What Donker Groep does

Donker Groep is a privately held Dutch green infrastructure group headquartered in Sneek, Netherlands, founded in 1960 and operating for over 60 years. The group is structured around five wholly-owned operating divisions: Donker Groen (outdoor green installation, maintenance, and tree care), Donker Interieur (interior planting, plant rental and lease, moss and plant walls), Donker Spelen (natural play environments and playground equipment), Donker Substrates (certified growing media including DS Tuingrond, DS Bomengrond, DS Keurcompost and BVB Urban-line products), and Donker Design (landscape architecture, ecological and technical design, and climate adaptation advisory).

The company serves enterprise, healthcare, education, government, housing-corporation, project-developer and SME customers across the Netherlands with a small foothold in Belgium. Its technical differentiation rests on certified substrate formulations (BRL 9335-4, Keurcompost, PFAS-free), biological pest-control methods for interior plantscapes (deployment of natural enemies such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps), and the licensed Meetlat Biodiversiteit assessment methodology developed with IPC Groene Ruimte, which scores site biodiversity using a 6-V framework.

Revenue is generated through three primary mechanics: professional services (project-based landscape design, implementation and tree care), subscription/recurring revenue (multi-year maintenance contracts and interior plant rental), and transactional product sales (substrates supplied per cubic meter). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company operates a direct enterprise field-sales motion with no self-serve digital distribution. All revenue and headcount figures are undisclosed in the source material.

Name

Donker Groep

Legal name

Donker Groep

Website

https://donkergroen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Donker Groep is a 60+ year-old Dutch green infrastructure group that designs, implements and maintains outdoor and indoor green spaces through five divisions (Groen, Interieur, Spelen, Substrates, Design), serving enterprise, healthcare, education and government clients primarily in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape and Green Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Landscape Design & Installation (HSAIABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Design, Build & Installation (Hardscapes/Softscapes) (BPABADAF), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Green infrastructure design
• Interior plantscaping
• Substrate manufacturing
• Playground equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Sneek

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Landscape Design Services: Donker Design provides landscape architecture, ecological design, and technical design services. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design consultations, master planning, and design execution. Projects range from urban parks to green facades and interior plant installations.
2. Green Space Implementation and Maintenance: Donker Groen and Donker Spelen provide implementation (construction/installation) and ongoing maintenance of green spaces, including garden installations, tree care, green roofs, and play equipment. Revenue comes from project contracts and subscription-based maintenance agreements (abonnementen).
3. Interior Plant Leasing: Donker Interieur provides plant rental and lease services for offices and interior spaces, including office plants, vertical gardens (moss walls, plant walls), and seasonal decorations like Christmas trees. Revenue model is recurring subscription-based.
4. Substrate Products: Donker Substrates manufactures and sells growing media including compost, tree soil, lawn substrate, and tree aggregate. Products are sold per cubic meter with certified quality (BRL 9335-4, Keurcompost certification). Revenue is transactional per delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Donker Groep designs, realizes, and manages green outdoor and indoor spaces through five specialized divisions: Donker Groen (outdoor green installation and maintenance), Donker Interieur (interior plant rental, moss walls, plant walls), Donker Spelen (playground equipment and natural play environments), Donker Substrates (certified growing media and soil products), and Donker Design (landscape architecture, ecological design, and climate adaptation advisory). The integrated offering covers the full lifecycle from concept and design through installation to ongoing maintenance on subscription contracts.

Product overview

Donker Groep is a Dutch green infrastructure company organized as a multi-brand portfolio. The company consists of five divisions: Donker Groen (outdoor green services: design, installation, maintenance of gardens, green facades, green roofs, and public green spaces), Donker Interieur (indoor green solutions: plant rental, moss walls, plant walls, vertical green), Donker Spelen (playground equipment and natural play environments), Donker Substrates (soil and substrate products including DS Tuingrond, DS Gazonsubstraat, DS Bomengrond, DS Keurcompost, and BVB Landscape collaborative products), and Donker Design (landscape architecture and advisory services). The divisions operate independently but cross-refer clients, enabling Donker Groep to offer integrated green solutions from design through installation to maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donker Groen (Outdoor Green Services)
• Donker Interieur (Interior Green Solutions)
• Donker Spelen (Playground Equipment)
• Donker Substrates (Soil and Substrate Products)
• Donker Design (Landscape Architecture and Advisory)

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects achieve climate adaptation goals through water retention systems (e.g., UMC Amsterdam retention roof with 100 m³ capacity)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BVB LandscapingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for producing substrates for public spaces. Donker Substrates collaborates with BVB Landscaping to develop and manufacture specialized substrate products including BVB UrbanSubstraat, BVB UrbanGranulaat, and BVB UrbanSand product lines. BVB provides the manufacturing capability while Donker contributes horticultural expertise.
• Robinia Int. BVBAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the De Porre natural playground project in Gent, Belgium. Robinia supplied custom robinia wood play equipment that complemented Donker Design's landscape design for the industrial heritage site.
• IPC Groene RuimtecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed use of the Meetlat Biodiversiteit (Biodiversity Measurement Tool) developed by IPC Groene Ruimte. Donker Design uses this tool to assess biodiversity value on client sites using a point system based on the 6-V methodology.
• SNK BuitenprojectenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration partner on schoolyard projects such as Basisschool De Tweesprong. SNK provides complementary outdoor project services alongside Donker's green design and implementation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Koninklijke Ginkel Groep: Major Dutch green services contractor offering landscape design, implementation, and maintenance nationwide. Closely comparable to Donker Groep in integrated service model, multi-division structure, and enterprise/government client base.
• Copijn: Dutch landscape architecture and engineering firm with strong design-led positioning. Comparable to Donker Design in providing landscape architecture, ecological design, and technical design services.
• Krinkels: Dutch green and civil services contractor active in public green space, water infrastructure, and maintenance. Directly competes with Donker Groen on Dutch municipal and infrastructure tenders.
• Verhoeven Groep: Dutch green services company offering design, construction, and maintenance of outdoor spaces. Comparable to Donker Groen on integrated lifecycle service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Antea Group: Large Dutch engineering and environmental consultancy offering landscape, climate adaptation, and sustainability services as part of a broader portfolio. Overlaps with Donker Design on municipal and ESG projects.
• Idverde: Pan-European green services provider with significant Dutch operations. Comparable in integrated green services model but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Donker.
• Royal BAM Group: Major Dutch construction group with green infrastructure and sustainable building capabilities. Overlaps with Donker in green roofs, facades, and climate-adaptive construction within larger built-environment projects.

Emerging players

• Mobilane: European provider of green wall systems and vertical greening solutions. Directly comparable to Donker Interieur's plant wall and moss wall product line, focused on biophilic interior installations.
• TreeTech: Dutch tree care and inspection specialist offering VTA, tree disease management, and consultancy. Closely comparable to Donker Groen's boomverzorging division in arboricultural services.

Others

• Van den Berk Boomkwekerijen: Major European tree nursery supplying specimen trees for urban planting projects. Adjacent supplier ecosystem partner to Donker's tree planting and substrate implementation work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/donkergroep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/donkergroep
• Instagraminstagram.com/donkergroep/?hl=nl
• TikToktiktok.com/@donkergroep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Donker Groep