Veen Bosch & Keuning
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | L.J. Veen, E.J. Bosch J.Bzn, Pieter Keuning |
| Headquarters | Utrecht , Netherlands |
Area served | Netherlands, Belgium |
| Products | Books (fiction and nonfiction), dictionaries, language learning programs, translation services, audiobooks, e-book subscription services |
| Owner | Simon & Schuster |
| Website | www |
Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK) is a publishing conglomerate based in the Netherlands, focusing on both fiction and nonfiction genres, with additional activities in Belgium. Its main office is located in Utrecht, and it operates through several divisions. Since May 2024, VBK has been owned by the American publishing firm Simon & Schuster.
History
The origins of Bosch & Keuning date back to 1925 when it was established by Christian publishers E.J. Bosch J.Bzn and Pieter Keuning. In 1997, the company separated its graphic design operations to concentrate more fully on publishing. Meanwhile, Veen Uitgevers Groep emerged in 1999 as a spin-off from Wolters Kluwer, taking its name from founder L.J. Veen, who started the business in 1887. The two entities, Veen and Bosch & Keuning, combined forces in 2001 to create the present-day Veen Bosch & Keuning.
In March 2005, VBK joined with Noordelijke Dagblad Combinatie, forming NDC|VBK, which incorporated ThiemeMeulenhoff. By June 2007, NDC Mediagroep was founded as a subsidiary responsible for managing magazines and temporary broadcasting ventures including radio and television. At the end of 2012, the book publishing divisions of VBK and ThiemeMeulenhoff were separated from NDC|VBK, resulting in their independent operation alongside NDC Mediagroep.
VBK expanded its retail presence in December 2017 by acquiring Bruna, a prominent Dutch bookstore chain; however, it divested Bruna two years later in 2019 to Audax Groep, which owns Bruna’s rival AKO.
The acquisition of VBK by Simon & Schuster in May 2024 encompassed all imprints within the Netherlands and Belgium as well as affiliated companies Thinium (specializing in audiobooks) and Bookchoice (a subscription service for e-books and audiobooks). This acquisition marked Simon & Schuster’s initial entry into markets outside the English language. Subsequently that year, VBK revealed intentions to employ artificial intelligence technology to translate ten nonfiction works into English, prompting apprehension among organizations such as the PEN America Translation Committee and Authors Guild.
Van Dale Lexicografie
Van Dale Lexicografie is responsible for publishing the Van Dale dictionary, recognized as the definitive Dutch-language reference. The company also produces bilingual dictionaries along with language learning programs and translation services.
Luitingh-Sijthoff
Luitingh-Sijthoff produces both fiction and nonfiction titles aimed at Dutch readers. The A.W. Sijthoff publishing house was founded in Leiden by Albertus Willem Sijthoff in 1851, initially concentrating on translated literature. Luitingh was created later in 1947; these two businesses merged in 1989 to form Luitingh-Sijthoff, which is headquartered in Amsterdam.
Its publications are released under various imprints such as Luitingh, Luitingh Fantasy, Mouria, Poema-Pocket, Sijthoff, and Uitgeverij L. The Luitingh imprint publishes Dutch editions of well-known English-speaking authors including Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Robert Ludlum, and Thomas Harris. Since its inception in 1992, Luitingh Fantasy has issued works by authors like Raymond E. Feist, Terry Goodkind, Bernhard Hennen, Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, and George R.R. Martin. Poema-Pocket specializes in affordable paperbacks featuring popular writers such as Patricia Cornwell, Jill Mansell, and Danielle Steel. The Sijthoff imprint focuses on thrillers and nonfiction titles targeted at casual readers; notable publications include De zaak Natalee Holloway authored by Joran van der Sloot. Starting from 2005, Uitgeverij L has concentrated on comic book collections and graphic novels created by artists like Christophe Arleston and Martin Lodewijk as well as manga creators such as Osamu Tezuka.
External links
- Veen Bosch & Keuning (Official website)