Prometheus Uitgeverij
Prometheus Uitgeverij is an independent Dutch publishing house focused on literature, history, language, and related nonfiction, with Bert Bakker as a notable imprint.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Prometheus Uitgeverij is a Dutch book publisher established in 1989 by editor and publisher Mai Spijkers. Its publishing program is centered on literary fiction, poetry, history, language, biography, and public-facing nonfiction. The company operates in the Dutch-language market and is associated with both commercially successful authors and writers whose work has literary, historical, or intellectual significance. Prometheus emerged from the professional publishing environment around Bert Bakker and the Malherbe Group. Spijkers had previously worked as an editor at Bert Bakker and subsequently built Prometheus as a competing publishing business. The books division of the Malherbe Group was sold to Meulenhoff in 1991, bringing Prometheus into a broader publishing structure. Bert Bakker was also acquired by Meulenhoff, and Spijkers became director of the combined publishing interests. During the 1990s, the businesses were incorporated into PCM Uitgevers. Bert Bakker eventually became part of Prometheus, allowing the historical Bert Bakker name to continue as an imprint rather than as a fully separate publishing company. The consolidation connected Prometheus with one of the Netherlands' best-known literary publishing traditions. Bert Bakker traced its origins to D.A. Daamen's Uitgeversmij, founded in 1898. It later became associated with publisher and poet Bert Bakker, who supported Dutch poetry and literary culture while also publishing important prose and poetry titles. The imprint's history includes the publication of Marga Minco's wartime memoir "Het bittere kruid" in 1956 and the work of poets including Paul van Ostaijen, Martinus Nijhoff, A. Roland Holst, and Neeltje Maria Min. Bert Bakker also became known for publishing paperback poetry and, under Bert Bakker junior, for issuing works by the Marquis de Sade that had previously been prohibited. In 2007, Mai Spijkers bought back Prometheus and Bert Bakker, making the combined operation independent again. The business subsequently continued under the Prometheus name with Bert Bakker as an imprint. The group became one of the larger literary publishing operations in the Netherlands, publishing authors such as Connie Palmen, Maria Stahlie, Tim Krabbé, Hafid Bouazza, and Martin Bril, alongside historians and political writers including Frits van Oostrom, Wouter Bos, and Wijnand Duyvendak. Prometheus is positioned between literary publishing and accessible intellectual nonfiction. Its list combines original Dutch-language work with books addressing history, politics, culture, language, and public debate. Bert Bakker adds a distinct historical and poetic identity to the house. The publisher's current corporate status, detailed executive structure, and financial performance are not established in the supplied reference material, but the existence of its official website indicates an ongoing publishing presence.
History
Prometheus Uitgeverij was founded in 1989 by Mai Spijkers, a former Bert Bakker editor. The new publisher was created within the Malherbe Group and developed as a literary and intellectual publishing business. In 1991, the Malherbe books division was sold to Meulenhoff. Bert Bakker was also acquired by Meulenhoff, and Spijkers became director of the three connected publishing operations. The company's later history was shaped by consolidation in the Dutch publishing sector. In 1994–1995, the relevant publishing companies were incorporated into PCM Uitgevers. The educational activities associated with Meulenhoff were subsequently separated and eventually combined with other educational publishers to form ThiemeMeulenhoff in 2000. Bert Bakker, meanwhile, was integrated into Prometheus and continued as an imprint. Bert Bakker brought a much older publishing tradition to the Prometheus group. Its predecessor, D.A. Daamen's Uitgeversmij, was founded in 1898. Shortly before the Second World War, the company was acquired by Bert Bakker, a young Christian poet. During the war, Bakker sold the company's existing stock and contributed to the underground newspaper Vrij Nederland because legal publishing opportunities were severely restricted. After the war, he resumed publishing, founded the literary magazine Maatstaf, and built a notable poetry list, including inexpensive Ooievaarpockets. One of the imprint's important postwar publications was Marga Minco's "Het bittere kruid", issued in 1956. The book recounts the experience of a Jewish girl whose family was deported to extermination camps and became an important Dutch literary account of wartime persecution. Bert Bakker also supported Dutch poetry, publishing or promoting writers such as Paul van Ostaijen, Martinus Nijhoff, A. Roland Holst, and Neeltje Maria Min. The latter's collection "Voor wie ik liefheb wil ik heten" became one of the most successful Dutch poetry collections. Bert Bakker's nephew, Bert Bakker Jr., joined the business in 1966 after training in the book trade and working as a representative. He assumed day-to-day management in the late 1960s and became statutory director after Bert Bakker senior's death in 1970. During his tenure, the company published both literary and non-literary books, including works by the Marquis de Sade that had previously been forbidden. The company was sold to Kluwer in the early 1970s. Bakker Jr. left the company in 1993, after which the business was merged with Prometheus. The combined Prometheus/Bert Bakker operation became one of the larger literary publishers in the Netherlands. Its list included novelists and literary authors such as Connie Palmen, Maria Stahlie, Tim Krabbé, Hafid Bouazza, and Martin Bril, as well as historians and political figures including Frits van Oostrom, Wouter Bos, and Wijnand Duyvendak. In 2003, after the departure of the group's president Van Albada, Mai Spijkers led Prometheus/Bert Bakker. In 2007, he bought both companies back, restoring their independence and preserving Bert Bakker as an imprint within Prometheus.
- 2007
Prometheus and Bert Bakker return to independent ownership
[1]Mai Spijkers buys back both publishing companies, with Bert Bakker continuing as an imprint of Prometheus.
- 2003
Mai Spijkers leads Prometheus/Bert Bakker
[1]Following the departure of president Van Albada, Spijkers leads the combined publishing operation.
- 2000
Educational publishing is separated into ThiemeMeulenhoff
[1]The educational branch associated with Meulenhoff is detached and combined with other educational publishers to form ThiemeMeulenhoff.
- 1994
Publishing operations enter PCM Uitgevers
[1]Prometheus and related Meulenhoff and Bert Bakker operations become part of PCM Uitgevers during the 1994–1995 consolidation.
- 1991
Malherbe books division is sold to Meulenhoff
[1]The transaction places Prometheus and related publishing interests within the Meulenhoff corporate environment.
- 1989
Prometheus is founded
[1]Mai Spijkers establishes Prometheus as a Dutch literary publishing company.
- 1956
Publication of Marga Minco's wartime memoir
[1]Bert Bakker publishes Marga Minco's "Het bittere kruid", an important literary account of Jewish persecution during the Second World War.
- 1898
D.A. Daamen's Uitgeversmij is established
[1]The predecessor of the later Bert Bakker publishing business is founded in the Netherlands.
Products and positioning
A Dutch literary and intellectual publisher combining commercially accessible books with serious literature, poetry, history, language, and public-affairs nonfiction. The Bert Bakker imprint contributes a long-standing association with Dutch poetry and literary heritage.
Literary fiction · 1989
Prometheus literary fiction
The core Prometheus list includes Dutch-language literary fiction by established and contemporary authors. The program is associated with writers including Connie Palmen, Maria Stahlie, Tim Krabbé, Hafid Bouazza, and Martin Bril, combining literary recognition with broad readership appeal.
History and nonfiction · 1989
Prometheus history and nonfiction
Prometheus publishes accessible nonfiction on history, politics, society, culture, and public affairs. Its authors have included historians such as Frits van Oostrom and political writers including Wouter Bos and Wijnand Duyvendak.
Literary imprint
Bert Bakker imprint
Bert Bakker is Prometheus's notable literary imprint and carries the legacy of a Dutch publishing house founded from the earlier D.A. Daamen business. Its heritage includes Dutch poetry, literary classics, paperback editions, memoir, and culturally significant fiction and nonfiction.
Poetry
Bert Bakker poetry
The Bert Bakker tradition is strongly associated with Dutch poetry. Historical authors connected with the list include Paul van Ostaijen, Martinus Nijhoff, A. Roland Holst, and Neeltje Maria Min, as well as poetry issued in the Ooievaarpockets series.
Brand decisions
2007
Buyback of Prometheus and Bert BakkerM&ABackground
After years within larger publishing groups, Mai Spijkers sought to restore the two publishing businesses to independent ownership.
Action taken
Spijkers bought back Prometheus and Bert Bakker.
Aftermath
The combined independent operation continued under Prometheus, while Bert Bakker remained an imprint.
1995
Integration into PCM UitgeversM&ABackground
Dutch publishing companies associated with Prometheus, Meulenhoff, and Bert Bakker were consolidated during the mid-1990s.
Action taken
Prometheus and the related publishing operations were incorporated into PCM Uitgevers.
Aftermath
The consolidation formed the corporate setting in which Bert Bakker was later merged into Prometheus.
1991
Move into the Meulenhoff structureM&ABackground
The Malherbe Group sold its books division, while Bert Bakker was also acquired by Meulenhoff.
Action taken
Prometheus and related publishing operations were brought under the broader Meulenhoff organization, with Mai Spijkers becoming director of the connected companies.
Aftermath
The businesses later entered PCM Uitgevers, and Bert Bakker ultimately became an imprint within Prometheus.
Sources2 sources
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