History of STE Languages
Language starts with people – and so does our story
At STE Languages, everything revolves around people – and that has been our guiding principle since our inception. What began as a Philips internal language department has grown into a leading organization that for 30 years has helped people from over 90 countries improve their language skills. STE Languages is more than just a language school. It's a place where language, culture, and humanity converge.
Our roots: from Philips to an independent centre of expertise for language and culture
STE Languages' roots lie with the electronics giant Philips. In 1955, the company founded the Philips Language Institute, where employees were prepared for international deployments and trading activities, and expats received Dutch lessons. After years of growth, Philips decided to divest the language institute during a reorganisation in the late 1970s.
What followed was a period of acquisitions. First, the language institute was acquired by the publishing house Elsevier, then by Wolters Kluwer. In 1995, it became an independent limited company under the name STE Languages. A new phase followed in 2000 with the acquisition by the Belgian company eXplio, and four years later, director Willem van der Velden took over the company independently. Under his leadership, STE continued to grow steadily. English teacher Mathilde Lageman became co-owner and director with Van der Velden in 2015.
In the early years as an independent company, the first lessons were held at the table in an Eindhoven living room. That pioneering feeling has always remained: close, personal and with heart for the student.
Growing with Heart and Soul
In the years that followed, STE Languages grew into a centre of expertise with a wide range of languages: from Dutch, English, French, and German to Chinese. We worked for companies such as ASML, DAF, DSM, and Vanderlande, as well as healthcare institutions, municipalities, educational institutions, and private individuals.
STE Languages relocated several times within Eindhoven to accommodate this growth: from the DELA building on Vestdijk to the old Petrakerk on Heggeranklaan, and finally, in 2017, to the attractive building on Aalsterweg. A location with warm spaces, Scrabble games in the classrooms, world maps on the walls, and an inviting atmosphere. The building's design is multicultural and international. Attention is paid to different cultures and languages, reflected in everything from the walls to the floors. This homely feeling is also reflected in the way people interact, employees stay long-term, the atmosphere is informal, and the contact is personal.
Awakening: How COVID Gained New Incentives
In 2020, Mathilde Lageman and Wilfried Gradus took over the company. Exactly one week later, the Netherlands went into lockdown due to COVID-19. What followed was a tour de force: within ten days, all lessons were converted online. From screen installations at clients' premises to virtual classrooms – it was all thanks to pure team spirit.
This digital shift invigorated STE Languages: blended learning, digital tools, and hybrid lessons have now become indispensable. But always with one constant: personal attention.
For anyone who wants to connect
STE Languages is a place where everyone is welcome: from expats and migrant workers to refugees and foreign priests. We teach on-site, accommodate shift work, offer cultural integration training for expat spouses, and provide customised solutions. It's no wonder many students call us "a warm and welcoming place."
The team's commitment is unparalleled. From teachers to planners, from front office to IT, everyone ensures that students feel seen, heard, and supported. Friendships often develop in the classroom, or homework is done at students' own kitchen tables.
The future speaks all languages
Today, we welcome more than 5,000 students annually from over 90 nationalities. STE Languages has grown from a regional player to a national organisation that collaborates with the Holland Expat Center South, the Expat Spouses Initiative, and IamExpat, among others, and many other international, multinational, national, and regional companies and organisations.
Our mission remains: helping people find their place - in work, study, and society - through language. That's why we continue to innovate. With new courses, new target groups, and personal attention as a common thread.
