal medicine program spanning 16 weekends over 2 years. First year costs €1995, second year €2095, including syllabus and exam fees.
6. TCM Postgraduate/Ear Acupuncture Training: 6-day auricular acupuncture training program costing €825 for the complete course (with discount when booking all modules together).
7. TCMA Community Membership: Annual alumni community membership at €100 per year, offering network expansion, website listing, Facebook forum access, discounts on continuing education, and congress access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TCMAcademie is a Dutch private educational institution that delivers accredited training in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Its core offerings are a three-year HBO-level Acupuncture Training (200 EC), a one-year CPION-accredited Medical Basic Knowledge (MBK) preparatory course (40 EC), and a portfolio of accredited continuing-education (nascholing) courses in oncology, herbal medicine, and auricular acupuncture. Training is delivered in-person at Hotel Mitland in Utrecht with clinical internships at partner clinics, and graduates qualify for Dutch insurer reimbursement and membership in professional associations NVA and Zhong.

Product overview

TCMAcademie (TCM Academie Nederland) is a CPION-recognized educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of Traditional Chinese Medicine training programs. The core offerings include a three-year HBO-level Acupunctuur Opleiding (Acupuncture Training) and a one-year Medische Basiskennis (Medical Basic Knowledge) program as a prerequisite. These are complemented by specialized continuing education (Nascholingen) including an Oncology & Acupunctuur 10-day course, a 1.5-year Kruidenopleiding (Herbal Medicine Training), TCM Postgraduate advanced courses, and various short courses such as auricular acupuncture. The institution emphasizes practical training with clinical internships and live patient demonstrations alongside theoretical education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Acupunctuur Opleiding (Three-year Acupuncture Training) Three-year HBO-level acupuncture and TCM training program (200 EC) accredited by NVA and Zhong, combining theoretical knowledge with clinical internships. Graduates are eligible for Dutch health insurer reimbursement.
• Medische Basiskennis (MBK) One-year CPION-accredited Medical Basic Knowledge program (40 EC, HBO level) following PLATO guidelines. Tuition €2,395 for 20 lesson days across 10 weekends. Prerequisite for acupuncture training and required for health insurer reimbursement.
• Nascholingen (Continuing Education) Medical Western continuing education courses offered at €140-€150 per day, WM-B and WM-C accredited, providing 2 EC per day. Designed for practicing acupuncturists requiring ongoing accreditation points for NVA/Zhong membership.
• Oncologie & Acupunctuur (Oncology and Acupuncture Course) 10-day oncology specialization course consisting of 5 two-day modules covering prostate, colorectal, breast, and hematology/lung cancers with equal focus on Western medical knowledge and TCM/acupuncture. Full course €1,600 (€1,500 early bird before July 1, 2026); individual modules €330 each. Includes 'basis cursus oncologie voor acupuncturisten' certificate.
• Kruidenopleiding (Herbal Medicine Training) 1.5-year herbal medicine training program spanning 16 weekends over 2 years (32 days) covering single herbs and formulas based on seasons with clinical application and live patient demonstrations. Year 1: €1,995; Year 2: €2,095; includes paper syllabus and exam fees. Modular option with participation certificate or HBO diploma with herbalists register.
• Ooracupunctuur Nascholing (Auricular Acupuncture Training) 6-day auricular acupuncture training (1 practical day + 5 modules) by Paul Heijer covering neurological principles and clinical applications. Complete course €825 with discount when booking all modules together. Held at Hotel Mitland Utrecht.
• TCMA Community Annual Membership Annual alumni community membership at €100 per year, offering network expansion, website listing as referral address, access to private Facebook forum for case discussion, discounts on nascholingen and MBK courses, and discount on TCMA congress.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete professional qualification to become recognized acupuncturist eligible for insurance reimbursement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hotel MitlandcoreOthersHotel Mitland serves as the primary training location for TCMA courses in Utrecht. All college weekends and most classes are held at this venue. The hotel provides facilities including bright classrooms and waterfront terraces, contributing to the TCMA learning atmosphere described as 'hartelijk, open en uitnodigend' (heartfelt, open, and inviting).
• Centrum Integrale Geneeskunde (CIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIG in Amsterdam is the clinical training location for TCMA where MBK practical exams are held and where students receive internship supervision. The center is co-owned by former director Marijke Pfeiffer and provides integrated medicine including acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, and osteopathy.
• CPION (Centrum Post Initieel Onderwijs Nederland)coreOthersCPION has been responsible for assessing basic education programs in alternative healthcare since 2013. Their accreditation is required for insurance reimbursement eligibility. TCMA's MBK program is CPION accredited for 40 EC, and graduates are registered in the CPION alumni register recognized by health insurers.
• PLATO (Platform Onderwijs, Opleiding en Organisatie)coreOthersPLATO, part of Leiden University, developed the educational requirements for medical basic knowledge in alternative healthcare on behalf of health insurers. TCMA's MBK program meets PLATO end terms.
• NVA (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Acupunctuur)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNVA is the largest professional association for acupuncturists in the Netherlands, existing since 1977. TCMA's 3-year training program qualifies graduates for NVA membership. NVA advocates for recognition of acupuncture as a medical treatment.
• Zhong (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Traditionele Chinese Geneeskunde)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZhong is the national professional association for TCM practitioners with minimum HBO education. TCMA graduates are eligible for Zhong membership. The association provides professional representation and networking for TCM practitioners.
• IKNL (Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland)minorOthersTCMA's oncology course certificate enables graduates to potentially qualify for inclusion in IKNL's cancer referral guide. This requires application through the professional associations NVA or Zhong.
• TCM PostgraduatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally founded separately by Gerard Smienk and Marijke Pfeiffer as a continuing education institute, TCM Postgraduate activities have been gradually integrated into TCMA. It was established one year before TCMA and remained responsible for nascholingen while TCMA handled basic training.
• AmstelacademieminorOthersTCMA instructors including Marijke Pfeiffer and Hilde Hiemstra teach acupuncture courses to oncology nurses at the Amstelacademie (oncology nursing education program in Amsterdam).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shenzhou Open University of TCM: Amsterdam-based educational institution offering accredited acupuncture and TCM training in the Netherlands. Directly competes with TCMA for the same career-changer segment pursuing HBO-level certification and insurer-recognized credentials.
• Anglo-Dutch College of Acupuncture: Historic Dutch acupuncture training college referenced by TCMA's own faculty (Marijke Pfeiffer graduated here in 1982). Offers similar multi-year acupuncture programs and shares the same professional association ecosystem (NVA/Zhong).
• Nederlands College voor Natuurgeneeskunde: Dutch natural medicine college offering TCM and acupuncture specialization tracks (Gilles Stoop graduated here in 1996). Competes with TCMA for students seeking accredited complementary healthcare qualifications.
• Qing Bai Academy: Dutch academy providing TCM, shiatsu and acupuncture training referenced in TCMA faculty backgrounds (Gilles Stoop, Betty Croll studied here). Competes for prospective students in the same HBO-level natural medicine training market.
• Haagse Akademie voor Natuurgeneeswijzen: The Hague-based natural medicine academy where TCMA faculty member Jan Koppenberg previously served as core instructor. Offers comparable HBO-level alternative healthcare training including acupuncture, directly competing for the same Dutch student base.
• Academie voor Natuurgeneeskunde Hilversum: Dutch natural medicine school offering HBO-level programs in complementary therapies including acupuncture and TCM. John Zantinge is principal lecturer here, and Evelien Peeters pursued training here, indicating overlap in faculty and curriculum with TCMA.

Regional players

• International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM): UK-based college offering degree-level acupuncture and TCM training with international recognition. Comparable to TCMA in curriculum scope and accreditation approach, but operates in a different European geography with limited direct competition.

Emerging players

• European University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (EUTCM): European institution offering TCM and acupuncture training with flexible modular programs. Represents the online/distance-learning alternative to TCMA's in-person, Hotel Mitland-based delivery model.

Others

• Centrum Integrale Geneeskunde (CIG): Amsterdam clinical practice co-owned by TCMA's former director Marijke Pfeiffer, serving as TCMA's clinical internship site. Functions as a clinical/operational partner rather than a competitor, enabling hands-on student training.
• CPION (Centrum Post Initieel Onderwijs Nederland): Dutch accreditation body assessing alternative healthcare education programs on behalf of health insurers since 2013. CPION accreditation is the gating credential TCMA holds; it shapes the competitive structure of the entire Dutch acupuncture training market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TCMAcademie
• Instagraminstagram.com/tcma_nederland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tcmacademie

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TCMAcademie