Pelckmans Publishers

What Pelckmans Publishers does

Pelckmans Uitgevers nv, operating as Pelckmans Publishers, is a privately held Belgian publishing company founded in 1892 and headquartered in Kalmthout, Belgium, with additional offices in Antwerp, Ghent, and 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands). The company operates two integrated business lines: an educational publishing division serving the full Belgian curriculum from kindergarten (Kleuteronderwijs) through adult education (Volwassenenonderwijs), and a general book publishing division (Pelckmans Uitgevers) covering literary non-fiction, novels, children's and youth literature, culinary, lifestyle, and business titles in Dutch. Educational methods include Zo gezegd and Zo geschreven (Dutch as a second language, aligned to the European Reference Framework), Concreet Wiskunde and Matrix Wiskunde for secondary mathematics, with materials mapped to the VVKSO, GO!, and OVSG educational networks.

The company's core technology is the Pelckmans Portaal digital learning platform (pelckmansportaal.be) and BaO Leerlingenstudio, which provide online learning environments with class management, lesson preparation, task assignment, and student progress tracking. Pelckmans operates a separate French-language educational property at editionspelckmans.be for secondary schools. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time book and e-book sales (range €9–€95 per unit) with a growing subscription/repeat component from digital learning licenses bundled with or sold alongside physical textbooks. Go-to-market combines a direct sales force of regional representatives (regioverantwoordelijken) consulting schools and teachers, an e-commerce webshop (pelckmans.be and pelckmansuitgevers.be), and customer-service support (phone +32 3 660 27 20, [email protected]). Distribution reaches Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany via direct shipping, with a training-partnership channel via Tenz VZW in Ghent for educator programs.

Name

Pelckmans Publishers

Legal name

Pelckmans Uitgevers nv

Website

https://pelckmans.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pelckmans Publishers is a Belgian educational and general book publisher serving kindergarten through adult education in Flanders and the Netherlands with curriculum-aligned print textbooks, digital learning platforms (Pelckmans Portaal, BaO Leerlingenstudio), and a Dutch-language literary publishing program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalmthout

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Book Sales: Sale of educational textbooks and learning materials for kindergarten, primary, secondary, and adult education. Products include workbooks (leerwerkboek) and teacher guides (handleiding) with physical and digital formats available.
2. E-book Sales: Digital versions of educational content sold in epub format with watermarked secure display. E-books are delivered immediately upon purchase.
3. Digital Learning Subscriptions: Access to digital learning platforms like Pelckmans Portaal included with textbooks or as separate digital licenses, providing online learning environments and exercise materials.
4. General Book Publishing: General books including literary non-fiction, novels, children's literature, culinary books, lifestyle, and business & economics titles published under Pelckmans Uitgevers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pelckmans Publishers is a Belgian publisher that develops, produces, and sells printed and digital educational materials for kindergarten, primary, secondary, and adult education (NT2 Dutch as a second language), alongside a general publishing arm producing literary non-fiction, novels, children's and youth literature, culinary, lifestyle, and business titles. Its core delivery formats include physical textbooks with bundled digital access, standalone e-books in epub format, proprietary digital learning platforms (Pelckmans Portaal and BaO Leerlingenstudio), and curriculum-aligned educational method series such as Zo gezegd, Zo geschreven, Concreet Wiskunde, and Matrix Wiskunde.

Product overview

Pelckmans Publishers is an educational publisher combining print and digital learning materials across all education levels in Belgium. The core product portfolio includes Pelckmans Portaal (a digital learning platform with online learning environment, class management, and progress tracking) and specialized educational method series such as Zo gezegd and Zo geschreven (Dutch as second language), Concreet and Matrix Wiskunde (mathematics for secondary education), alongside general book publishing. Products span Kleuteronderwijs (preschool), Lager onderwijs (primary), Secundair onderwijs (secondary), Volwassenenonderwijs (adult education), and general literature. Both print textbooks with digital components and standalone e-book products are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pelckmans Portaal Digital learning platform providing online access to educational materials for teachers and students, enabling class management, lesson preparation with digital teacher's guides, task assignment to specific students, and student progress tracking.
• BaO Leerlingenstudio Digital learning studio for primary education (BaO = Basisonderwijs) students to practice and learn online.
• Algemene boeken (General Books) Pelckmans Uitgevers general publishing catalogue covering literary non-fiction, novels, children's and youth literature, culinary books, lifestyle, and business and economics titles for general readers.
• Kleuteronderwijs (Preschool Education materials) Educational and innovative packages tailored for preschoolers, preparing the youngest students for primary school through play-based learning.
• Lager onderwijs (Primary Education materials) Smart teaching methods and educational materials for primary education enabling teachers to achieve the best results for every student.
• Secundair onderwijs (Secondary Education materials) Comprehensive educational solutions for secondary education (students aged 12-18) across all subjects including sciences, languages, humanities, and arts, with extensive digital support for both teachers and students.
• Enseignement Secondaire (Editions Pelckmans) French-language secondary education materials with full digital support for teachers and students, distributed under the Editions Pelckmans brand in the French-speaking Belgian market.
• Volwassenenonderwijs (Adult Education materials) Study materials tailored for contemporary adult education in Flanders, with particular focus on NT2 Dutch as a second language for highly educated adults.
• Zo gezegd Innovative Dutch as a second language (NT2) educational series for highly educated adults, aligned with updated NT2 training profiles according to the European Reference Framework, including an online learning environment via Pelckmans Portaal.
• Zo geschreven Self-study package offering grammatical overviews and exercises for Dutch as a second language from level A1 Breakthrough to B1 Threshold 4, designed to enable learners to practice difficult Dutch structures at their own pace.
• Concreet Wiskunde Mathematics textbook series for secondary education with structured presentation of learning material, accessible for every student, aligned with curricula from all Belgian educational networks (VVKSO, GO!, and OVSG).
• Matrix Wiskunde Mathematics series for secondary education designed to motivate students and challenge them to extend their mathematical boundaries, with step-by-step curriculum building.
• E-books Digital book products available in epub format with watermarked secure display, delivered immediately upon purchase.

Quantifiable outcome

• Digital learning platforms allow teachers to assign tasks to specific students and track their progress
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Tenz VZWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTenz VZW (Hubert Frère Orbanlaan 48, 9000 Gent) partners with Pelckmans for organizing training programs for teachers, school management, and care providers. Pelckmans shares data including name, address, email, and professional information (school/center, subject area, function) with Tenz VZW to enable relevant training program recommendations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Plantyn: Belgian educational publisher specializing in K-12 textbooks and digital learning platforms across Flemish and French-speaking networks. Directly competes with Pelckmans for Flemish school adoption and curriculum-aligned method series.
• Die Keure: Belgian educational and legal publisher offering K-12 textbooks, teacher guides, and digital learning tools for Flemish schools. Closely comparable in product portfolio and curriculum alignment (VVKSO, GO!, OVSG).
• Lannoo Group: Belgian publisher with strong educational and general book divisions, publishing K-12 materials, children's books, and lifestyle titles in Dutch. Overlaps with Pelckmans across both educational and general publishing categories.
• Standaard Uitgeverij (WPG): Belgian general and educational publisher under WPG Uitgevers, publishing children's books, lifestyle titles, and Flemish educational materials. Comparable general publishing overlap and similar Dutch-language Belgian market focus.
• Clavis Uitgeverij: Belgian children's book publisher with strong focus on picture books, middle grade, and YA titles in Dutch and French. Directly comparable on the general/children's publishing side of Pelckmans' portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Wolters Kluwer: Large Dutch-headquartered publisher with a significant Benelux educational division (Wolters Kluwer Belgium) publishing K-12 and higher education materials. Operates at much greater scale across broader verticals, providing competitive pressure on Pelckmans' digital and print offerings.
• Sanoma Learning: Finnish-headquartered education publisher with established Benelux operations (formerly Malmberg, Noordhoff, and Van In). A broad incumbent in K-12 educational publishing across Europe, with deeper resources for digital platform development than Pelckmans.
• Pearson: Global education publisher with K-12, higher education, and digital learning platforms (e.g., Pearson English, MyLab). A broad incumbent that competes indirectly in the European educational publishing landscape where Pelckmans operates.

Regional players

• Blink Uitgevers: Dutch educational and general publisher producing K-12 and adult education materials in the Netherlands. Comparable product mix and curriculum-driven business model, but operates primarily in the Dutch market rather than Belgium.

Emerging players

• Abimo Uitgeverij: Smaller Belgian educational publisher focused on STEM and methodology textbooks for Flemish schools. An emerging niche player with comparable curriculum-aligned K-12 products but smaller scale than Pelckmans.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/pelckmans
• Facebookfacebook.com/pelckmanssecundair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pelckmans-uitgevers
• Instagraminstagram.com/pelckmans_educatief

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Pelckmans Publishers