What Wellness Academie does

Wellness Academie is a privately held vocational education provider specializing in beauty, wellness, and holistic therapy training across the Netherlands and Belgium. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Hasselt, Belgium, the company operates 9 physical training campuses (Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Apeldoorn, Eindhoven, Gent/Drongen, Hasselt, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Utrecht) and serves aspiring professionals, career changers, and unemployed retrainees pursuing accredited certification in massage therapy, hairdressing, nail styling, pedicure, visagie/makeup artistry, reflexology, and traditional Chinese medicine modalities. The business is structured through two legal entities: Wellness Academie BV (Netherlands, KVK 62819526) and Alternatieva VZW (Belgium).

Name

Wellness Academie

Legal name

Wellness Academie BV (NL) / Alternatieva VZW (BE)

Website

https://wellnessacademie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wellness Academie is a private vocational education provider offering accredited beauty, massage, hairdressing, nail care, makeup, and holistic therapy training across 9 campuses in the Netherlands and Belgium, supplemented by an online distance-learning platform with digital examinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beauty & Wellness Vocational Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Massage Therapy & Bodywork (EDAOALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices) (EDAAAHAH), Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

Keywords

• Vocational beauty training
• Massage therapy certification
• Wellness education programs
• Professional beauty courses
• Holistic therapy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hasselt

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Revenue generated from professional training courses in beauty and wellness. Students pay tuition fees for courses ranging from short workshops to complete professional qualifications. Payment can be made in full or in installments (50% deposit).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wellness Academie provides professional vocational training and certification in massage therapy, beauty/skincare, hairdressing, nail styling, makeup artistry (visagie), reflexology, and holistic wellness therapies. It delivers more than 100 professional courses and 200+ total courses through 9 physical campuses in the Netherlands and Belgium, supplemented by an online self-study platform and a proprietary digital examination system. Programs range from one-day workshops to multi-module professional certifications spanning several months.

Product overview

Wellness Academie is a beauty and wellness educational institution operating in the Netherlands and Belgium with 9 campuses. The company offers a platform of over 100 professional courses and 200 workshops organized into categories: Massages (40 courses), Beauty/Skincare (22 courses), Holistic Therapies (31 courses), Hairdressing & Hair Care (15 courses), Nail Styling & Pedicure (10 courses), Makeup & Visagie (18 courses), Reflexology (7 courses), and Online Training (34 courses). The product architecture consists of core professional certification programs (often modular), short practical courses, and an online learning platform. Core programs like Opleiding Pedicure, Opleiding Nagelstyliste, Opleiding Visagiste, and Opleiding Voetreflexoloog are comprehensive multi-module certifications, while standalone courses like Cursus Barbier basis and Spa Manicure & Pedicure offer targeted skill training. The company also provides a digital examination platform and government subsidy support (STAP-budget in Netherlands, KMO-portefeuille in Belgium).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Massage Therapy Training Programs Professional massage therapy training programs covering relaxation massage, hot stone massage, cupping, sports massage, and full massage therapist certification. Courses range from 1 to 24 days with modular and comprehensive programs, targeted at individuals seeking to start a professional practice in massage.
• Beauty Specialist (Schoonheidsspecialist(e)) Training Comprehensive beauty specialist training program covering skincare and beauty treatments, available in day, evening, or summer school formats over 18–26 days. Designed for individuals seeking a professional qualification in beauty care.
• Pedicure Specialist Training (Gespecialiseerd Voetverzorger) Comprehensive pedicure training program leading to a nationally recognized ProVoet diploma. Includes 15 practical lesson days plus theory and a minimum 10 hours of internship, preparing students for independent practice or employment.
• Nail Stylist Allround Training (Opleiding Nagelstyliste Allround) Complete nail stylist training consisting of three modules: Nagelstyliste Pro (gel nails), Gellak (Soak Off Gel), and Acrygel. Prepares students for professional work in nail studios, beauty salons, or as independent practitioners.
• Hairstylist Training (Opleiding Hairstyliste) Professional hairstyling training covering styling techniques including blow-drying, curling, updos, braiding, bridal and communion hairstyles, and runway styles. Modular program combining basic and advanced courses.
• Basic Barber Training (Cursus Barbier Basis) Basic barber training covering men's haircuts, beard styling, classic barber cuts, fade techniques, and hot towel shave. Foundation course for barbershop careers.
• Make-up Artist Training (Opleiding Visagiste) Professional make-up artist training covering basic and advanced techniques including skin care, foundation, camouflage, eye makeup, bridal makeup, period makeup, and fantasy makeup. Includes study materials worth €400.
• Foot Reflexologist Training (Opleiding Voetreflexoloog) Foot reflexology training program consisting of four modules: Anatomy, Pathology & Physiology, Vertical Reflexology, Basic Foot Reflexology, and Advanced Foot Reflexology.
• Shiatsu Practitioner Training (Opleiding Shiatsubehandelaar) Shiatsu practitioner training covering three modules: Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology, Shiatsu Cycle I-A, and Shiatsu Cycle I-B. Exam is administered by the Belgian Shiatsu Federation (BSF).
• Jing Luo Therapist Training (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner training covering meridian systems. Modules include Tui-na, Cupping, Moxa, Guasha therapy, Meridian & Elements teaching, and Chinese nutrition.
• Spa Manicure & Pedicure Course Spa manicure and pedicure course covering nail structure, hand/foot treatments, scrubs, masks, massages, and complete nail care. Available in physical and online formats.
• Online Self-Study Courses (Thuisstudie) Online self-study courses allowing students to learn at their own pace from anywhere. Includes digital exam and certificate upon completion. Accessible for 12 months after enrollment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.7/10 average satisfaction rating from 1,557 independent reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ProVoetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch professional branch organization for pedicures. Wellness Academie is an authorized training provider whose graduates can obtain ProVoet membership after passing the national exam at Exuive examination center.
• Exuive ExamencentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational examination center for beauty and wellness professions in Netherlands. Students can take official national exams to obtain nationally recognized diplomas.
• Belgische Beauty FederatiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian beauty industry federation. Wellness Academie graduates can obtain membership after passing examinations.
• Belgische Massage FederatiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian massage federation. Provides professional recognition for massage therapists trained at Wellness Academie.
• UWVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch Employee Insurance Agency. Wellness Academie is an official UWV-recognized training partner. Unemployed individuals receiving benefits may qualify for training cost reimbursement.
• KMO-portefeuillecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBelgian government subsidy program for SMEs. Flemish entrepreneurs can receive up to 30% discount on training costs (max €7,500/year) through KMO-portefeuille. Wellness Academie recognition number: DV.O214286.
• Belgische Shiatsu Federatie (BSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian Shiatsu Federation. Organizes and administers Shiatsu practitioner examinations for Wellness Academie students who complete Cycle I training and 50 practice treatments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Paul Mitchell Schools: Large US cosmetology and barbering school chain operated under the Paul Mitchell brand. Comparable in operating multi-discipline vocational programs with strong brand-led differentiation and franchise-style expansion.
• Vidal Sassoon Academy: Premium global network of hairstyling academies under the Sassoon brand. Direct comparable to Wellness Academie's hairdressing/barbering modules, with overlapping premium-priced short-course and certification programs.
• Aveda Institutes: L'Oréal-owned network of cosmetology and spa therapy schools in North America. Shares the same positioning — branded, beauty/wellness vocational schools combining hair, skin, and holistic modalities with nationally recognized credentials.
• Empire Beauty School: Largest US chain of cosmetology schools with ~100 campuses operating in multiple states. Directly mirrors Wellness Academie's multi-campus vocational model in beauty and personal care disciplines.
• Bellus Academy: Multi-location North American beauty and wellness school covering hair, skin, nails, and massage therapy. Closely comparable in portfolio breadth across the same beauty/wellness disciplines Wellness Academie teaches.
• Pivot Point International: Global leader in beauty and cosmetology education founded in 1962. Sells curricula and educator certification to thousands of cosmetology schools worldwide — directly analogous to Wellness Academie's multi-discipline beauty/wellness vocational training platform.

Broad incumbents

• NCOI Opleidingsgroep: Largest Dutch provider of part-time professional training and vocational education to working adults. Broad incumbent operating in the same adult/continuing education and KMO-portefeuille-subsidized market in NL.
• Capabel Opleidingen: Dutch vocational training provider across multiple sectors including beauty and wellness. Comparable as a Benelux incumbent operating in the same regulatory and subsidy framework (STAP/UWV) for adult vocational education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wellnessacademie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wellness-academie

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 Wellness Academie