Top 5 Leadership Training Companies in the Netherlands for 2026
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Nearly every board deck in the Netherlands names “strong leadership” as the answer to volatility, talent shortages, and transformation. Yet very few organizations act on it. Cambridge Leadership Associates notes that while 83% of organizations say leadership development is important, only 5% truly invest in it. The gap between what we claim about leadership and what we actually do is still huge.
Dutch organizations sit right in the middle of this tension. Our consensus-driven “polder” culture and relatively flat hierarchies are excellent for collaboration and psychological safety. But they can also slow decision-making when the pressure is on, whether in high-tech, energy transition, financial services, or logistics. In this context, leadership development is no longer a “nice to have” HR initiative; it is a core driver of execution.
If leadership can be learned, the key question for Dutch organizations is not whether to develop leaders, but where and with whom they build that capability and whether it leads to better decisions, stronger teams, and visible business results.
This article highlights 5 leading leadership training providers in the Netherlands that work with organizations serious about moving from slideware to behavior change. These companies help organizations strengthen leadership capability, improve collaboration, and turn development budgets into measurable performance gains.
The Need for Leadership Training: Quick Facts
- Leader & manager development is the No. 1 priority for HR leaders in 2025. Gartner’s latest global HR survey confirms that leadership capability remains the top workforce priority for organizations navigating rapid change.
- 70% of employees say leaders now need a broader set of people-centric leadership behaviors. The Harvard Business Initiative’s 2024 Global Leadership Development study highlights the shift toward empathy, inclusivity, and adaptability in modern leadership.
- Leadership development remains the top HR priority for the third consecutive year, highlighting a global shortage of leaders prepared for change.
- The Netherlands hosts a thriving executive education and leadership training market, valued at over USD 1.2 billion, serving both local and international professionals.
Modern leadership training in the Netherlands increasingly focuses on empathy, agility, and data-informed decision-making to address evolving workplace expectations.
Top Leadership Training Companies in the Netherlands
Below is a curated list of five reputable leadership training companies helping professionals and businesses build stronger, more effective leaders.
1. Edstellar
Edstellar is a global leader in corporate training, offering instructor-led leadership training programs and other upskilling solutions across industries. With a strong presence in the Netherlands, Edstellar empowers organizations to develop skilled leaders capable of driving innovation and collaboration.
The company provides seamless training administration, expert-led delivery, and a robust learning management platform that supports evolving organizational needs. With its customizable training approach and data-backed learning tools, Edstellar stands out as a trusted partner for leadership and management upskilling worldwide.
Key Offerings:
- Leadership Excellence Program: Flagship development bundle focused on styles, strategic decision-making, emotional intelligence, change management, and team building.
- High Impact Leadership Training Course: Intensive 8–12-hour program enhancing leadership presence, communication, coaching, and decision-making for managers and team leads.
- Leadership Essentials Training Course: 8–16-hour foundational course covering communication, conflict resolution, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and goal setting for emerging leaders.
- Leading Leaders Corporate Training Course: 16–24-hour program for senior leaders managing other leaders, ideal for directors, department heads, and senior managers.
- Executive Leadership Training Course: 12–16-hour course for executives focusing on strategic planning, organizational leadership, change management, and inspiring performance.
- Transformational Leadership Training Course: 8–12-hour program for leaders guiding change, managing transitions, and inspiring teams during transformation.
- Global Leadership Training Course: 8–16-hour course for leaders managing multicultural or international teams, covering cross-cultural communication and global mindset.
Highlights:
- Flexible Delivery Modes: On-site instructor-led globally + live virtual instructor-led classes for accessibility.
- Large Course Catalog: 2,000+ courses, with extensive coverage of leadership and strategic development.
- Expert Trainer Ecosystem: Global network of 5,000+ certified trainers, including leadership, management, and corporate development specialists.
- Scalable Leadership Solutions: Support for small teams, large workforces, enterprise-wide leadership transformation initiatives.
- Skill Matrix: Skill-matrix software that maps roles and skills, visualizes current vs expected proficiency, pinpoints skill gaps, and links them to targeted training.
- L&D Consulting: Beyond training delivery, Edstellar offers consulting, training needs analysis, competency framework design, and organizational development.
Details:
Training delivered across Australia and internationally
Contact Number: +44 151 453 4009
Email: contact@edstellar.com
Contact Page: https://www.edstellar.com/contact-us
2. Schouten & Nelissen
Schouten & Nelissen is one of the Netherlands’ most established leadership and soft-skills development providers, active since 1980. The company focuses on human-centered leadership and has decades of experience delivering programmes for professionals and executives across sectors, in the Netherlands and internationally.
Key Offerings:
- Leadership Development Programmes: Tracks around personal leadership, strategic leadership, executive leadership and team leadership, designed to strengthen self-awareness, influence, and impact in complex environments.
- Management & People Skills: Training in people management, coaching and mentoring, communication, performance management, and influencing and conflict resolution.
- Behavioral & Mindset Development: Programmes on emotional intelligence, resilience, well-being, productivity, and self-management, often integrating evidence-based approaches such as ACT, NLP, and positive psychology.
Highlights:
- 40+ Years of Experience: Active since around 1980, with hundreds of programmes and repeated recognition as a top Dutch training provider.
- International Reach: Active in 60+ countries through labels and partners, serving multinational teams and organizations.
- Human-Centered Approach: Strong emphasis on personal growth, sustainable behavior change, and leadership that combines performance with well-being and engagement.
Details:
Address: Van Heemstraweg West 5, 5301 PA Zaltbommel, The Netherlands.
3. De Baak
De Baak is a Netherlands-based training institute for development and leadership, active since 1947. It offers a wide range of leadership, management, and personal development programmes from its own locations in Noordwijk and on the De Horst estate in Driebergen, both set in nature-rich environments. De Baak is known for its experiential, reflective approach that strongly emphasizes personal and strategic leadership development.
Key Offerings:
- Leadership Development Programs: Personal Leadership, Executive Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Team Leadership, and Young Leadership programs.
- Management & Organizational Programs: People management, change management, team development, communication, and performance leadership.
- Personal Growth & Mindset Training: Self-awareness, resilience, emotional intelligence, personal effectiveness, and creative thinking.
Highlights:
- Learning Model: Renowned for an experiential, reflective approach blending psychology, creativity, and personal exploration.
- Training Centers: Operates dedicated immersive training centers in Driebergen and Noordwijk.
- Client Base: Partners with corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations on leadership and cultural change.
- Leadership Philosophy: Known for sustainable leadership, human-centered management, and long-term development.
Details:
Location: Noordwijk & Driebergen-Rijsenburg, The Netherlands.
4. AZTech Training & Consultancy (Amsterdam)
AZTech offers a wide array of leadership, management, innovation, and strategy training programmes in Amsterdam, tailored for professionals in the Netherlands and internationally.
Their management and leadership training courses in Amsterdam are designed to develop high‑impact leadership capabilities covering areas such as emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, communication, and team development.”
Key Offerings:
- Leadership & Management Development: Building My Leadership Philosophy, Visionary Leadership and Strategic Thinking, Master Class in Management & Leadership, Leadership Development and Succession Strategist.
- Executive & Strategic Leadership: Strategic Leadership, Global Leader Mindset Development, Value-Based Leadership, Leadership & Management Online Masterclass.
- Project Leadership & Strategic Project Management: Project Leadership in Action, Leading Project Team, Project Management Specialist, Effective Project Management in an Uncertain World.
Highlights:
- Delivery Formats: Typically in-person in Amsterdam at premium venues; short intensive tracks (5-day, 10-day), also customizable for corporate training.
- Broad and Flexible Catalogue: Over 100+ programmes across leadership, management, innovation, and strategy.
- Emphasis on Global Standards: Many programmes are Accredited & Certified with internationally recognised credentials.
- Corporate Custom Training: They explicitly state that custom corporate solutions can be requested and courses can be tailored.
Details:
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands (training venue details vary per course).
5. ICM Opleidingen & Trainingen
ICM is a Dutch training institute offering a broad range of leadership, management, personal development, and soft-skills courses. They deliver programs at 40+ locations across the Netherlands and provide tailored in-company training for organizations. ICM is ISO 9001:2015 certified, B Corp certified, and widely recognized as a high-quality training provider used by many organizations to upskill employees in leadership, management, and team skills.
Key Offerings:
- Practical Leadership: Hands-on leadership course focused on applying core leadership skills in day-to-day practice.
- Authentic Leadership: Program on leading from your authentic self, values, and personal strengths.
- Female Leadership: A four-day program that develops women’s leadership qualities to increase impact and confidence at work.
- Inclusive Leadership: Training to build inclusive leadership behaviors for leading diverse teams and fostering belonging.
- Leadership Development for Managers: Development track for managers who want to grow into stronger, more self-aware leaders.
Highlights:
- Extensive National Reach: ICM has training centers across many cities in the Netherlands, making it accessible for various regions.
- Flexibility: Organizations can choose open training sessions or request custom in-company courses tailored to their context.
- Balanced Approach: Courses combine theoretical frameworks with practical exercises, team-based assignments, and personal goal-setting, useful for both new and experienced leaders.
Details:
Address: Joseph Haydnlaan 2A, 3533 AE Utrecht
Conclusion
Leadership training is essential for cultivating resilient, innovative, and empathetic leaders who can drive business success. The Netherlands hosts a rich ecosystem of providers, each with its own strengths in corporate learning, personal development, and strategic leadership.
For organizations looking to strengthen their leadership capabilities globally, Edstellar stands out as a trusted partner offering end-to-end learning management, certified trainers, and a proven record of driving organizational transformation.
Empower your leaders today with world-class training that transforms potential into performance.
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