Connecting international Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes and Skills, to Raise the Level in Europe
International Course Programme VET in the EU
March 20-22, 2024
Skills The Finals, the Netherlands

Welcome
The organizing partners: The Dutch Alliance, Nuffic and WorldSkills Netherlands would like to invite you to visit the national Skills Competitions, Skills The Finals, in the Netherlands and participate in a dedicated international course programme that includes a visit to Dutch Vocational Education and Training (VET) colleges. This programme is organized for delegates of VET colleges and WorldSkills organisations in Europe. It takes place at the Brabanthallen Expo in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, March 20-22, 2024.
We would be honoured to welcome you to the beautiful city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the Brabanthallen Expo. ‘s-Hertogenbosch is situated in the southern part of the Netherlands and is famous for the Gothic St John Cathedral and Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch Renaissance painter. The region is also known for the high tech industry such as ASML (leading chipmaker) and Philips. Here you can combine (skills) work, education and culture.
International collaboration
This international course programme is planned because topics such as motivation of students, skillset and training and international collaboration in VET are becoming more top of mind due to globalisation, innovations in professions, craftmanship and shortages of labour force in VET-professions. The programme aims also to provide participants with the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in VET Skills Competitions, share best practices and gain insights into the Dutch education system.
As the challenge is how VET and Skills Competitions in Europe can learn from each other, share, collaborate and exchange across Europe and create impact together. Al with the purpose that more VET-students gain more excellent skills competences and international experiences for the benefit of their professional careers.
National VET- competition finals
In addition to this programme you can visit Skills The Finals, one of the biggest events of its kind in Europe. Hosting more than 10 pre-VET finals, 55 VET finals and 100- ‘try and trade’ activities plus several side programmes and presentations of the Dutch (high tech) industry, around 20.000 visitors will be expected in two days.
So we have a lot to offer that can be profitable for your work in order to make VET, Skills Competitions and international collaboration even better throughout Europe.
See you soon in ‘s Hertogenbosch!
Yours sincerely,
Erik van der Zwan
CEO
WorldSkills Netherlands
Peter Siemann
steering committee
The Dutch Alliance
Danielle Scholtes
project manager internationalisation
Nuffic
International Course Programme
We kindly request to arrange your flights, transportations and hotel accommodation.
VET schools can participate the international course programme with Erasmus plus (KA1) funding from their organization. TDA can act as the hosting organization and sign the necessary documents. Please mail to Mrs. Ivy Harkes, iharkes@onderwijsgroeptilburg.nl.
– – 10.00 | Arrival at Eindhoven/Rotterdam/Schiphol Airport. Travel to ‘s-Hertogenbosch by train/taxi. |
11.30-12.00 | Arrival at VET College Koning Willem 1 College, Vlijmseweg 2, ‘s Hertogenbosch |
12.00-12.30 | Welcome by WorldSkills Netherlands , TDA and Nuffic |
12.30-13.30 | Lunch at VET College Koning Willem 1 College |
13.30-15.00 | WorldSkills Program: presentation WorldSkills Netherlands. How to organize skills competitions in countries together with schools and industry. Best practices: Germany (Rüdiger Heidebrecht), Croatia (Nino Buić), Switzerland (Andr Burri), the Netherlands (Audrey van Soest). |
15.00-15.30 | Coffee break at VET College Koning Willem 1 College |
15.30-17.00 | Guided tour and presentation VET Colleges Koning Willem 1 College, Yuverta (Agricultural VET College) for Skills and International officers and international of VET schools in Europe Program about Skills Competitions and training for Official Delegates and Technical Delegates of WorldSkills organisations in Europe |
17.00-18.00 | Break (drinks and snacks) and networks at restaurant KASerne, ‘s Hertogenbosch |
18.00-21.00 | Diner at restaurant KASerne |
09.00 | Check-out (if you plan to leave Thursday) |
10.00 | Travel to the Brabanthallen Expo for visit Skills The Finals. |
10.45 | Arrival at the venue |
11.00-12.30 | Guided tour Skills The Finals (Dutch nationals), try and trade and industry programme |
12.30-13.30 | Lunch at Skills The Finals |
13.30-17.00 | Optional: – attending Skills The Finals, medal ceremony Skills Talents (pre-VET competitions) or – visit (activities in) the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. See suggestions |
17.00 | To hotel, restaurant or airport |
9.00 | Check-out at the hotel. Travel to the venue. |
9.45 | Arrival to the Brabanthallen Expo |
10.00-12.30 | TDA and Nuffic international program (by Danielle Scholtes (Nuffic) en Ivy Harkes (TDA) presents you ‘Meet the World’ for Skills and International Officers and delegates of VET-schools and WorldSkills organisations in Europe |
10.00-10.30 | Welcome and introduction how to enrich international cooperation for future skills development |
10.30-12.30 | Roundtable sessions about the following subjects: – How to benefit from your international skillset? (Nuffic, Florine Snethlage and Milou Pol) – Gaining international competences during international competitions (student/teacher) and the impact of an international experience (Koning Willem I College, Georgia Vasilaras) – Professional development through internationalisation (TDA, Peter Siemann) – International (skills) competitions as part of your international (school) strategy | why, how, what? (TDA Job Oomen) |
12.15-12.30 | Sharing conclusions round table sessions |
12.30 | Lunch at Skills The Finals |
13.00-13.30 | Final signal Skills Competitions at the venue |
13.30 -…. | Travel to airport |
Partners
WorldSkills Netherlands
Independent charity in the Netherlands for promoting VET and craftsmanship by organizing Skills Competitions for pre-VET schools and VET colleges. Team Netherlands to EuroSkills and WorldSkills competitions.
The Dutch Alliance
A strategic network of 7 VET colleges in the Netherlands aligned and collaborating to enhance skills competitions and internationalisation for VET-students.

Nuffic
The Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education.
Skills The Finals is organized by WorldSkills Netherlands in collaboration with 6 VET colleges in the province of Noord Brabant.
Packages
Package programme 1
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Diner on Wednesday, lunches, (coffee) breaks included
Package programme 2
Wednesday and Thursday- Diner on Wednesday, lunches, (coffee) breaks included
Package programme 3
Thursday- Lunch, coffee breaks included
Package programme 4
Friday- Lunch, coffee breaks included
Suggestions
Arrival in the Netherlands
There are three airports: Schiphol (near Amsterdam), Rotterdam Airport and Eindhoven Airport. By train of taxi it takes 1 to 1.5 hours from Rotterdam- and Schiphol-Airport to ‘s Hertogenbosch. From Eindhoven-Airport to ‘s Hertogenbosch it takes 30 minutes.
Hotels
The best option for reservations for a hotel is by Booking.comBooking.com. Some suggestions:
Van der Valk Best
rooms per night € 125-160
Van der Valk Eindhoven
rooms per night € 105-160
Van der Valk ’s Hertogenbosch Vught
Novotel Eindhoven
rooms per night € 100-130
Good Seasons City/Best Western Hotel ‘s Hertogenbosch
Boutique Hotels and Apartmens
Room prizes per night between 100-175 euro per night.
Optional own programme
Contact VVV Visit Den Bosch (‘s Hertogenbosch) for more information and reservations:
Guided City Tour in ‘s Hertogenbosch.
Sint John Cathedral
A Gothic Cathedral built in 1380, the biggest church in the Netherlands
Jheronymus Art Center
Special museum about medieval paintings of Jeroen (Heronymus) Bosch
Noord Brabants Museum
Art Museum. Now a special exposition of works of Vincent van Gogh.
Bossche Bol workshop
Making yourself a Bossche Bol (a big profiterole) at Bakery Royal.
Five reasons why you should visit
Learn from the latest developments of VET, Skills competitions and internationalisation in the Netherlands and from best practices across Europe
Collaborate and discuss topics how to improve VET, Skills Competitions and internationalisation in your own country and in Europe
Meet, share ideas and network with officers and delegates of VET-schools and WorldSkills organisations all over Europe
Use your Erasmus plus subsidy (KA1, when available) for this programme and obtain ideas for your own work and organisation or school
See how the VET-system, Skills Competitions and internationalisation in the Netherlands runs
