Vejle Idrætshøjskole

What Vejle Idrætshøjskole does

Vejle Idrætshøjskole (VIH) is a Danish folk high school (højskole) founded in 1942 and located in the Nørreskoven (Northern Forest) area of Vejle, Denmark. It operates as a private educational institution (CVR 36850728) with 36 employees, specializing in residential sports and physical education programs for Danish youth aged 18-25. The school offers long-term residential courses of 19-25 weeks and shorter summer courses, allowing students to choose from over 60 subject areas spanning fitness, outdoor activities, team sports, mindfulness, sports journalism, and music. Total course fees range from approximately 51,800 DKK to 74,530 DKK depending on duration and travel add-ons, with international travel weeks to destinations including Club La Santa (Lanzarote), Austria ski trips, Morocco surf trips, France (Chamonix), and Zambia volunteer programs integrated into the curriculum.

The business model is primarily tuition-driven (direct-to-consumer enrollment) supplemented by ancillary service revenues. Ancillary streams include physiological testing services at the on-site Testcenter (for external individuals, sports clubs, and gymnasiums), public access to an ecological outdoor swimming pool (20 DKK per session), free disc golf (with planned municipal expansion to 18 holes), and tax-deductible donations to the Vejle Idrætsskolers Fond (a foundation established in 2013 requiring 100 annual contributors to maintain status). The school's go-to-market relies on direct website enrollment (vih.dk), scheduled open house events (Åbent Hus), prospective student tours, and alumni-driven referrals via the Elevforeningen alumni association with chapters in Aarhus and Copenhagen. Technology integrations are limited to standard operational tools: Quickpay for payments, Mailchimp for newsletters, and Google Analytics for traffic measurement.

VIH maintains a sister-school relationship with Vejle Idrætsefterskole (sharing campus and facilities) and is a member of the Højskolerne national folk high school association. Recent strategic activity includes 2025 capital investments in the Skovsatellitten outdoor cooking and community facility and an expanded disc golf course, alongside deepened partnerships with Eventure (Zambia volunteer programs) and Bevæg dig for livet Fitness (certification pathways). The institution is independently owned, with no venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment disclosed, and operates as a self-sustaining private educational entity under Danish law.

Name

Vejle Idrætshøjskole

Legal name

Vejle Idrætshøjskole

Website

https://vih.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vejle Idrætshøjskole is a Danish folk high school in Vejle offering residential 19-25 week sports-focused gap-year courses and summer programs to young Danes aged 18-25, with over 60 subject options and integrated international travel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Folk High School / Adult Continuing Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB), School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB), Short-Term Student Housing (Summer/Intensive Programs) (EDAIALAF), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Folk high school education
• Residential sports courses
• Gap year programs
• Athletic training courses
• Personal development education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vejle

HQ country

Denmark

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Primary revenue stream from student enrollment fees for long courses (semester-long højskoleophold of 19-25 weeks) and summer courses. Fees cover accommodation, meals, and instruction. Additional fees apply for optional travel trips (e.g., La Santa, ski trips, Zambia extension).
2. Test Center Services: Physiological testing services for external clients including private individuals, sports clubs, and gymnasiums. Tests cover running, cycling, and triathlon performance evaluation.
3. Public Swimming fees: Morning swimming sessions for public at 20 DKK per session. Free for foundation members.
4. Foundation Donations: Vejle Idrætsskolers Fond receives tax-deductible donations from supporters. Requires 100 contributors annually to maintain foundation status. Annual gift tax exemption up to 14,500 DKK per individual.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vejle Idrætshøjskole delivers residential folk high school courses (højskoleophold) of 19-25 weeks and shorter summer courses centered on sports, physical training, outdoor life, and personal development for young Danes aged 18-25. Students select from more than 60 subjects and participate in integrated international travel programs (Club La Santa, Austria ski trips, Zambia volunteer extension). Supporting services include a Testcenter for physiological performance testing and shared use of an ecological outdoor pool, sports hall, and disc golf facilities.

Product overview

Vejle Idrætshøjskole is a Danish folk high school offering residential courses focused on sports, outdoor activities, and personal development. The core offerings include long courses (19-25 weeks) and summer courses featuring over 60 subject options across fitness, outdoor sports, team sports, and mindfulness. Supporting services include a Testcenter for physiological fitness testing, travel programs to destinations like La Santa and Zambia, and organizational structures through the Fond (foundation for facility development) and Elevforeningen (alumni association). Facilities include an ecological outdoor swimming pool, expanding disc golf course, sports hall, and access to Nørreskoven forest. The school combines classroom learning with extensive practical training, international travel experiences, and outdoor adventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elevforeningen: The alumni association for Vejle Idrætshøjskole, which creates community among former students through annual reunion weekends, local chapters in Aarhus and Copenhagen, and various events and activities.
• Vejle Idrætsskolers Fond
• Testcenter

Products and services

• Long Højskole Courses (Lange Kurser) Extended residential courses lasting 19-25 weeks that combine sports instruction, outdoor activities, and international travel for young Danes taking a sabbatår; tuition covers accommodation, meals, and instruction.
• Summer Courses (Sommerkurser) Short intensive courses offered during the summer months for students seeking condensed folk-high-school experiences.
• Testcenter (Physiological Testing) Physiological performance testing center offering submaximal and max tests measuring oxygen uptake, pulse, lactate, and work intensity for running, cycling, triathlon, and team sports, serving private individuals, sports clubs, and gymnasiums.
• Travel Programs (Rejser) International travel offerings integrated into the curriculum, including trips to Club La Santa (Lanzarote), ski trips to Austria, surf trips to Morocco, Chamonix France, and Zambia volunteer extensions.
• Zambia & Eventure Extension Extension trip to northern Zambia where students volunteer at the Eventure Learning Community (Northern Star Academy boarding school and Eventure Care kindergarten) near Lake Tanganyika, participating in sports activities, cultural exchange, and community service.
• Discgolfbane (Disc Golf Course)
• Friluftsbassin (Outdoor Swimming Pool) 25-meter ecological outdoor pool with biological filtration using filters and plants, open year-round, with public morning swimming sessions available weekdays 6:30-8:00 from September to May at 20 DKK per session (free for fond members).
• Idrætshallen (Sports Hall) Indoor sports hall with sprung vinyl flooring meeting international dimensions, accommodating 6 badminton courts, 1 tennis court, 3 volleyball courts, and 1 handball court.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 subject choices available for students
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eventure / Northern Star AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Eventure Learning Community in northern Zambia near Tanganyika Lake. VIH students can extend their stay as volunteers at Northern Star Academy (boarding school for 15-21 year olds) and Eventure Care (kindergarten for 5-6 year olds). Students participate in sports activities, cultural exchange, and community service. Many students extend their stay or return as volunteers.
• Fredericia HåndboldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with local handball club allowing VIH handball students to play youth handball while attending school. Exchange of knowledge and facilities between school and club.
• Club La SantacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClub La Santa Sport in Lanzarote, Spain is the primary travel destination for VIH students. Mandatory travel week options include La Santa (8,225-8,575 DKK). School has established relationship for hosting large groups of VIH students.
• Bevæg dig for livet FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with 'Bevæg dig for livet' Fitness organization offering Basis holdtræningsuddannelse (basic group training certification) to VIH fitness students. Certification provides qualification for teaching in associations and fitness centers.
• Vejle IdrætsefterskolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister school sharing the same campus and facilities in Vejle. Shared resources include test center, outdoor pool, sports facilities. Joint fond (Vejle Idrætsskolers Fond) supports development of both schools.
• HøjskolerneminorOthersPart of the Højskolerne (Danish Folk High Schools) network. Displays 'En del af Højskolerne' branding indicating membership in the national folk high school association.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fryshuset: Stockholm-based Swedish youth organization combining sports, music, and education programs. Comparable in mission (youth personal development through sport/community) but operates in Sweden rather than Denmark and uses a non-residential community-center model.

Emerging players

• Roskilde Festival Højskole: Newer Danish folk high school with a music/culture/event angle rather than sports focus. Relevant as an emerging højskole competitor for the same gap-year Danish youth demographic with differentiated experiential branding.

Direct peers

• Oure Højskole / Sportsefterskole: Danish sports-focused boarding institution operating both højskole (folk high school) and efterskole tracks. Strongly comparable to VIH given its youth residential model, multi-sport curriculum, and integrated travel/experiential offerings.
• Silkeborg Højskole: Danish folk high school with broad curriculum including outdoor, sports, and creative subjects. Comparable in residential højskole format and Danish youth gap-year segment, though with a wider (less sports-focused) subject portfolio than VIH.
• Idrætshøjskolen Sønderborg: Danish sports folk high school offering residential gap-year courses combining athletics, adventure, and personal growth. Operates a similar multi-subject sports catalog and serves the same 18–25 Danish youth demographic as VIH.
• Gerlev Idrætshøjskole: Long-established Danish sports-focused folk high school offering residential courses in physical education, outdoor adventure, and personal development. Directly comparable to VIH in target customer (young Danes), course structure (multi-week residential), and core offering (sports + SEL).
• Vejle Idrætsefterskole: Sister efterskole institution sharing VIH's campus, facilities, test center, and foundation (Vejle Idrætsskolers Fond). Targets a younger cohort (efterskole = ages 14–18) but operates an almost identical sports/outdoor residential model on the same site.

Others

• FIFH – Folkehøjskolernes Idrætsforening: Industry association representing Danish sports-focused folk high schools. Relevant as a peer / ecosystem participant — VIH's membership in FIFH places it within the formal structure of Danish sports højskoler and gives access to shared advocacy and student-recruitment channels.
• Højskolerne (Dansk Folkehøjskoleforening): National association for all Danish folk high schools. VIH displays the 'En del af Højskolerne' branding and is a member; the association shapes collective marketing, advocacy, and the regulatory framework within which VIH operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ElevforeningenpaaVejleIdraetshojskole
• Instagraminstagram.com/elevforeningenvih
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vejle-idr-tsh-jskole

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Vejle Idrætshøjskole