De Mensen
De Mensen is the largest production group in Belgium, producing TV series, films, documentaries, and programs across all genres for Flemish broadcasters VRT, VTM, Streamz, and New8, and operating as a wholly-owned Studio TF1 subsidiary since 2019.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersZaventem, Belgium
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What De Mensen does
De Mensen NV is a Flemish audiovisual production company headquartered in Zaventem, Belgium, producing television series, films, and programs across all genres including drama, documentary, reality, talk shows, game shows, sports, and children's content. Founded in 2001, the group has been wholly owned by Studio TF1, a major French media group, since 2019, and is self-described as the biggest production group in Belgium. Its operating structure is multi-label: the core De Mensen brand produces broad-format Flemish television; Skyline Entertainment (acquired 2014) focuses on high-end Flemish fiction; Les Gens (formerly Stromboli Pictures) addresses the French-speaking fiction market; Gardner and Domm (founded 2015) operates the group's tax-shelter and co-production financing; and AKA De Mensen serves as a creative studio for branded and new-media content.
The company serves Flemish public and commercial broadcasters as its primary customer base, with VRT (Eén, Canvas, Ketnet), VTM, Streamz, and New8 named as recurring commissioning counterparties. Its go-to-market is project-based, sales-led, and pipeline-driven: productions are pitched and commissioned per project, and premium titles are presented at international festivals such as Canneseries and Series Mania for international sales. International distribution is handled by Studio TF1, while co-productions are financed in part through De Mensen's in-house tax-shelter structure (Gardner and Domm and Gallop Tax Shelter NV) at a 42% NET rate, stacked with regional Screen Flanders, Screen Brussels, and Wallimage funds.
The business model is professional-services-style: revenue is generated through per-project production fees, broadcaster co-production arrangements, and international distribution/licensing income, with pricing negotiated individually per project rather than disclosed publicly. The portfolio includes long-running formats such as 'How To' (with Tom Waes), 'The Flandriens', 'Quizta', 'Stafari', and recent premium launches 'A Woman Was Killed' (2024, Canneseries) and 'Breendonk' (2025, Series Mania), the latter a co-production with Anagram, VRT, Streamz, and New8. De Mensen is a privately held Belgian NV (company number 0474.766.993) with no disclosed venture capital or private equity investment.
De Mensen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- De Mensen
- Legal name
- De Mensen NV
- Website
- https://demensen.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- De Mensen is the largest production group in Belgium, producing TV series, films, documentaries, and programs across all genres for Flemish broadcasters VRT, VTM, Streamz, and New8, and operating as a wholly-owned Studio TF1 subsidiary since 2019.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
De Mensen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Television Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production (MPADABAG)
Keywords
Where De Mensen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zaventem
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
De Mensen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- TV and Film Production: De Mensen produces TV series, films, and programs across all genres, generating revenue through production fees, co-production arrangements with broadcasters, and international distribution deals.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
De Mensen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
De Mensen is a Flemish audiovisual production company that creates television series, films, and programs across all genres (drama, documentaries, reality, talk shows, game shows, sports, and children's programming). The company operates as the largest production group in Belgium, offering end-to-end production services from development through international distribution, and provides Belgian tax shelter financing structuring for co-productions.
Product overview
De Mensen is a Flemish audiovisual production company and the biggest production group in Belgium, operating since 2001. The company is organized as a multi-subsidiary group comprising De Mensen (core production brand), Skyline Entertainment (high-end fiction series), Les Gens/Stromboli Pictures (French-speaking fiction), Gardner and Domm (Tax Shelter and co-productions), and AKA De Mensen (creative studio for new media content). Since 2019, the group has been part of Studio TF1. The portfolio spans diverse genres including talk shows (The First Week, At the Table, Goedele Now), game shows (Quizta, Black Out, The One Man Show), documentaries (The Flandriens, Low Impact Man, Family Matters), reality series (How To, Traveling With Dad, The Big Crossing), children's programming (Stafari, That's My Sport!, That's My Art!, That's My Dance!), sports programming (Sports Weekend, Studio 1), and event broadcasts (HOOP fundraiser, Elections programs). The company also handles international co-productions with Belgian Tax Shelter financing and collaborates with Belgian and international broadcasters including VRT, VTM, Streamz, and New8.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Skyline Entertainment: Production company producing qualitative, high end and commercially successful fiction series and movies. AKA, Aspe, Professor T., Salamander, Germaine, The Rodenburgs.
- Les Gens (Stromboli Pictures)
- Gardner and Domm
- AKA De Mensen
Products and services
- De Mensen (Core Production Brand) Core Flemish audiovisual production brand creating TV shows across all genres since 2001, including talk shows, documentaries, reality series, game shows, sports programming, and drama series for Flemish broadcasters.
- Skyline Entertainment Production company focused on high-end and commercially successful fiction series and movies including Aspe, Professor T., Salamander, Germaine, and The Rodenburgs. Became a subsidiary of De Mensen in 2014.
- Les Gens (Stromboli Pictures) Brussels-based production company focused on the French-speaking fiction market. Has produced shows for RTBF and RTL-TVI including Les Héros du Gazon and French remakes. Subsidiary of De Mensen.
- Gardner and Domm Production company founded in 2015 handling all Tax Shelter activities from De Mensen, Skyline Entertainment, and Les Gens, as well as its own co-productions. Provides tax shelter financing structure (42% NET) for productions.
- AKA De Mensen Creative studio focused on talent, creation, and development of new content. Combines TV experience with innovative approach to new media. Serves companies, advertising agencies, broadcasters, PR agencies, and governments.
- Breendonk Six-part limited WWII drama series (2025) set during Nazi occupation of Belgium, inspired by real-life Breendonk labor camp near Antwerp. Belgian co-production between De Mensen, Anagram, VRT, Streamz, and New8. Kevin Janssens and Filip Lenaerts co-directed.
- A Woman Was Killed Documentary series produced by De Mensen, presented at Canneseries to international audiences. Part of VRT's primetime documentary slate, aired Monday through Thursday.
- Tax Shelter Financing Services Tax shelter financing structuring for international co-productions at 42% NET for qualified Belgian spend, plus access to Screen Flanders, Screen Brussels, and Wallimage funds up to 20% of local spend. Provided through Gardner and Domm and Gallop Tax Shelter NV with KBC cooperation.
Quantifiable outcome
- De Flandriens achieved average of 340,000 viewers and nearly 14% market share on Canvas
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use De Mensen
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
De Mensen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
De Mensen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Skyline EntertainmentcoreSkyline Entertainment is a subsidiary of De Mensen (acquired in 2014) producing qualitative, high-end and commercially successful fiction series and movies including Aspe, Professor T., Salamander, Germaine, and The Rodenburgs.
- Les Gens (Stromboli Pictures)coreBrussels-based production company Les Gens, formerly known as Stromboli Pictures, is a subsidiary of De Mensen focused on French-speaking fiction market. Has produced shows for RTBF and RTL-TVI including Les Héros du Gazon and the French remake of May I kiss you?
- Gardner and DommcoreFounded January 14, 2015, Gardner and Domm handles all Tax Shelter activities from De Mensen, Skyline Entertainment, and Les Gens, as well as its own (co)productions. Provides tax shelter financing structure (42% NET) for productions.
- AKA De MensenminorAKA De Mensen is a creative studio focused on talent, creation and development of new content. Complements De Mensen combining extensive TV experience with fresh, innovative look on new media. Partners with companies, advertising agencies, broadcasters, PR agencies, and governments.
- Gallop Tax Shelter NVminorGallop Tax Shelter NV is part of the De Mensen group and provides intermediary structuring with KBC Flanders and KBC Brussels for tax shelter financing of co-productions.
- KBC Flanders and KBC BrusselsminorKBC Flanders and KBC Brussels have a cooperation agreement with Gallop (De Mensen group) for providing tax shelter financing solutions for international co-productions in Belgium.
- AnagramminorAnagram is a Belgian co-production partner on the WWII drama series 'Breendonk' alongside De Mensen, VRT, Streamz, and New8.
- The New Flemish Primitives (TNFP)minorThe New Flemish Primitives (TNFP) handles international sales for De Mensen formats including 'Quizta' and 'A Question of Sorts / De Tabel van Mendelejev'.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
De Mensen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Woestijnvis: Belgian production company behind flagship entertainment brands such as 'De Mol' and numerous VRT/VTM commissions. Direct domestic peer competing for the same Flemish broadcaster budgets, talent, and formats.
- De Vijver Media: Belgian production group producing drama, entertainment and factual content for Flemish broadcasters. Operates in the same Flemish TV production market with comparable multi-genre positioning.
- Studio 100: Belgian entertainment company with major TV production, film, and merchandising operations. Direct Belgian peer with overlap in family/children's programming (De Mensen produces Stafari, That's My Sport!, etc.) and broader Flemish broadcaster relationships.
- Menuet: Belgian production company producing high-end drama and documentary for Flemish broadcasters and international partners. Direct peer competing for Flemish drama commissions and tax-shelter-financed co-productions.
Broad incumbents
- Banijay Group: Largest European independent content producer (owner of Endemol Shine). Operates a similar multi-territory, multi-genre production group model and competes for international format and co-production opportunities.
- Fremantle: RTL Group-owned global production and distribution business producing drama, entertainment, and factual across multiple territories. Broad incumbent competing for international co-production and format deals.
- All3Media: Independent UK-headquartered television production group with multiple production labels across drama, entertainment, and documentary. Comparable multi-label production group model with international reach.
- ITV Studios: UK broadcaster-owned global production and distribution arm producing scripted, entertainment and factual content worldwide. Operates a similar hub-and-label structure and competes for international format sales.
- Endemol Shine (now part of Banijay): Global production group known for formats such as Big Brother and Deal or No Deal. Functions as a broad incumbent in international TV production, historically competing with De Mensen's Skyline Entertainment on co-productions.
Regional players
- Talpa Network: Dutch media company producing entertainment and formats for the Netherlands market. Comparable multi-genre production and format-export model, focused on a neighboring Benelux market rather than direct Belgian overlap.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
De Mensen social profiles
Digital presenceDe Mensen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
De Mensen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
De Mensen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
De Mensen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
De Mensen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about De Mensen
What does De Mensen do?
De Mensen is a Flemish audiovisual production company that creates television series, films, and programs across all genres (drama, documentaries, reality, talk shows, game shows, sports, and children's programming). The company operates as the largest production group in Belgium, offering end-to-end production services from development through international distribution, and provides Belgian tax shelter financing structuring for co-productions.
Is De Mensen a public or private company?
De Mensen is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was De Mensen founded?
De Mensen was founded in 2001.
Where is De Mensen based?
De Mensen is headquartered in Zaventem, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does De Mensen make money?
One revenue line is on record: TV and Film Production.
Who are De Mensen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Woestijnvis, De Vijver Media, Studio 100 and Menuet. Broad incumbents are Banijay Group, Fremantle, All3Media, ITV Studios and Endemol Shine (now part of Banijay). Talpa Network is listed as a regional player.
Does De Mensen have an API?
No public API is recorded for De Mensen.
What industry is De Mensen in?
De Mensen's product category is Television Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADABAG, Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production. Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.