Veen Media

What Veen Media does

Veen Media B.V. is a privately held Dutch publishing company headquartered in Amsterdam that produces popular science magazines, books, and events for the Dutch and Flemish reader market. Its flagship property is the Dutch edition of New Scientist, a monthly magazine originating from Natuur en Techniek (first edition 1931), supplemented by the Young Scientist sub-brand for children aged 8-12, the Pocket Science compact book series, and science event franchises including the annual Gala van de Wetenschap at Stadsschouwburg (since 2013) and New Scientist Live. The company also publishes books by prominent Dutch scientists and journalists such as Robbert Dijkgraaf, Yannick Fritschy, Martijn van Calmthout, Govert Schilling, and Ans Hekkenberg. Reach includes approximately 10,000 magazine subscribers, 44,000 newsletter subscribers, and 150,000 monthly website visitors.

The business operates six monetisation streams: recurring magazine subscriptions, one-time book sales, branded content and branded specials produced for institutional clients, advertising sales across print/digital/social channels, event production and sponsorships (including Gala van de Wetenschap, New Scientist Live, and Lowlands Science), and content creation services (video and podcast production with external filmmakers). Retail distribution in the Netherlands is handled by Alpha Boeken and in Flanders (Belgium) by Mythras Books, alongside direct-to-consumer digital subscription and e-commerce via newscientist.nl. The GTM motion is event- and brand-driven, led by a dedicated Marketing & Sales team.

Customer base spans two distinct segments. The primary B2C segment is Dutch and Flemish science-interested adults who consume monthly popular science journalism. The secondary segment comprises academic and research institutions (Dutch universities, universities of applied sciences, NWO, KNMI, NEMO Kennislink, Naturalis, UMC Utrecht) and select corporates (Roche), which purchase branded content, branded specials, advertising, and event production services. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed; the value proposition rests on editorial brand authority, a century-long heritage, a network of prominent scientists, and a multi-channel reach within the Dutch-language market.

Name

Veen Media

Legal name

Veen Media B.V.

Website

https://veenmedia.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Veen Media is the Amsterdam-based Dutch publisher of the New Scientist science magazine, books, and events, serving science-interested readers and academic/research institutions across the Netherlands and Flanders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAJ), STM Publishing (Science, Technical & Medical) (MPAJABAD), Early Science & Discovery Content (EDAGACAD)

Keywords

• Popular science publishing
• Science magazine
• Science books
• Branded content
• Science events

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Monthly magazine New Scientist generates revenue through paid subscriptions (10,000 subscribers).
2. Book Sales: Sale of popular science, philosophy, and history books. Books include works by Robbert Dijkgraaf, Yannick Fritschy, Martijn van Calmthout, Govert Schilling, and Ans Hekkenberg.
3. Branded Content & Specials: Production of custom branded content features and branded specials for institutional clients, universities, and research organisations.
4. Advertising: Advertising inventory across multiple channels: monthly magazine (10,000 subscribers), newsletter (44,000 subscribers), website (150,000 monthly visitors), and social media platforms.
5. Event Production & Sponsorships: Organises and produces events including Gala van de Wetenschap (since 2013), New Scientist Live, and Lowlands Science, as well as custom events for institutional clients.
6. Content Creation Services: Production of high-quality videos and podcasts for clients, leveraging professional filmmaking partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Veen Media B.V. is a Dutch publishing company that produces the popular science magazine New Scientist (Dutch edition, tracing its lineage to Natuur en Techniek first published in 1931), along with related science books, children's science products (Young Scientist), compact science book series (Pocket Science), and science-themed events (Gala van de Wetenschap, New Scientist Live, Lowlands Science). The company also sells branded content, branded specials, advertising, and custom video and podcast production services to universities, research institutions, museums, and corporate clients.

Product overview

Veen Media is a publishing company producing popular science magazines and books for the Dutch and Flemish market. The core product is the New Scientist magazine (originating from Natuur en Techniek, first edition 1931/1934), supplemented by the Young Scientist sub-brand for children aged 8-12, the Pocket Science book series, and science-themed events including the Gala van de Wetenschap and New Scientist Live. The company also offers branded content services, video and podcast production, and advertising packages across its multi-channel platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• New Scientist: Leading science platform covering breakthroughs from brain to byte and from supernova to supercomputer. Monthly magazine with approximately 10,000 subscribers.
• Young Scientist
• Pocket Science
• Gala van de Wetenschap
• New Scientist Live

Products and services

• New Scientist Magazine Monthly popular science magazine covering breakthroughs from brain science to computing and astrophysics, reaching approximately 10,000 print subscribers and 150,000 monthly website visitors. Targeted at Dutch and Flemish science enthusiasts.
• Young Scientist Science content brand for young readers aged 8-12, including annual activity books, tear-off calendars, and vacation books filled with facts, puzzles, and experiments.
• Pocket Science Compact 100-page book series providing accessible insights on scientific topics, written by leading science journalists.
• Gala van de Wetenschap Annual flagship science gala held at Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam, featuring prominent scientists as speakers including Nobel laureate Ben Feringa, Iris Sommer, and Erik Scherder.
• New Scientist Live Intimate evening-length event program focused on a single topic or message, leveraging the New Scientist expertise and network.
• Branded Content Custom branded content features combining science journalism with stories about Dutch and Belgian top research, produced for institutional clients.
• Branded Specials Custom publications produced for institutions, universities, or organizations to present their messages to a broad audience.
• Video and Podcast Production High-quality video and podcast production services created in collaboration with professional filmmakers for institutional clients.
• Advertising Advertising inventory offered across New Scientist magazine (10,000 subscribers), newsletter (44,000 subscribers), website (150,000 monthly visitors), and social media channels.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dutch Universities (Leiden, Utrecht, VU Amsterdam, Maastricht, Radboud)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Dutch universities partner with Veen Media for branded specials, content features, and event collaborations to communicate research to the public.
• Universities of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Leiden, HvA, Inholland, Hogeschool Utrecht, HAS, HU, Hogeschool Utrecht)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch HBO institutions partner with Veen Media for branded content and student-focused science communication.
• NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Dutch Research Council partners with Veen Media to promote Dutch scientific research through branded content and events.
• KNMI (Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKNMI collaborates on branded specials to communicate meteorological and climate science to the public.
• NEMO KennislinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScience museum network partner for joint science communication initiatives and content sharing.
• Naturalis Biodiversity CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNatural history museum partners with Veen Media for event collaborations and science content.
• RocheminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical company Roche has advertised through Veen Media's platforms to reach science-interested audiences.
• Alpha BoekencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner for Veen Media's magazines and books in the Netherlands.
• Mythras BookscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution partner for Veen Media's products in Belgium (Flanders).
• UMC UtrechtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity medical centre partners with Veen Media for science communication and branded content.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Quest: Dutch-language popular science magazine from Audax (formerly Sanoma). Competes directly with Veen Media for Dutch science enthusiast readers, particularly in the discovery and applied science segment.
• KIJK: Leading Dutch-language popular science magazine published by Springer Media. Directly competes with New Scientist Netherlands for the same Dutch science enthusiast readership and advertising budgets.
• New Scientist (UK): The original UK-based New Scientist, which is the international flagship of the same popular science brand that Veen Media publishes in the Netherlands. Directly comparable in product (weekly magazine, digital, events) and target audience (science enthusiasts), and effectively the licensor/brand owner for Veen Media's edition.

Regional players

• Atlas Contact: Major Dutch general non-fiction publisher producing popular science, history and philosophy titles. Comparable on the popular science and philosophy book publishing business where Veen Media's authors (Dijkgraaf, Schilling, Van Calmthout) compete for readers.
• Prometheus / Uitgeverij Prometheus: Dutch publisher of non-fiction, science, philosophy, and current affairs books. Comparable on the book publishing side of Veen Media's portfolio (popular science and philosophy titles by authors such as Robbert Dijkgraaf).

Broad incumbents

• Scientific American: Long-established English-language popular science magazine (owned by Springer Nature). Comparable as a tier-one popular science publication targeting an engaged science-curious audience, though at significantly larger scale and global reach.
• Springer Nature: Major academic and popular science publisher, owner of Scientific American and Nature. Comparable as a publishing group operating in adjacent popular science and STM publishing segments in which Veen Media also operates.
• National Geographic (Dutch edition): Global popular science and nature magazine published in the Dutch market via licensed editions. Comparable as a branded popular science publication competing for the same consumer attention and advertising budgets in the Netherlands.

Others

• NEMO Kennislink: Dutch online science communication platform run by the NEMO Science Museum. Comparable as a science communication channel and existing Veen Media partner; competes for institutional science communication budgets in the Dutch market.

Emerging players

• WIRED (Dutch edition): Technology and science-focused magazine published in the Dutch market. Overlaps with New Scientist on technology, computing, and futurism content targeting similar educated, intellectually curious Dutch readers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NewScientistNL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veen-magazines-bv
• Instagraminstagram.com/newscientistnl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Veen Media