Breda University of Applied Sciences

Breda University of Applied Sciences is a medium-sized, government-funded higher education institute. More than 7,000 Dutch and international students from some 100 countries are studying at our institute. We offer bachelor’s and master’s programme at professional (‘hbo’) and academic (‘wo’) level in the domains of Games, Media, Hotel, Facility, Logistics, Built Environment, Tourism and Leisure & Events.

New strategy

In the new strategy period (2018-2021) NHTV Breda will continue from 1 September 2018 under the name of Breda University of Applied Sciences. We have also developed a new logo and corporate identity, consistent with our positioning objectives. We will officially adopt our new name and new corporate identity as from 1 September 2018.

Business

Interaction with the industry has always been our forte. We regard collaboration with companies and organisations in the professional field as the perfect way to share and make the most of knowledge. In this way, we can encourage each other to keep developing and innovating, and help lift each other to higher levels.

Partner Universities

Our partnerships with more than 100 universities world wide highly contribute to our international goals as they allow our students and lecturers to gain and expand their international experience by studying, teaching and doing research abroad.  

Memberships and Networks

Breda University of Applied Sciences staff and management are active members of many international organisations, both in the industry and in the field of research and education. 

• Academy of Hotel Management and Facility Management

• Academie voor toerisme

• Academie voor stedenbouw, logistiek en mobiliteit

• Academy for Digital Entertainment

1963: Toerist Officier

NWIT, a school that trains students to become 'Toerist Officier'. A school that trains students to become ‘Toerist Officier’ (Tourist Officer) – that was the idea of Mr Sliepen, director of the Breda Tourist Information Office, back in 1963. This school was to be a national scientific institute, consisting of a research department and a course programme. As this school was new of its kind, educational material was mainly obtained through its own research efforts.

1966: First lecture

NWIT in Breda started its lectures. On 6 September 1966, newspaper De Stem wrote, “Lectures at the Dutch Scientific Institute for Tourism (NWIT) in Breda started yesterday. On this occasion, the institute’s director – Dr L. van Egeraat – gave a public lecture in Café ’t Zuid at Grote Markt in Breda, discussing the theme of Recreation in Noord-Brabant.” Three weeks after this first day of lectures, student association Phileas Fogg was founded, still ‘travelling’ along with us today! NWIT started with 58 students and 12 staff members, and the course programme lasted two years and three months. The duration of the programme was extended to three years in 1972 and another year was added to it in 1986.

1972: VAT

Verkeersakademie Tilburg (VAT) was founded. In 1972, Verkeersakademie Tilburg started with 90 students, 9 staff members and 1 course programme – ‘Verkeerskunde’ (Traffic Management). Bringing technology, people and society together, the programme was innovative in its approach. Moreover, the programme was characterised by a contemporary structure, consisting of lots of projects and practical components. 

1977: Sibeliuslaan

NWIT moved to Sibeliuslaan. In 1977, NWIT moved to a new building. The previous locations at Etnastraat, Haagweg and Karnemelkstraat stood in marked contrast to the stylish premises at Sibeliuslaan, one of Breda’s upmarket neighbourhoods. 

1986: Expansion of NWIT course offerings

Expansion of NWIT course offerings in 1986. In 1986, the ‘Nationaal Gids’ programme was added to NWIT’s course offerings. This programme had been developed in cooperation with industry partners. Another programme, ‘Kort-hbo toerisme en recreatie’, was added in 1989, which was a two-year tourism programme until the end of 2005.

1990: Master’s programme

First master’s programme was offered. The first step in the plan to start offering master’s programmes was taken in 1990 with the Master in European Tourism Management. In 1994, NHTV expanded its set of study programmes to include the study programme in ‘Vrijetijdskunde’, which name was later changed to ‘Vrijetijdsmanagement’. Other new study programmes, which started in 2001, were Hotel Management and Logistics & Economics.

2001: International

National instead of international. As a result of the international positioning ambitions, the name of the institute was changed in September 2001 to ‘NHTV internationale hogeschool Breda’. NHTV was no longer an abbreviation, but a brand name. English-taught courses were becoming the rule rather than the exception.

2006: Re-connect!

Celebration of NHTV’s 40th anniversary on 25 November 2006. On 25 November 2006, NHTV’s 40th anniversary was celebrated in a big way with the ‘Re-connect!’ reunion. Some 3,000 former students as well as former and current staff members took the opportunity to reconnect with each other.

2012: Academic higher education institute

Preparing for the first academic master’s programme. In September 2012, NHTV launched its academic pre-master’s programme in Leisure Studies for students with a hbo-diploma. This pre-master’s programme was previously taught at Tilburg University. The start of this pre-master’s track was a next step for NHTV in the process of developing into an ‘academic higher education institute’. Then it was time to prepare for yet another step: NHTV’s plans to take over the academic master’s programme in Leisure Studies from Tilburg University.

2014: First academic master’s programme

Academic Master in Leisure studies was launched. In September 2014, the academic Master in Leisure Studies was launched in cooperation with Tilburg University. 

2017: Start of the convent renovations 

On our way to a new campus. After years of planning, designing and inviting tenders, renovation work on the convent – which will be part of the new campus - was started in May 2017.  

Downtown Breda is bustling with pubs, outdoor terraces, restaurants, bars and clubs. You will also find many trendy shops and galleries. And as for sports and culture, you can see a football game in the NAC stadium. Or hop on your bike to one of the theatres and watch a film or a play.

A sparkling and historical city in the south of Holland with a cheerful personality? That’s Breda! Let its rich history and numerous present-day activities inspire you. Many students before you did so already. 

Over the years Breda has grown into a city of around 180,000 inhabitants. The city's charming historical centre is easy to find your way around and very pleasant to spend time in. Talk with the 'Bredanaars', let all the impressions move you and discover the true character of the city!

Student City

Breda has a growing number of students, which is why accommodation in Breda can be scarce. For students it can be difficult to find a suitable place to live. Unfortunately, Breda University of Applied Sciences has no campus or student rooms of its own and, therefore, it will be your own responsibility to find accommodation in Breda. Rental prices for a student room in Breda vary from €300 to €500 per calendar month. However, you will most commonly find rooms to rent for around € 400. 

• Our subject areas are very much interconnected. Because of this you will get a broad education, notice connections between topics and learn to create solutions coming from different angles.
• We cooperate with businesses operating at the top of their fields. This means that you can get work placement positions at some of the big names in your field of expertise.
• In our extensive international network we cooperate with other universities and companies in education and research. To you this means a lot of opportunities abroad. For instance exchanges, research projects and field trips.
• Entrepreneurship is at the core of our learning community. You are encouraged to start your own business, it can even be your graduation project!
• We are internationally accredited by amongst others the UN World Tourism Organization, the World Leisure Organization and the International Facility Management Association. Furthermore we have an ECA certificate for Quality in Programme Internationalisation.
• Our new and green campus is located near the centre of student city Breda. On campus there are many opportunities for meeting people and to get inspired. The city itself is fun, safe and internationally oriented.