Nederlands Debat Instituut Holding B.v.

What Nederlands Debat Instituut Holding B.v. does

Nederlands Debat Instituut Holding B.V. is a Netherlands-based professional training and services firm founded in 1998 (per firmographics) / 1999 (per company history), headquartered in Hilversum, that specializes in oral persuasion, debate, and communication skills. Its core offerings are instructor-led training courses (including Debatteren voor Professionals, Vakkundig voorzitten, Overtuigend onderhandelen, De succesvolle dagvoorzitter, Zelfverzekerd presenteren, and Bestuurlijk adviseren), a bundled six-day Leergang Leiderschapscommunicatie leadership program that adds personal coaching, customized in-company training, and a separate facilitation services line supplying debate leaders, day chairmen, and conversation facilitators for congresses and events. The firm reports 300+ training programs and 200+ facilitation events delivered annually, with a maximum of 8 participants per session to maintain small-group, practice-intensive delivery. Training is conducted at the firm's dedicated venue, Landgoed Woudschoten in Zeist, or on client premises.

The business operates a portfolio revenue model. Open-enrollment courses are priced at €1,595 per participant for 2-day programs and €5,700 for the 6-day leadership program, with in-company and facilitation services quoted on a proposal basis. Customer segments span Dutch national and municipal government (including the Ministry of Finance, the Dutch Bar Association, and municipalities such as Hoorn and Leiden) and corporate clients across professional services (Deloitte), staffing (Randstad), healthcare (Eli Lilly and Amstelland Medical Center, ActiZ, VGZ), food and agriculture (FrieslandCampina), and trade associations. Distribution is direct-to-customer via the website (individual registrations) and field sales (proposal-based enterprise contracts); marketing relies on a Dutch-language content knowledge bank, SEO, email newsletters, alumni referrals, and a related foundation, Stichting Nederlands Debat Instituut, that runs youth debate education programs.

The firm employs between 11 and 50 staff and lists 12+ named trainers, all with backgrounds in government, business, or politics. No software platform, AI capabilities, patents, certifications, external funding rounds, or M&A activity are disclosed; the organization is a privately held Dutch BV (Besloten Vennootschap) with no disclosed parent company. Operations are entirely domestic to the Netherlands, with no cross-border activity indicated.

Name

Nederlands Debat Instituut Holding B.v.

Legal name

Nederlands Debat Instituut Holding BV

Website

https://debatinstituut.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nederlands Debat Instituut is a Netherlands-based professional training firm founded in 1998 offering debate, persuasion, and communication courses plus event facilitation for government and corporate clients. It serves Dutch enterprises, ministries, municipalities, and professional associations with instructor-led programs and debate leadership services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate/Professional Public Speaking Training (Presentation Skills) (EDAMAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Speech & Debate Camps, Intensives & Bootcamps (EDAMAOAN), Private Debate Academies & Speech Coaching Centers (EDAMAOAC), Online Public Speaking & Debate Programs (Live/Recorded) (EDAMAOAD)

Keywords

• Debate training services
• Communication skills training
• Executive education programs
• Event facilitation services
• Leadership development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: Revenue generated from fee-based training programs delivered to professionals and organizations. Training is offered as open enrollment courses (public courses) and customized in-company programs. Pricing is per participant with tiered structures based on program duration and depth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nederlands Debat Instituut delivers professional training courses and event facilitation services focused on oral persuasion, debate, presentation, meeting chairing, and negotiation skills for Dutch professionals and organizations. Offerings include open enrollment courses (such as Debatteren voor professionals, Vakkundig voorzitten, Overtuigend onderhandelen, De succesvolle dagvoorzitter, Bestuurlijk adviseren, and Zelfverzekerd presenteren), a bundled Leergang leiderschapscommunicatie program, customized in-company training, and the supply of experienced debate leaders, day chairmen, and conversation facilitators for congresses and events.

Product overview

Nederlands Debat Instituut is a professional training and services organization specializing in oral persuasion and communication skills. Its offering is not a software platform but rather a portfolio of instructor-led training programs and facilitation services. The core offerings include: (1) individual training courses such as Zelfverzekerd presenteren, Bestuurlijk adviseren, Debatteren voor professionals, Vakkundig voorzitten, Overtuigend onderhandelen, and De succesvolle dagvoorzitter; (2) the bundled Leergang leiderschapscommunicatie program combining multiple courses with personal coaching; (3) professional facilitation services providing debate leaders, day chairmen, and conversation facilitators; and (4) free alumni practice evenings. Training is delivered at a dedicated venue (Landgoed Woudschoten) or in-company. The company also operates a knowledge bank with blogs, videos, and books on persuasion and communication topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Debatteren voor professionals (Debating for Professionals) A two-day training program (€1,595 excl. VAT) focused on developing verbal communication and debating skills for professionals, including argument formulation, critical listening, and persuasive speaking techniques. Maximum 8 participants per group.
• Vakkundig voorzitten (Skilled Chairing) A two-day training program (€1,595 excl. VAT) teaching meeting facilitation and chairmanship skills, covering meeting preparation, decision-making processes, and techniques to prevent endless discussions. Maximum 8 participants per group.
• Overtuigend onderhandelen (Persuasive Negotiating) A two-day negotiation training program (€1,595 excl. VAT) that teaches effective negotiation techniques while maintaining relationships, covering all aspects of negotiation to help participants achieve favorable outcomes. Maximum 8 participants per group.
• De succesvolle dagvoorzitter (The Successful Day Chairman) A two-day training program (€1,595 excl. VAT) taught by highly experienced day chairmen covering relevant theory and techniques for moderating congresses and symposiums with audience interaction. Maximum 8 participants per group.
• Zelfverzekerd presenteren (Self-Confident Presenting) A two-day presentation training program that helps professionals develop confidence and persuasive speaking skills, covering topics such as non-verbal communication, speech structure, storytelling, and handling critical questions.
• Bestuurlijk adviseren (Policy Advising) A two-day training program that teaches specialists and advisors how to structure and present advice so that it is understood and adopted by decision-makers, including techniques for navigating political contexts.
• Leergang leiderschapscommunicatie (Leadership Communication Program) A comprehensive six-day leadership communication program (€5,700 excl. VAT) consisting of three two-day training modules (Debatteren voor professionals, Vakkundig voorzitten, Overtuigend onderhandelen) plus a personal coaching session, designed to develop leaders' communication skills across meetings, negotiations, and presentations. Maximum 8 participants.
• Incompany trainingen (In-company training) Customized training programs delivered at clients' organizations, fully tailored to the specific context and challenges of the organization. Quoted on a per-engagement basis after consultation.
• Debatleiders & dagvoorzitters (Debate leaders & Day chairmen) Provision of experienced debate leaders and day chairmen who facilitate sharp, attractive, and meaningful debates for organizations. Debate leaders have expertise in debate direction and organization; day chairmen have at least 10 years of experience at congresses.
• Gespreksleiders (Conversation facilitators) Provision of neutral and professional conversation facilitators for complex, difficult, or sensitive conversations that require skilled moderation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ training programs annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Landgoed WoudschotencoreOthersPreferred training venue partner. Hotel and conference center located in Zeist used as primary location for training programs. Provides facilities including training rooms, restaurant, lounge with refreshments, and accommodation options. The venue matches the company's focus on small group intensive training in a calm, natural environment with free parking.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Improve: Dutch professional development firm offering training and learning services for organizations across communication, leadership, and management skills. Comparable as a domestic training-services peer serving similar enterprise and government buyers.
• Schouten & Nelissen: Established Dutch professional training company offering leadership, communication, and personal effectiveness programs. Directly comparable as a Netherlands-based B2B training provider targeting similar professional communication skills.
• Speakers Academy: Dutch training and speaker bureau focused on presentation, public speaking, and storytelling for business audiences. Closely comparable given its overlap in corporate speaking and presentation training in the Netherlands.
• HeadFirst Group: Dutch learning and development provider offering leadership, communication, and professional effectiveness training to corporate and government clients. Comparable as a direct domestic training-services competitor in the same verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Toastmasters International: Global non-profit organization running public speaking and leadership clubs. Comparable in its dedication to oral communication skill-building, though its free club model differs fundamentally from NDI's paid training format.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Global training company with a long-standing franchise in public speaking, presentation, and leadership courses. Comparable at the category level, though operating at much greater scale and broader scope than NDI's Dutch-focused niche.
• Center for Creative Leadership: Globally recognized leadership development provider offering executive education, coaching, and applied research. Comparable on the leadership communication axis, but a much broader academic-adjacent institution.
• FranklinCovey: Global leadership and effectiveness training firm with programs in communication, leadership, and influence. Comparable for its enterprise-focused leadership communication content, but at significantly broader portfolio and scale.
• The Knowledge Academy: International professional training provider with a broad curriculum across soft skills, management, and personal development. Comparable as a professional-skills training operator, though broader in scope and less specialized in debate/persuasion.

Regional players

• Speakers Corner: UK-based public speaking and communication training provider serving professionals and organizations. Comparable in scope of training delivered, but operating primarily in the UK rather than the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nederlands-debat-instituut

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Nederlands Debat Instituut Holding B.v.