About
The mission
Anyone who wants to get into IT today struggles to find their way between expensive bootcamps and scattered videos. And whoever learns one trick is empty-handed when the client asks for more than that one thing: a domain name, email that arrives, a site in four languages, security, an invoice.
That's why we teach the whole chain, in seventeen crafts that together cover all of IT. AI is part of it, as a tool you learn to use thoroughly, but it doesn't replace the trade. And what you make is real: you build things that work, and Neal reviews them.
Your master
Behind this learning house is Neal Van de Velde, working as nealvdv. By day he is a mainframe developer: he writes COBOL for systems where every number has to be right. Part-time he builds websites, webshops and software for businesses and associations, from the domain name to the client who is live.
What you learn here is what he does himself every day. For now he is the only one who reviews: so you work with him directly.
Neal’s own command centre: clients, projects, tasks, notes, documents and the emails that ask something of him, in one place with its own assistant.
Once you are a Compagnon, you get your own Obi. That way you organise your projects from day one the way Neal does.
A guild in a learning house
A guild always learned in the workshop, with a master. We do the same, with what IT asks for today.
What you often see
You attend classes and sit an exam.
In the guild
You make real work, and someone who has mastered the trade reviews it line by line.
What you often see
A certificate says you followed the course.
In the guild
You earn a rank with a test: Compagnon after a Compagnon test, Master after a masterpiece you defend.
What you often see
Your portfolio is a practice project.
In the guild
Your portfolio is live: sites and systems that are really used, reviewed by Neal.
What you often see
You learn one language or one framework.
In the guild
You learn the whole chain, from the first conversation with the client to the invoice and the upkeep.
What you often see
After the course, you're on your own.
In the guild
You're a Master per craft, and what you do next is your choice: your job, your own business, or GOSH, with no obligation.
House rules
No small print. These are the rules we keep to, in everything we make and say.
No job guarantees, no 'become a senior in twelve weeks', no hidden costs and no lock-in. Cancel any month.
The map of all crafts, the Chain, the prompting guide, every lesson and a free 30-minute introduction: for everyone, without an account.
Never invented figures, quotes, laws or certificates. A certificate always comes with who issues it.
Neal keeps every craft up to date and revises it when the trade changes. See a mistake? Let us know.
We work with AI every day, and we review everything it makes, like a colleague's code.
We learn and practise offensive security only with written permission from whoever owns the system.
No tracking, no ads and no cookies without a reason.
Accessible to WCAG 2.2 AA, light and dark, mobile first, in four languages. The learning content is in Dutch for now.
Still open
Not everything is settled yet, and we'd rather say so now than later. This is what we're having checked before we really start.
The Atelier is a school: learners don't work for nealvdv. Anyone who later wants to do paid work can apply to GOSH, with no obligation, as a self-employed person. We'll have a lawyer draw up those contracts.
The amounts are set and include 21% VAT: the subscription €20 a month, 1-to-1 with Neal €100 an hour (€82.64 excl. VAT). Whether an exemption for education could apply, and which insurance is needed, we are still checking with the accountant.
The SME wallet (KMO-portefeuille), Flemish training vouchers, training leave and working with VDAB: we're checking what's feasible. Today, nothing is recognised yet.
For now only Neal reviews, the tests included. That way you always know who sees your work.
Neal keeps every craft up to date: new versions of tools, new rules, better exercises. See a mistake? Let us know.
Do you know the trade and want to review, or do you have a question? Email contact@nealvdv.be