PBTconsult BV

What PBTconsult BV does

PBTconsult BV is a Utrecht-based Dutch engineering consultancy founded in 1998 that specializes in integral accessibility (Integrale Toegankelijkheid) of the built environment. The firm develops and maintains the ITstandaard, the technical specification underpinning the ITS Keurmerk certification scheme, of which PBTconsult is the sole designated executing body in the Netherlands. Its intellectual property also extends to the 3B Label classification system and the TPN Bedieningssysteem, with the most recent ITstandaard 2023 release adding a residential housing segment via ITS Wonen criteria.

The firm's commercial offering blends project-based accessibility consulting, certification audits (valid for five years), and partner-led implementation of digital wayfinding through its NaviLens Netherlands partnership. Customers include Dutch rail operators and infrastructure managers (NS, ProRail), federal and cultural institutions (EMA, Amare Den Haag, Nationaal Militair Museum), hospitality and education operators (Center Parcs, multiple universities), making the client base broadly diversified across regulated asset-heavy sectors. ITS Keurmerk has been recognized within BREEAM-NL 2020, WELL, and ADA frameworks, allowing the Dutch certification to function as a credential in international procurement.

Revenue mechanics rely on a small senior consultancy team of approximately nine to ten staff, with no external investors, no disclosed M&A activity, and operations confined to the Netherlands. Pricing is anchored in project fees and certification audit charges rather than subscription software, while international standards recognition provides a latent route for cross-border demand pull that has not yet translated into disclosed overseas revenue.

Name

PBTconsult BV

Legal name

PBTconsult B.V.

Website

https://pbtconsult.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PBTconsult BV is a Utrecht-based Dutch consultancy that develops the ITstandaard accessibility standard and serves as sole executor of the ITS Keurmerk certification, serving Dutch public authorities, rail operators, cultural institutions, and building owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Facilities Support Services (56121)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Academic Accommodations & Access Planning (ADA/504) (EDALAGAA)

Keywords

• Accessibility consulting services
• ITS Keurmerk certification
• Building accessibility audits
• Accessibility standards publication
• Wayfinding technology implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ITS Keurmerk Certification Services: PBTconsult conducts inspections and certifications for buildings seeking ITS Keurmerk recognition. The process includes an on-site inspection, standardized reporting (3B ITS-Keuring), issuance of the ITS certificate, and registration in the ITS database. Valid for up to 5 years.
2. Accessibility Consulting and Advisory Services: Advisory services on improving physical accessibility of the built environment, including analyses of existing situations, design advice, and improvement recommendations. Also includes project management for accessibility-oriented construction projects.
3. Assessment and Testing Services: Testing and assessment services for designs (ontwerp-toetsing), during construction (bouw-toetsing), and for existing buildings (bestaande situatie). Includes NEN 9120 assessments and 3B Compliance Checks.
4. Publications (ITstandaard and Guidelines): Sale of printed and digital publications including the ITstandaard (2018, 2020, 2023 editions), Routegeleiding standards, and criteria documents for accessible voting locations. Available as books and digital subscriptions consulted via the website.
5. NaviLens System Design and Implementation: Specialist services for implementing NaviLens digital wayfinding systems, including system design, installation guidance, and implementation support for public spaces and transport hubs.
6. Knowledge Transfer and Training: Knowledge transfer services including training programs on accessibility standards and requirements for building professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PBTconsult BV provides engineering and consultancy services focused on the physical accessibility of the built environment. Core offerings include ITS Keurmerk certification assessments, 3B Label accessibility classifications, NEN 9120 testing across design, construction, and existing-situation phases, ITstandaard publications and advisory, NaviLens wayfinding implementation, project management, knowledge transfer/training, and subsidy advisory. Services are delivered to public-sector bodies, contractors, architects, building owners, transit operators, and venue managers in the Netherlands.

Product overview

PBTconsult BV is an engineering and consultancy bureau specialized in building technical accessibility issues for the built environment, public domain, events, attractions, public transport hubs, and public transport stops. The company operates from a Design for All philosophy, offering a portfolio of services and publications. Core offerings include the ITS Keurmerk (certification service with four categories: Basis, Totaal, Wonen, and Plus), the 3B Label (accessibility classification system with levels A+ through E), and NaviLens Wayfinding (digital navigation implementation). The company maintains and publishes the ITstandaard (standards in versions 2018, 2020, and 2023) as the recognized Dutch standard for accessible building. Supporting services include design testing, construction testing, existing situation assessments, certification, advisory, project management, knowledge transfer, and NEN 9120 testing. All offerings are anchored in objective, realistic, and feasible solutions developed by architects and building engineers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ITstandaard: The Integrale Toegankelijkheid standaard (ITstandaard) is the nationally recognised standard for accessible building in the Netherlands, developed and maintained by PBTconsult. Published in versions 2018, 2020, and 2023.
• ITS Keurmerk
• 3B Label

Quantifiable outcome

• ITS Keurmerk validity is 5 years, providing long-term certification recognition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and significant.

• ProRailmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021PBTconsult acted as implementation partner for ProRail's NaviLens pilot at Den Haag Centraal station, testing the digital wayfinding system with blind and visually impaired users. ProRail aims to enhance accessibility of Dutch railway stations using digital techniques that assist blind and visually impaired passengers. PBTconsult prepared the pilot setup and conducted user testing over two days in June 2021.
• Ieder(in)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIeder(in) is the Dutch umbrella organization for people with disabilities and the initiator and owner of the ITS Keurmerk certification mark. PBTconsult is the sole executing body (keuring & administratie) for the ITS Keurmerk in the Netherlands. Criteria for ITS Keurmerk are based on the ITstandaard, developed and maintained by PBTconsult, and endorsed by Ieder(in) as the minimum requirement for certification. Belangenorganisaties including Ieder(in) contribute to development of the ITstandaard criteria.
• NaviLens / NeosisteccoreTechnology or IntegrationPBTconsult is the exclusive implementation partner for the NaviLens digital wayfinding system in the Netherlands. NaviLens was developed by Spanish company Neosistec and the University of Alicante. The system uses colored QR-like codes readable from long distances to assist blind and visually impaired people in navigating stations and public spaces. PBTconsult brings its expertise in wayfinding systems for blind/visually impaired users and accessibility of public spaces to implement NaviLens in Dutch transport and public environments.
• BREEAMsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ITS Keurmerk has been incorporated into the BREEAM sustainability certification scheme (update 2020). Buildings with ITS Keurmerk certification can use this to satisfy the physical accessibility chapter requirements of BREEAM assessments. This cross-certification recognition benefits both PBTconsult-certified buildings and BREEAM-certified projects.
• American Disability Act (ADA) / WELL / BREEAMsignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ITstandaard and ITS Keurmerk are officially recognized by the American Disability Act (ADA), WELL building standard, and BREEAM as equivalent criteria for physical accessibility compliance. This means meeting ITstandaard requirements satisfies accessibility requirements for these international certification schemes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis: Major Dutch-origin global design and engineering consultancy with sustainability, buildings, and accessibility services. Comparable to PBTconsult in Dutch-market presence and public-sector accessibility work, but operates at vastly larger scale across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering consultancy with accessibility advisory practice serving buildings, transport, and urban development projects. Comparable to PBTconsult in providing accessibility consulting for major infrastructure (e.g., rail and stations), but as one practice within a much larger portfolio.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: Dutch-headquartered international engineering consultancy with established accessibility and inclusive design practice areas. Comparable to PBTconsult in serving Dutch public authorities and developers, but offers accessibility as part of a much broader portfolio spanning infrastructure, water, and built environment.
• WSP: Global engineering professional services firm with property and buildings accessibility advisory capabilities. Comparable to PBTconsult in serving building owners, developers, and public-sector clients seeking accessibility certifications and assessments, though WSP offers this as part of a full-service consultancy platform.
• Sweco: Nordic-headquartered engineering consultancy with significant Dutch operations through acquisitions (Sweco Nederland). Provides accessibility and inclusive design services as part of broader built environment and infrastructure offerings; comparable to PBTconsult in market and some service overlap.

Others

• Ieder(in): Dutch umbrella organization for people with disabilities that owns the ITS Keurmerk certification mark and designates PBTconsult as sole executing body. Functions as both partner and ecosystem steward rather than competitor; PBTconsult's certification monopoly depends on this designation relationship.
• Neosistec (NaviLens): Spanish technology firm that developed the NaviLens digital wayfinding system, partnering with PBTconsult for Dutch implementation. Adjacent rather than directly competing; serves as PBTconsult's technology supplier for the NaviLens service line, with shared interest in expanding deployment across European transit infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Bureau Stadsontwerp: Dutch urban design and accessibility consultancy offering accessibility audits, design advice, and certification support for Dutch municipalities and developers. Comparable to PBTconsult in geographic market and service offerings, but smaller scale and not a standards owner.
• Center for Inclusive Design (Norway): Norwegian accessibility consultancy providing universal design and inclusive environment services across built environment and product design. Comparable to PBTconsult in domain specialization, but operates at smaller scale in a different national market with its own national standards framework.

Direct peers

• Center for Universal Design: Georgia Tech-based accessibility consulting and research organization that develops accessibility standards, conducts training, and advises on universal design implementation. Comparable to PBTconsult as a domain-specialized accessibility consultancy serving both public and private sector clients with proprietary assessment frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pbtconsult-bv

Compliance4 records

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 PBTconsult BV