What Clavis Publishing does

Clavis Publishing is a Belgian-headquartered children's and juvenile book publisher founded in 1978, operating primarily across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States. Its core offering is traditional print publishing — picture books, reading books, and young adult novels — built around a backlist of 2,200+ titles with recurring characters such as Anna, Rikki, and Milan, and approximately 200 new titles produced annually. Beyond print, the company has built a digital layer comprising the Klaslezen school streaming platform (€299/year subscription giving primary schools unlimited access to the digital library, with dyslexia-friendly and colorblind-accessible features) and the Clavis+ consumer subscription bundling monthly activity packs and digital books. It also operates four owned concept stores in Belgium (Brugge, Hasselt, Leuven, Herkenrode) and reaches 72 international markets through the Clavis Rights Agency.

Revenue is generated through a deliberately diversified mix: physical book unit sales via the proprietary webshop and bookstore channels (priced roughly €5–€17.95 per title, with multilingual POD editions at €19.95), recurring Klaslezen school subscriptions and Clavis+ family subscriptions, rights licensing to international publishers (books, film, television), brand licensing of characters for toys and merchandising, B2B custom publications for corporate clients (e.g., CM, Zwitsal, Kruidvat), and municipal city scavenger-hunt collaborations. Go-to-market combines regional field sales representatives (covering West-Netherlands, East-Netherlands, and Brabant/Limburg), a CB Online distribution partnership for Dutch retail, and segmented email newsletters plus social channels segmented by audience (primary education, secondary education, libraries, retail, young adults).

The group is privately held, organized under Clavis BV (Belgium, KBO 0421180334) and Avain BV (Netherlands, KvK 34140489), with Philippe Werck as managing director (zaakvoerder). Related entities include Willewete VZW and sub-brands such as Clavis Joy (merchandise), Clavis Young Adult, Clavis Publishing (USA), Clavis Dream Academy (illustrator mentorship), and the biennial Key Colours Competition (€7,500 prize). The company holds no disclosed external funding, patents, or public-company status.

Name

Clavis Publishing

Legal name

Clavis BV

Website

https://clavisbooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clavis Publishing is a privately held Belgian children's book publisher (founded 1978) operating across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the US, serving parents, primary schools, libraries, and rights licensees via print catalog, school streaming subscriptions, and international rights agency.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), Books Printing (323117)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Book Print-on-Demand (Picture Books, Early Readers, YA) (MPAJANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Subscription & Book Club Publishing (MPAJAFAO), E-book Subscription & Bundling Services (MPAJAMAB)

Keywords

• Children's book publishing
• Picture books
• Educational reading platforms
• Rights licensing
• Multilingual publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hasselt

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Physical Book Sales: Direct sales of physical children's books through proprietary webshop and retail channels. Books range from picture books to young adult novels. Individual purchases with various payment methods.
2. Klaslezen School Subscriptions: Annual school subscription providing unlimited access to entire digital library. Priced at €299/year per school for all students and teachers. Monthly trial subscription at €50 available. Credits system for individual reading rights.
3. Clavis+ Consumer Subscription: Monthly subscription service providing access to monthly activity bundles and associated books via streaming. Each subscription grants reading rights for subscriber plus one additional user (e.g., child or grandchild).
4. Rights Licensing: Licensing of book rights to publishers in international markets. Rights for books, film, and television adaptations. Strong presence in 72 countries with trusted reputation.
5. Brand Licensing: Licensing of Clavis characters and content for toys, games, puzzles, merchandising, and non-book products.
6. B2B Custom Publications: Custom children's books created for corporate clients as relationship gifts. Includes personalized publications with client branding, logos, and custom stories.
7. City Scavenger Hunts: Collaborative scavenger hunts with cities based on Clavis books and characters. Children complete tasks using window stickers or panels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Clavis Publishing is a children's and juvenile book publisher that creates and distributes picture books, reading books, and young adult novels in print and digital formats. The company operates two digital streaming/subscription platforms (Klaslezen for schools and Clavis+ for families), licenses book rights to international publishers in 72 countries, and produces custom branded children's books for corporate clients.

Product overview

Clavis Publishing is a children's and juvenile book publishing group operating primarily in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States since 1978. The core offering is traditional print publishing of picture books, novels, and educational materials, with the company also operating digital platforms. Klaslezen is the company's streaming platform for digital books, offering schools unlimited access to over 2,200 titles. Clavis+ provides a subscription-based service with monthly activity bundles and digital books for families. The company maintains retail presence through four Clavis Conceptwinkels (concept stores) and distributes internationally through the Clavis Rights Agency. Clavis Joy is the merchandise sub-brand, while Clavis Young Adult targets teenage readers. The company also offers B2B services including customized publications, brand licensing, and educational programs through Clavis Dream Academy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clavis+: Subscription streaming platform offering monthly activity bundles, digital books, and enriched (audio/animated) picture books for families.
• Klaslezen
• Clavis Publishing (USA)
• Clavis Young Adult
• Clavis Dream Academy
• Key Colours
• Clavis Conceptwinkels

Products and services

• Klaslezen Digital reading platform providing primary schools with unlimited streaming access to 2,200+ children's book titles, including picture books, shared reading books, narrated and animated books. Includes accessibility features such as dyslexia-friendly fonts and colorblind adjustments. Accessible via digital boards, tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
• Clavis+ Subscription streaming platform offering monthly activity bundles with texts and assignments, digital books, and enriched (audio/animated) picture books. Each subscription includes reading rights for the subscriber plus one additional user (e.g., a child).
• Clavis Children's Books Physical children's and juvenile book publishing including picture books, reading books, and young adult novels. Approximately 200 new titles added annually across 30+ language markets with co-editions. Books priced from €5 promotional to €17.95 hardcover novels.
• Anderstalige prentenboeken (Multilingual Picture Books) Print-on-demand picture books available in Ukrainian, Arabic, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Farsi, and Papiamentu. Priced at €19.95 per edition. Designed for multilingual families and educational settings.
• Woordjes van Milan Physical flashcards containing 40 essential toddler words, each illustrated and translated into 20 languages. Priced at €10.95 per set. Includes companion Clavis GO mobile app for audio listening.
• Clavis Rights Agency International rights sales service licensing book, film, and television rights to publishers in 72 countries. Manages co-editions and translation rights for Clavis content portfolio.
• Brand Licensing

Quantifiable outcome

• Unlimited access to 2200+ titles for €299/year - cost equivalent of ~15 physical books
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CB Online (Centraal Boekhuis)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership for bookstore deliveries in Netherlands. Bookstores can order directly through CB Online platform.
• CM (Christelijke Mutualiteit)minorOthersHealthcare mutual insurer using custom Clavis book 'Anna in de klas' as relationship gift for members.
• ZwitsalminorOthersBaby care brand partnership for 'Anna gaat in bad' book with branded washcloth product.
• KruidvatminorOthersDrugstore chain distributing custom Clavis branded children's books through retail stores.
• City of BruggeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity scavenger hunt collaboration using Clavis characters and books. Children complete tasks using window stickers or panels.
• City of HasseltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity scavenger hunt collaboration using Clavis characters and books.
• City of OostendeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity scavenger hunt collaboration using Clavis characters and books.
• AbonnementenlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubscription management partner for Clavis+ module subscriptions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lannoo Group: Belgian publisher with a large children's and juvenile book list, headquartered in Tielt, Belgium. Direct competitor to Clavis in the Belgian retail and rights market, with overlapping school and library channels.
• Usborne Publishing: UK-based independent children's book publisher with global rights reach and a strong educational and novelty book line. Comparable to Clavis in segment focus and international co-edition strategy.
• Lemniscaat: Dutch independent children's book publisher based in Rotterdam with a strong picture book list and international co-edition activity. Comparable in scale, segment focus, and rights-driven business model to Clavis.
• Walker Books: Independent children's book publisher (Walker Books, Walker Studio, Candlewick in the US) with a strong picture book and YA list. Comparable in publishing focus, family-owned structure, and international rights model.
• Gottmer Uitgeverij: Dutch children's book publisher (Gottmer, Leopold, Ploegsma imprints) operating across picture books, middle grade, and YA. Closely comparable to Clavis in Benelux children's publishing footprint and target age segments.

Broad incumbents

• Penguin Random House Children's: Largest trade publisher globally with major children's imprints (Random House Children's, Puffin). Competes for rights and shelf space with Clavis in international markets.
• Bloomsbury Children's Books: UK-listed publisher with a growing children's division including Harry Potter IP. Overlaps with Clavis in international children's rights and picture book publishing.
• Scholastic: Largest US-based children's publisher and operator of school book clubs and fairs. Comparable in school-channel reach and children's catalog breadth, but at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• Standaard Uitgeverij: Belgian general publisher with children's imprints. Overlaps with Clavis in Belgian retail and school channels but has a broader portfolio beyond children's.

Others

• Biblionet: Belgian library service platform for school and public library procurement. Adjacent ecosystem participant — represents both a customer channel for Clavis library sales and a competitive library e-book platform to Klaslezen.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Clavisuitgeverij
• Facebookfacebook.com/clavis.uitgeverij
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clavis-uitgeverij
• Instagraminstagram.com/clavis_uitgeverij

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clavis Publishing