Tutoring Franchise in the Netherlands: The Complete 2026 Guide

The Netherlands has a well-developed culture of bijles (tutoring), huiswerkbegeleiding (supervised homework) and examentraining (exam preparation). Parents are used to paying for help outside school, and the Dutch school system concentrates that demand around a few decisive moments. For anyone considering a tutoring franchise in the Netherlands, the opportunity is real, but so is the competition: independent tutors, homework institutes and online platforms are already well established.

This guide covers the Dutch school system and its key tests, what is known about tutoring demand, what a tutoring franchise is, how the main models compare, the Wet franchise that has governed Dutch franchise agreements since 2021, practical points on premises and staff, and how Success Tutoring approaches the Dutch market.

The Dutch school system: groep 8, the doorstroomtoets and the eindexamen

Dutch children attend basisschool from groep 1 to groep 8 (roughly ages 4 to 12). At the end of primary school they are placed in one of the secondary tracks: vmbo (pre-vocational, four years), havo (senior general secondary, five years) or vwo (pre-university, six years). That placement shapes everything that follows, which is why the last year of primary school is so closely watched.

• The doorstroomtoets. Since the 2023-2024 school year, the doorstroomtoets has replaced the old eindtoets in groep 8. The school gives a provisional schooladvies first; if a pupil's doorstroomtoets result is higher than that advice, the school must reconsider it and may raise it. For parents, this makes the test a genuine second chance at a higher track.
• The eindexamen. Secondary school ends with the eindexamen, which combines a school exam with the national centrale examens for vmbo, havo and vwo. Results determine access to MBO, HBO and university, and mathematics in particular is a frequent reason students seek help in the final years.

International data adds to the pressure. In the OECD's PISA 2022 assessment, Dutch 15-year-olds scored 493 in mathematics, 27 points lower than in 2018, and the OECD noted that average performance in the Netherlands was lower than in any previous assessment (it also flagged that one or more sampling standards were not met, so the figure should be read with care). The score is still above the OECD average, but the decline has been widely reported.

Why tutoring demand is strong in the Netherlands

There is no official measure of the Dutch tutoring market, but there is good evidence of how widespread extra help is.

• Participation. According to research commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), reported by the NOS in 2019, almost one in three secondary school students receives extra help outside school, and one in four pupils in groep 8 does.
• Pressure points. Demand peaks around groep 8 (the doorstroomtoets and the schooladvies), the transition into the first year of secondary school, and the final exam years.
• The equity debate. The same research fed a public debate about schaduwonderwijs ("shadow education") and whether paid help widens gaps between families. A responsible tutoring business should expect parents, schools and journalists to ask what it adds beyond exam cramming.

The supply side is fragmented. Families choose between students who tutor at home, homework institutes attached to the school routine, exam-training courses in the spring and online platforms. That fragmentation is the space a well-run, branded centre can occupy.

What a tutoring franchise is

A tutoring franchise licenses you to run a learning business under an established brand, using its curriculum, systems, training and marketing. You own the business, employ the staff and pay the franchisor fees for the brand and support. In the Netherlands most franchisees trade through a BV or as a sole trader (eenmanszaak) registered with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK).

The main revenue models are:

• Hourly or package tutoring, the dominant Dutch format, where families buy blocks of lessons.
• Homework supervision subscriptions, common among huiswerkinstituten, where students attend several afternoons a week.
• Centre-based membership tutoring, where families pay a recurring fee for a set programme of weekly sessions at a centre. Revenue is more predictable and the focus is on retention and results. This is the Success Tutoring model.

Tutoring franchise vs worksheet centres, private tutors and independent centres

Each route into the market suits a different kind of owner.

• Worksheet-based learning centres. Kumon also operates in the Netherlands. Its method is built on self-paced worksheets in which students work independently and advance step by step, supported by an instructor. It is a well-known, long-established approach that suits families who want daily practice routines. For a detailed side-by-side, read our Success Tutoring vs Kumon guide.
• Private tutors. A student or teacher tutoring at home has almost no overheads and can be flexible, but the business is capped by the hours one person can work and depends on word of mouth.
• Independent homework institutes. Many are run by experienced local operators. They keep all the margin but must build their own curriculum, systems, recruitment and brand.
• A tutoring franchise. You trade some independence and pay fees in exchange for a tested programme, training, a launch method and a brand. The value depends on how good that system is and how well it is adapted to Dutch schools.

What to look for in a tutoring franchise in the Netherlands

1. Curriculum fit. Ask how the programme maps to the Dutch kerndoelen in primary school and the examination programmes for vmbo, havo and vwo, and whether materials are available in Dutch where they need to be.
2. A clear position on the doorstroomtoets and eindexamen. Ask how the franchise supports students at those moments without becoming a seasonal cramming business.
3. Launch method. Ask exactly how the franchisor fills a centre before opening. See our launch support page.
4. Tutor recruitment and employment. Dutch employment law, payroll and the rules on self-employed contractors (zzp'ers) need careful handling. Ask how tutors are recruited, contracted and trained.
5. Territory. Ask how territories are defined and which are available. Our franchise territories page shows Dutch cities and indicative territories.
6. Disclosure and references. Read the information you receive under the Wet franchise carefully and speak to existing franchisees in other markets.

Franchise regulation in the Netherlands: the Wet franchise

Since 1 January 2021 the Netherlands has had a specific franchise law, the Wet franchise, which added a title on franchise agreements to Book 7 of the Dutch Civil Code (articles 7:911 to 7:921 BW). It applies to agreements with franchisees based in the Netherlands, and most of its provisions cannot be set aside to the franchisee's detriment.

At a high level, and as summarised in the law itself and by Dutch franchise lawyers:

• Pre-contractual information. The franchisor must provide, in good time, the draft agreement and relevant information, including financial information about the business and about the investments the franchisee will need to make (article 7:913 BW).
• A standstill period. That information must be provided at least four weeks before the agreement is signed, and during that period the franchisor may not change the draft to the franchisee's detriment or require payments (article 7:914 BW).
• During the agreement. The law also covers consultation and information during the relationship, goodwill on termination and limits on post-contract non-compete clauses.

There is no franchise registration system. The Nederlandse Franchise Vereniging (NFV) is the industry association and membership is voluntary. Competition law, consumer law and employment law all apply as well. Take advice from a Dutch franchise lawyer (franchiseadvocaat) and an accountant before signing anything.

Premises, licensing and other practicalities

• No education licence. Private tutoring is not a regulated profession in the Netherlands, so no specific licence is required to open a tutoring centre. That cuts both ways: quality is up to you and your franchisor.
• Leases. Check whether the premises are let as retail space (middenstandsbedrijfsruimte, article 7:290 BW) or other business space (article 7:230a BW); the category affects lease protection and term. Make sure the zoning plan and lease permit tutoring use. Ask what leasing support the franchisor provides.
• Safeguarding. A Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag (VOG), the Dutch certificate of conduct, is the standard check for people working with children; build it into recruitment.
• Tax. VAT treatment of tutoring and homework support can be specific. Confirm it with a Dutch tax adviser before setting prices.
• Trademark. The brand should be protected as a Benelux or EU trademark (through BOIP or EUIPO). Ask the franchisor what is registered.

How Success Tutoring approaches the Netherlands

Success Tutoring was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2017 by Michael Black and has been franchising since around 2020. It has announced international markets including New Zealand, the United States, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom and India. The Netherlands is not one of them: at the time of writing (October 2026), Success Tutoring has not announced a launch or any centre in the Netherlands. It is looking for franchise partners to open the first centres and a master franchise partner with the experience and resources to build a national network.

The model offered to partners is the one built in Australia: retail-style learning centres for K–12 students focused on English and Mathematics; a membership model; launch and pre-marketing support, which according to the company's news posts has seen centres open with 45, 55, 60 and more than 70 members before opening day; site selection, leasing and fit-out support; tutor recruitment and online tutor training; learning resources; ongoing marketing; and a flat structure in which franchise partners deal directly with head office leadership. How the programme aligns with Dutch kerndoelen and examination programmes is work to be done with the first Dutch partners.

Franchise partners do not need to be teachers. Success Tutoring is a member of the Franchise Council of Australia and the International Franchise Association. We do not publish fees or earnings in articles; see the investment schedule. For the wider picture, read our complete tutoring franchise guide, and for neighbouring markets our guides to a tutoring franchise in Belgium and the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Is there demand for a tutoring franchise in the Netherlands?

Yes. Research for the Ministry of Education, reported by the NOS in 2019, found that almost one in three secondary students and one in four groep 8 pupils receive extra help outside school. The doorstroomtoets and the eindexamen keep that demand concentrated at key moments.

What does the Wet franchise require?

Since 2021 the franchisor must give you the draft agreement and relevant information, including financial information, at least four weeks before you sign, and may not change the draft to your detriment during that period. Ask a Dutch franchise lawyer to review everything.

Do I need a licence to open a tutoring centre in the Netherlands?

No specific education licence is required for private tutoring. You do need to register the business with the KVK, check the lease and zoning, and should require a VOG from staff who work with children.

Do I need to be a teacher?

No. The franchisor supplies the curriculum, systems and tutor training. Your role is to recruit and lead a team, build local awareness and keep families engaged.

Is Success Tutoring open in the Netherlands?

No centres have been announced. Success Tutoring is seeking franchise partners and a master franchise partner for the Netherlands.

Next steps

A tutoring franchise in the Netherlands builds on an established habit of paying for bijles and on clear pressure points in the school system, within a franchise law that gives you time and information before you sign. Read why us for how Success Tutoring supports franchise partners, then follow the process from first conversation to opening day.

All third-party trademarks belong to their respective owners. Figures about other franchises are taken from their public websites, disclosure documents or reputable franchise directories at the time of writing and may have changed; verify them directly before making any decision. This article is general information, not financial or legal advice.