WPG Uitgevers

WPG Uitgevers (Weekblad Pers Groep) is an independent Dutch publishing conglomerate that publishes books and magazines. Its name is an abbreviation of Weekblad Pers Groep, and its shares are owned by the Stichting Weekbladpers foundation. The group operates a portfolio of publishing houses and imprints, including A.W. Bruna Uitgevers, De Bezige Bij, Leopold, Uitgeverij Thomas Rap, Querido Kind, and Xander Uitgevers, as well as children's imprints under WPG Kindermedia such as Uitgeverij Condor, Uitgeverij Leopold, Uitgeverij Ploegsma, and Uitgeverij Witte Leeuw. WPG Media has published magazines including Vrij Nederland, Psychologie Magazine, Happinez, and Yoga Magazine. The group has undergone significant restructuring over the years. In 2008, Flemish publisher Koen Clement became CEO. In 2010, WPG acquired the Belgian Standaard Uitgeverij. In 2013, Clement carried out a reorganization involving asset sales, staff reductions, and the independence of publishing houses. In 2014, four literary publishers, including De Arbeiderspers and Em. Querido's Uitgeverij, were sold, and the canal houses owned by WPG were also sold. The adult division of Querido was sold to Singel Uitgeverijen, but Querido Kind remained part of WPG. In 2016, revenue was €136 million with a net loss of €2.5 million. In 2019, WPG Uitgevers achieved revenue of over €96 million, with a net profit of €6.5 million, largely due to the sale of Voetbal International, which generated €6 million in profit; in 2018, profit was €3.1 million. In mid-2022, the acquisition of Xander Uitgevers was announced; it remains an independent entity within WPG, with Sander Knol continuing as director and publisher, based in Haarlem. Xander Uitgevers was started in 2012 and had 10 employees in 2022, publishing about 80 new titles annually in print and digital. From 4 January 2023, Wiet de Bruijn was appointed as the new interim general director, succeeding René Witzel. A strategic shift was announced shortly after: WPG Uitgevers would focus on publishing books, audiobooks, and podcasts. In this context, on 4 July 2023, Uitgeverij Zwijsen was sold to the German publisher Klett Gruppe. In September, the magazine brands Happinez, Yoga by Happinez, and Psychologie Magazine were sold to the Dutch branch of the Belgian publisher Roularta Media Group. As of 1 April 2024, Sander Heijne was appointed editor-in-chief of Vrij Nederland, which was being made independent, with Stichting Weekbladpers remaining 100% shareholder of Vrij Nederland B.V. In spring 2024, there were rumors of a merger between Veen Bosch & Keuning Uitgeversgroep (VBK) and WPG Uitgevers, though both directors denied concrete plans, acknowledging ongoing talks. Today, WPG Uitgevers remains an active Dutch publishing group with a focus on books, audiobooks, and podcasts, operating a range of well-known imprints in fiction, non-fiction, and children's literature.

WPG Uitgevers is an independent Dutch publisher of books and magazines. Its name is an abbreviation of Weekblad Pers Groep, and its shares are owned by the Stichting Weekbladpers foundation. In 2008, Flemish publisher Koen Clement became CEO. In 2010, WPG acquired the Belgian Standaard Uitgeverij. In 2013, Clement carried out a reorganization involving the sale of assets, staff reductions, and the independence of publishing houses. In 2014, four literary publishers, including De Arbeiderspers and Em. Querido's Uitgeverij, were sold, and the canal houses owned by WPG were also sold. The adult division of Querido was sold to Singel Uitgeverijen, but Querido Kind remained part of WPG. In 2016, revenue was €136 million with a net loss of €2.5 million. In 2016, there was a controversy at De Bezige Bij when the publisher decided to publish a book by Dyab Abou Jahjah, former leader of the Arab European League. Several other authors associated with De Bezige Bij protested strongly and threatened to leave. In June 2017, WPG Uitgevers had 465 employees. In September 2017, the publishing team and thirty children's book authors left Querido Kind due to dissatisfaction with WPG's plans for Querido Kind. In the same month, the WPG Uitgevers België division was made independent through a management buy-out due to insufficient synergy with the Dutch division. That new unit was renamed Standaard Uitgeverij with the imprints Manteau, Davidsfonds & M-Books. The link with the Netherlands was maintained through representation of De Bezige Bij and AW Bruna in Flanders. In July 2018, WPG sold the Dutch editions of Runner's World and Bicycling magazines to Hearst Nederland. In 2019, Voetbal International was sold. In 2019, WPG Uitgevers achieved revenue of over €96 million. Net profit was €6.5 million, but this was mainly due to the sale of Voetbal International, which generated €6 million in profit. In 2018, WPG Uitgevers' profit was €3.1 million. In mid-2022, the acquisition of Xander Uitgevers was announced. Xander Uitgevers remains an independent entity within WPG, and Sander Knol remains director and publisher of Xander Uitgevers. The publisher remains based in Haarlem. Xander Uitgevers was started in 2012 and had 10 employees in 2022. It publishes about 80 new titles annually in print and digital, including novels, thrillers, (auto)biographies, and non-fiction by authors such as Lucinda Riley, Kiki van Dijk, Anne Jacobs, Bill Gates, The Rolling Stones, and Pierre Lemaitre. From 4 January 2023, Wiet de Bruijn was appointed as the new interim general director. He succeeded René Witzel, who had resigned a few days earlier. Shortly afterwards, a strategic change was announced: WPG Uitgevers would focus on publishing books, audiobooks, and podcasts. In this context, on 4 July 2023, Uitgeverij Zwijsen was sold to the German publisher Klett Gruppe. Zwijsen is mainly active in the educational market. In September, the sale of the magazine brands Happinez, Yoga by Happinez, and Psychologie Magazine followed. Together these three magazines achieved revenue of approximately €12 million and employed 35 full-time staff at the time of the takeover. The buyer is the Dutch branch of the originally Belgian publisher Roularta Media Group. As of 1 April 2024, Sander Heijne was appointed as the new editor-in-chief of Vrij Nederland. Vrij Nederland is being made independent, with Stichting Weekbladpers remaining 100% shareholder of Vrij Nederland B.V. In close cooperation with Pakhuis de Zwijger, Vrij Nederland wants to establish an independent media house. In spring 2024, there were rumors that a merger was imminent between Veen Bosch & Keuning Uitgeversgroep (VBK) and WPG Uitgevers. The directors of both publishers denied that there are concrete plans for a merger, but acknowledged that talks are ongoing, as is always the case between large publishers. WPG Uitgevers includes the following publishers and imprints: A.W. Bruna Uitgevers, De Bezige Bij, Leopold, Uitgeverij Thomas Rap, Querido Kind, Xander Uitgevers, and Uitgeverij Zwijsen (sold). WPG Kindermedia includes Uitgeverij Condor, Uitgeverij Leopold, Uitgeverij Ploegsma (part of WPG since 2002), and Uitgeverij Witte Leeuw. WPG Media has published magazines including Vrij Nederland (made independent), Psychologie Magazine (sold), Happinez (sold), and Yoga Magazine (sold).

• Koen Clement becomes CEO

• WPG acquires Belgian Standaard Uitgeverij

• Reorganization with asset sales and staff reductions

• Four literary publishers sold, including De Arbeiderspers and Em. Querido's Uitgeverij

• Revenue €136 million, net loss €2.5 million

• Controversy at De Bezige Bij over Dyab Abou Jahjah book

• WPG Uitgevers has 465 employees

• Querido Kind publishing team and 30 authors leave; WPG Uitgevers België becomes independent via management buy-out

• Dutch editions of Runner's World and Bicycling sold to Hearst Nederland

• Voetbal International sold; revenue over €96 million, net profit €6.5 million

• Acquisition of Xander Uitgevers announced

• Wiet de Bruijn appointed interim general director

• Uitgeverij Zwijsen sold to Klett Gruppe

• Happinez, Yoga by Happinez, and Psychologie Magazine sold to Roularta Media Group

• Sander Heijne appointed editor-in-chief of Vrij Nederland

• Rumors of merger between VBK and WPG Uitgevers

Independent Dutch publishing conglomerate focused on books, audiobooks, and podcasts.

• A.W. Bruna Uitgevers

• De Bezige Bij

• Leopold

• Uitgeverij Thomas Rap

• Querido Kind

• Xander Uitgevers

• Uitgeverij Zwijsen

• Uitgeverij Condor

• Uitgeverij Ploegsma

• Uitgeverij Witte Leeuw

• Vrij Nederland

• Psychologie Magazine

• Happinez

• Yoga Magazine

1. 1Home - WPG Websitewpg.nl
2. 2WPG Uitgevers - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3WPG Uitgevers - Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org