History

1963: Tourist Officer

NWIT, a school that trains students to become ‘Tourist Officers’

A school that trains students to become ‘Tourist Officers’. That is Mr Sliepen’s - director of the Breda Tourist Information Office - original idea in 1963. A national scientific institute is to be founded, consisting of a research department and a training centre. As this school is new of its kind, educational material is mainly obtained through its own research efforts.

1966: First class

NWIT starts its classes

On 6 September 1966 newspaper De Stem writes: ‘The Netherlands Scientific Institute for Tourism (NWIT) in Breda started its classes yesterday. On this special occasion, director Mr Dr. L. van Egeraat delivers a public lecture in Café ’t Zuid at Grote Markt in Breda about the theme of ‘Recreation in Noord-Brabant’. Three weeks after that first day of classes, student union Phileas Fogg is founded, which still exists today! The study programme sets out with 58 students and 12 employees and lasts two years and three months. In 1972 this duration is extended to three years, and yet another year is added in 1986.

1972: VAT

Traffic Academy Tilburg (VAT) starts

Traffic Academy Tilburg (VAT) starts in 1972 with 90 students, 9 employees and 1 study programme: Traffic Management. The Traffic Management programme is innovative in that it interweaves technology, people and society. The curriculum is very modern, comprising many projects and practical elements.   

1975: X, Y, Z

NWIT overhauls its curriculum.

In 1975 NWIT overhauls its curriculum. Out of Z (recreation & urban and rural planning), the recreation-economic (RE) and recreation-sociological (RS) specialisation areas are born. Y (incoming tourism) is split up into TEY (tourism-economic; incoming) and TSY (tourism-sociological; incoming). X (travel organisation) is transformed into TEX (tourism-economic; outbound) and TSX (tourism-sociological; outbound). Later on, X, Y-BOP, Y-MAN, Y-PRV and Z follow. Academies, study programmes and specialisation areas continue to change and develop. Discover it all on this website!

1976: VIVAT

The association for graduates from the Traffic Academy (VIVAT) is founded

In 1976 VIVAT is founded, the association for graduates from the Traffic Academy. Are you a VAT, VPL, or SLM graduate? Then take a look at the website of VIVAT.

1977: Sibeliuslaan

NWIT relocates to a new building

In 1977 NWIT relocates to a new building. The former locations at Etnastraat, Haagweg and Karnemelkstraat are in sharp contrast with the premises at Sibeliuslaan in the ‘millionaires’ row’ of Breda.

1978: VAT parties

The Traffic Academy expands

The study programme in Urban and Rural Planning is added to the Traffic Academy, followed by the Logistics and Transport Management study programme in 1980.  

1986: NWIT grows

NWIT’s educational offerings are extended

In 1986 the National Guide study programme is added to NHTV’s educational offerings. This study programme had been developed in consultation with the industry. In 1989 the Two-Year Professional Management Programme in Tourism and Recreation is added, which is discontinued at the end of 2005.  

1987: Merger

On 1 August 1987 NWIT and VAT merge

On 1 August 1987 NWIT and VAT merge into the Netherlands Institute of Tourism and Transport Studies (NHTV). It is not until 1994 that both partners physically come together in the same building at Mgr. Hopmansstraat 1 in Breda. The Two-Year Professional Management Programme in Tourism and Recreation is housed at the Sibeliuslaan location.  

1990: Master

NHTV offers its first master's programme

The first step towards offering Master programmes is taken in 1990 with the Master in European Tourism Management. In 1994, the Leisure Management programme is added to NHTV’s set of study programmes, followed by Hotel Management and Logistics and Economics in 2001.  

2001: International

National becomes international

As a consequence of the growing international position, the name of the institute is changed in September 2001 to NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences. NHTV is no longer an abbreviation, but a brand name. Education in English becomes the rule rather than the exception.  

2002: Flourishing

New bachelor's and master's programmes

In 2002, Facility Management and International Media and Entertainment Management are the newcomers. Next comes Profession-Oriented Tourism and Recreation in 2004, to succeed the former Two-Year Professional Management Programme. In September 2006, International Game Architecture and Design is launched as well as the master’s programmes in Imagineering and Tourism Destination Management. 

2006: Re-connect!

NHTV’s 40th anniversary is celebrated on 25 November 2006

NHTV’s 40th anniversary is celebrated on 25 November 2006 in the form of the ‘Re-connect!’ reunion. Some 3,000 former students as well as former and present employees take this opportunity to ‘get reconnected’.

2012: And today…

NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences currently counts more than 7,000 students and almost 700 employees!

All study programmes have been rearranged to fall under academies. There are five in total:

• Academy for Urban Development, Logistics & Mobility
• Academy for Tourism
• Academy for Digital Entertainment
• Academy for Leisure
• Academy of Hotel and Facility Management

NHTV currently counts more than 7,000 students and almost 700 employees, eleven professional bachelor’s programmes, two academic bachelor’s programmes, three professional master’s programmes, two executive master’s programmes and several associate professorships.