Whether you’re looking to start a career in project management or want to pursue higher education for specialist skills, taking a course is one of the best ways to do it.

Short courses act as an accessible way to learn the basics, although they may not offer a full-blown qualification or certificate.

To help you narrow down which courses are suitable we’ve compiled a list of the best project management courses you can take in the Netherlands.

Some are aimed at entry-level students and some are for more experienced project managers looking to gain further qualifications.

Here, you’ll find a mix of classroom-based studies and online courses. 

To name a few, we’ve also selected some complimentary management courses that give you a way into project management.

But they bolster some of the key management skills used within the role itself, like procurement or change management. 

What you'll find in this article:

1. What Is Project Management?

2. What do project managers do?
3. 6 Best Project Management Courses in the Netherlands
   i.    Growth Tribe Project Management Certificate
   ii.   Delft University of Technology Project Management Course
   iii.  Saxion University MA in Management
   iv.  The International Business School The Hague Short Course
   v.    Schoevers College HBO Project Management
   vi.  Wageningen University and Research: Project and Time Management
   
4. Further Resources
5. Wrapping Up
6. FAQs

What is Project Management? 

Project management is the process of planning, organising and supervising the resources of a specific project to achieve specific goals and objectives within a defined timeline.

It involves coordinating the work of team members, assessing risks and challenges, monitoring progress, and ensuring project success.

Project management is such a varied industry, with specialisation in fields such as:

• Engineering
• Construction 
• Software development
• Healthcare
• Finance 
• Marketing 

Project management is an exciting, varied and rewarding career that is very much in demand, with 88 million project-oriented vacancies predicted through 2027. 

What do project managers do?

As a project manager, you’ll start by planning and proposing projects to stakeholders and key decision-makers to ensure viability.

Once approved, you can start gathering all the necessary resources, including personnel and any tools you’ll require, setting budgets and timelines for completion, and then executing your plan.

Throughout the project, managers pay close attention to team progress, controlling and adapting to changes along the way.

Finally, the project has to be closed off and marked complete for stakeholder and client review. 

It's a long and focused list of things to do, but the results are worth it.

7 Best Project Management Courses in the Netherlands 

Growth Tribe: Project Management Certificate

Duration: 12 weeks

This course is designed for a beginner project manager with either zero or little experience. Or those in undefined leadership positions wanting to develop management skills to organise and motivate teams.

The course will teach you all of the fundamentals of project management, including the various approaches and mindsets, as well as detailed theoretical and practical modules centred on the project life cycle phases from beginning to completion. 

In this training course, you’ll learn the following:

• Defining the terms, methods and approaches of project management 
• Project initiation, stakeholder management and business strategy 
• Project planning and how to document progress 
• Project execution, managing resources and selecting appropriate leadership styles 
• Monitoring and controlling projects and communication strategies 
• Closing a project and post-mortem reviews 

Delft University of Technology’s Project Management: Mastering Project Complexity 

Duration: 5 weeks 

Tuition: FREE

Overview:

In this course from TU Delft, you’ll learn to focus on front-end development and teamwork to help navigate the complexities of project management and deliver success.

The course aims to enhance your own skills and capabilities to better identify the main drivers of complexity.

This is done by conducting self-studies and assessments that examine elements such as interfaces, stakeholders, cultures, environment, technology, and more.

Personalised feedback and guidance from world-class instructors will help you manage the complexities of your own project and how best to adapt your management style accordingly. 

You’ll learn the following: 

• To identify project complexity and its elements 
• Perform project complexity assessment 
• How to develop a complex footprint 
• To adapt your project management style and process to fit project complexities 
• To master project complexity 

Saxion University of Applied Sciences: MA in Management 

Duration: 12 months 

Tuition: €14.370

Overview:

Saxion University’s Master of Arts in Management course is designed for managers looking to add a specialisation to their tool belt.

The course builds on your previous knowledge and helps you develop a critical theoretical perspective that will shape your practical application of management skills.

Students will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to transition into a variety of industries.

From startups to international corporations and several management-based roles, including: 

• General Manager 
• Procurement Manager 
• Financial Manager 
• Project Manager 
• Human Resource Manager 
• Business Analyst 
• Marketing Manager 
• Communication Manager 

Throughout the 3 terms, you’ll learn the following: 

• Developing awareness of issues within businesses, their place and how they’re managed 
• Provide awareness of business-related issues using leading-edge research and practice in the field 
• Acquiring and analysing data to improve relevance and validity 
• Apply knowledge to a variety of complex situations and how this impacts other areas of business and organisations

The International Business School The Hague (IBSH): Short Course in Project Management

Duration: 2 weeks

Tuition: FREE (€100 Registration Fee)

This short course is a great introduction to the fundamentals of project management and its practical applications in the workplace.

From NGOs to corporations, project managers are vital to how daily operations and activities are organised and performed.

This course will give a window into the responsibilities and duties of a project manager. Students will also receive a certificate of participation upon completion. 

In this course, you’ll learn the following:

• Introduction to projects and project management 
• Design of projects: goals and objectives, activities, time and financial plans 
• Leadership and team building 
• Project management standard practices 
  
• Use of project management software 
• Risk Management 
• Stakeholder analysis and management 
  
  

Schoevers College: HBO Project Management

Duration: 12 months 

Tuition: Apprx €3,930

This HBO project management course is designed for individuals looking to improve and develop their skills to effectively lead projects and teams that deliver on objectives.

You’ll gain insights into the project lifecycle and the various phases it passes through, as well as management approaches such as Agile and Scrum.

It offers both classroom-based practical lessons and virtual classrooms for more geographical freedom. 

You’ll learn the following:

• How to plan, assess risk, structure, manage and execute a project
• Project management methodologies Agile and Scrum
• Management and organisation: different types of organisations, decision-making, operational management, leadership and more 
• Effective communication and influence: self-insight and motivation, communication and conversation techniques, dealing with resistance and emotions, presenting to groups and more 
  

Wageningen University and Research: Project and Time Management

Duration: 3 Days

Tuition: €820

Wageningen University’s course in project and time management is designed to help individuals maximise their efficiency by learning how to deconstruct projects through critical analysis and learn how to tackle projects with the confidence to save time and produce better results. 

In this course, you’ll learn the following:

• Gain awareness of your research objectives, results and activities 
• Critical analysis of project plans, including time, resources and technical matters
• Risk assessment and solutions in project management 
• Use tools to plan and manage research 
• Learn how to plan and manage your time and identify time consumers 
• Prioritise tasks and goals depending on the urgency 
• Confidence to see plans through whilst remaining professional  

Further resources 

In this article, we’ve looked at what we think are the best courses for project management in the Netherlands, which offer a mix of classroom-led learning and virtual classrooms with a more in-depth experience.

If you’re interested in learning more about project management but prefer a purely online experience with shorter introductory courses, then you’ll find a ton of bite-sized nuggets here:

• Udemy courses on project management 
• Coursera’s best project management courses 

Are you ready to start your project management journey? If the answer is yes, our Project Management Certificate may be the first step you need to take!

P.S. Don't forget that Project Management course is just one of the few ways you have to become a great Project Manager.

Wrapping up

Here are the 7 best project management courses in the Netherlands in 2023: 

1. Growth Tribe Project Management Certificate
2. Delft University of Technology Project Management Course
3. Saxion University MA in Management
4. The International Business School The Hague Short Course
5. Schoevers College HBO Project Management
6. Wageningen University and Research: Project and Time Management
7. Delft University of Technology’s Project Management of Engineering Projects

FAQs

What is an example of project management activities?

An example of project management activities may include developing a project plan, creating a work breakdown structure, defining project objectives, defining the project scope, identifying project stakeholders, estimating project costs, assigning tasks to the project team, monitoring project progress, and managing projects' risks. All of this is to ensure a successful completion.

What are project management skills?

The most important project management skill is successfully managing projects from initial design to delivery.

Project management skills involve the ability to plan, organise, execute, and control projects efficiently and effectively. Other essential project management skills include time management, risk assessment and management, communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Why is project management important?

Project management is important because it helps ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and with the desired quality.

It enables efficient planning, resource allocation, risk management, communication, and collaboration among team members, stakeholders, and clients. Effective project management also promotes accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Learn how to manage projects that create ecstatic clients, hyper-productive teams and super-satisfied stakeholders in under 12 weeks. 

Our Project Management Certificate will cover: 

• Module 1 - Terms, methods and approaches

• Module 2 - Project initiation, stakeholder management and business strategy

• Module 3 - Project planning and documentation

• Module 4 - Project execution and leadership

• Module 5 - Project monitor, control and communication

• Module 6 - Project closure, teams and interpersonal skills

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