HBO Drechtsteden

What HBO Drechtsteden does

HBO Academy (formerly HBO Drechtsteden) is a Dutch private higher professional education institution offering accredited Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees, Mhbo programs, and professional courses across a multi-city footprint in Amsterdam, Diemen, Dordrecht, Hilversum, and Rotterdam. Its portfolio spans applied psychology, business and innovation, construction (bouwkunde), culinary arts, ICT engineering (including a program described as unique in the Netherlands), front-end development, and specialized tailoring/couture. The curriculum is delivered through four study modes — full-time, part-time, dual (work-integrated learning), and online — supported by an OSIRIS online registration system and standard learning management infrastructure.

The business model is tuition-driven under a recurring, subscription-style billing cadence, with rates government-regulated for Dutch/EU students and not publicly disclosed on the website. Revenue mechanics are anchored in degree-granting programs supplemented by short-format courses, masterclasses, and corporate-style training (e.g., NIST Cybersecurity Framework Specialist with ESET Nederland). Customer segments center on MBO graduates transitioning to HBO, working professionals pursuing continuing education, MBO students exploring HBO pathways, and a community outreach track via the HBO Kids program for primary school children. Distribution is direct-to-student via open days, campus events, online information sessions, social media, SEO, and partner-mediated recruitment through MBO/ROC relationships.

Strategic activity since 2023 includes the rebranding from HBO Drechtsteden to HBO Academy, the planned relocation of the main location to Hilversum, four new program accreditations, and a partnership stack spanning ESET Nederland, College of MultiMedia, Koning Willem I College, ROC van Amsterdam-Flevoland, Nationaal Onderwijsmuseum, and InHolland Pabo. The institution holds the NRTO Keurmerk quality certification. No headcount, enrollment, revenue, funding, or ownership disclosures are available in the input.

Name

HBO Drechtsteden

Legal name

HBO Academy

Website

https://hbodrechtsteden.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

HBO Academy (formerly HBO Drechtsteden) is a Dutch private higher professional education institution offering accredited Bachelor, Associate, Mhbo, and professional courses across five Randstad cities (Amsterdam, Diemen, Dordrecht, Hilversum, Rotterdam), serving MBO graduates, working professionals, and continuing-ed learners via full-time, part-time, dual, and online study modes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and course fees: HBO Academy generates revenue through tuition fees for accredited higher professional education programs including Associate degrees, Bachelor degrees, and professional courses. Revenue comes from both full-time and part-time educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HBO Drechtsteden (operating as HBO Academy) is a Dutch higher professional education institution that delivers accredited Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees, Mhbo programs, and short professional courses across disciplines including Applied Psychology, Culinary Professional, Business & Innovation, Construction (Bouwkunde), ICT Engineering, and Tailor Professional. Programs are offered through full-time, part-time, dual (work-integrated), and online study modes across multiple campus locations in the Randstad region of the Netherlands.

Product overview

HBO Academy (formerly HBO Drechtsteden) is a Dutch higher professional education institution offering a diverse portfolio of programs including Bachelor degrees, Associate degrees, Mhbo programs, and professional courses. The institution operates across multiple study modes (full-time, part-time, dual, and online) from locations in Amsterdam, Diemen, Dordrecht, Hilversum, and Rotterdam. The core educational offerings span applied psychology, culinary arts, business and innovation, construction (bouwkunde), ICT engineering, and tailoring/couture. The institution has expanded its portfolio to include specialized masterclasses and continuing education courses, positioning itself as a comprehensive provider of professional development and vocational training across multiple disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toegepaste Psychologie (Applied Psychology) — Bachelor, full-time and part-time
• Culinary Professional — Associate degree
• Intensief voortraject Culinary Professional
• Business & Innovation — 2-year Associate degree
• Business & Innovation — Bachelor
• Bouwkunde — Associate degree
• Intensieve cursus Tailor Professional
• Tailor Professional — Associate degree
• Karaktercoach
• Masterclass Couture Korset
• Kleding op eigen maat (Custom clothing)
• Masterclass Damestailleur
• Masterclass Glove Making
• ICT Engineer
• ICT-Engineer Functioneel Beheer
• Front-end Development
• Cursus Historische Molensteenkraag
• Cursus Worker jacket
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework Specialist Cursus
• Mhbo ICT Engineer
• HBO Kids
• Associate Degree Programs (Portfolio)
• Bachelor Programs (Portfolio)
• Mhbo Programs (Portfolio)
• Cursussen en Trainingen (Courses and Training)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Koning Willem I CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025HBO Academy and Koning Willem I College signed a cooperation agreement for accelerated transition from secondary vocational education (MBO) to higher professional education (HBO). The partnership aims to facilitate smoother pathways for students moving to HBO level.
• ESET NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2024Collaboration with ESET Nederland for the second edition of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Specialist course. ESET provides cybersecurity expertise for the professional development program.
• Nationaal OnderwijsmuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2022Intensive collaboration with the National Education Museum for educational content and student enrichment programs.
• InHolland PabominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2021Joint organization of Dordtse Introductiedag (DID) 2021 for student orientation and welcome activities.
• ROC van Amsterdam - FlevolandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2020Educational partnership for student recruitment and pathway programs between ROC van Amsterdam - Flevoland and HBO Academy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences: NHL Stenden is a Dutch HBO institution with campuses across the Netherlands offering bachelor, master, and associate degree programs across business, hospitality, and applied disciplines. It is a direct peer operating in the same HBO market with similar multi-modal delivery and industry-integrated learning focus.
• Tio University of Applied Sciences: Tio is a private Dutch HBO institution focused on business, tourism, hospitality, and marketing programs. It is a direct peer as a smaller-scale private HBO provider competing in the same private higher education segment as HBO Academy.
• Hogeschool Rotterdam: Hogeschool Rotterdam is a Dutch HBO institution based in Rotterdam offering bachelor, associate degree, and professional programs in business, engineering, healthcare, and applied psychology. It directly competes with HBO Academy in Rotterdam, particularly for the Applied Psychology deeltijd program.
• LOI (Leidse Onderwijsinstellingen): LOI is one of the largest private Dutch distance-learning institutions offering HBO bachelor and associate degree programs across business, IT, healthcare, and education. It is a direct peer in the Dutch private HBO segment, particularly for HBO Academy's online and part-time delivery modes.
• Capabel Hogeschool: Capabel Hogeschool is a private Dutch HBO institution offering part-time and dual bachelor and associate degree programs across multiple disciplines. It is a direct peer as a private HBO provider with similar focus on working professionals and flexible learning modalities.
• Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA): HvA is a large public Dutch HBO institution based in Amsterdam offering bachelor, associate degree, and professional programs across applied psychology, ICT, business, and technical disciplines. It is a direct peer competing in the same Randstad market with overlapping program areas such as Applied Psychology and ICT Engineer.
• Saxion University of Applied Sciences: Saxion is a Dutch HBO institution with campuses in Enschede, Deventer, and Apeldoorn offering bachelor, associate degree, and master programs. It is a direct peer in the Dutch HBO market with similar focus on applied professional education and industry partnerships.
• InHolland University of Applied Sciences: InHolland is a Dutch HBO institution with multiple campuses across the Randstad region offering bachelor, associate degree, and master programs. It is a direct peer given the overlapping geographic footprint (Rotterdam, Amsterdam area) and similar HBO program portfolio including business, ICT, and applied sciences.
• Avans University of Applied Sciences: Avans is a Dutch HBO institution with campuses in Breda, Tilburg, Den Bosch, and other cities offering bachelor, associate degree, and master programs across business, technology, and applied sciences. It is a direct peer in the Dutch HBO market with a comparable multi-location, multi-disciplinary approach.

Broad incumbents

• Nyenrode Business Universiteit: Nyenrode is a private Dutch business university offering bachelor, master, MBA, and executive education programs. It is a broader incumbent in the Dutch higher education space, particularly competing with HBO Academy's Business & Innovation programs at a more prestigious and established level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hboacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/18070992
• Instagraminstagram.com/hbo_academy/?hl=nl

Compliance1 record

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 HBO Drechtsteden