Artistiek Bureau

What Artistiek Bureau does

Artistiek Bureau is a sole-proprietorship Dutch antiquarian bookseller and publisher focused exclusively on twentieth-century Dutch literature. Operating from Warfhuizen in the Netherlands since December 2025 (previously from a former jailer's house in Groningen), the business was formally established in February 2019 by Nick ter Wal, a literary heritage specialist with formal training in Nederlandse Taal en Cultuur from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and prior antiquarian experience at Fokas Holthuis and De Slegte. The company buys and sells first editions, exclusive editions, signed copies, bibliophile publications, and original manuscripts, and also runs a small publishing program under the Literair-historische reeks (Literary-Historical Series) producing edited volumes such as Lucebert correspondence and Harry Mulisch reviews. All transactions are direct-to-consumer through the artistiekbureau.com Wix storefront, supplemented by appointment-only pickup and PostNL shipping, with prices set under the Dutch margin scheme for secondhand goods. Specialized sales catalogs — 62+ since 2019, organized by author, marginal printer, or collection — serve as the primary marketing and demand-generation channel, with ILAB and NVvA memberships providing industry credibility. Counterparties include private collectors and Dutch cultural institutions such as Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Allard Pierson, Literatuurmuseum, Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience, Bijzondere Collecties of the University of Groningen, and Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, no AI, social media, or third-party platform integrations are in use, and the company explicitly prohibits text and data mining of its website.

Name

Artistiek Bureau

Legal name

Artistiek Bureau

Website

https://artistiekbureau.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Artistiek Bureau is a Dutch sole-proprietorship antiquarian bookseller and small publisher founded in 2019 by Nick ter Wal, specializing in first editions, signed copies, bibliophile editions, and manuscripts of twentieth-century Dutch literature, serving private collectors and Dutch cultural institutions through catalogs, a Wix storefront, and selective institutional sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Antiquarian Book Trade

NAICS

Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592), Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Used, Rare & Antiquarian Bookstores (CRALAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literary & Classics Publishing (MPAJAAAC), Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Antiquarian bookselling
• Dutch literature
• Rare book dealer
• Literary manuscript sales
• Small press publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sale of antiquarian books and manuscripts: Purchase and sale of Dutch literature in first editions, exclusive editions, signed copies, bibliophile editions, and original manuscripts. Operates under the margin scheme for secondhand goods (bijzondere regeling gebruikte goederen), meaning prices are VAT-free.
2. Publishing own editions: Publisher of poetry and prose books through the Literair-historische reeks (Literary-historical series). Publications include book reviews of Harry Mulisch, correspondence of Lucebert, and works by Rob van Essen, Delphine Lecompte, Thomas Rosenboom, and Menno Wigman.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Artistiek Bureau buys and sells Dutch literature in first editions, exclusive editions, signed copies, bibliophile editions, and original manuscripts, and publishes its own editions of poetry, prose, and literary-historical works through the Literair-historische reeks. The antiquarian bookshop inventory is offered via the Aanwinsten section of the company website, supported by specialized sale catalogs devoted to specific authors, marginal printers, or collections, and by own-imprint publications distributed through the Edities section.

Product overview

Artistiek Bureau is an antiquarian book dealer (antiquariaat) and publisher (uitgeverij) specializing in Dutch 20th-century literature. The business operates through three main offerings: (1) antiquarian books for sale including first editions, signed copies, bibliophile editions, and manuscripts via the Aanwinsten section; (2) specialized sales catalogs devoted to authors, printers, or collections published regularly since 2019 via the Catalogi section; and (3) published editions of poetry, prose, and literary-historical works under the company's own imprint, including the Literair-historische reeks (Literary-Historical Series), via the Edities section. All items are sold through the Wix-powered webshop with payment via bank transfer or PayPal, and shipped via PostNL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Antiquarian Books (Aanwinsten) Online catalog of first editions, exclusive editions, signed copies, bibliophile editions, and original manuscripts of Dutch literature offered for sale under the Dutch margin scheme for secondhand goods (bijzondere regeling gebruikte goederen). Items are sold via the artistiekbureau.com webshop with prices ranging from €20 to €1,250+ per item depending on rarity and condition.
• Specialized Sales Catalogs (Verkoopcatalogi) Recurring sale catalogs devoted to specific Dutch authors (e.g., the Vijftigers, W.F. Hermans), marginal printers (e.g., Hester Verkruissen), or themed collections, distributed in print and as PDFs online to collectors, libraries, and scholars.
• Published Editions (Edities) and Literary-Historical Series Publisher-imprint publications of poetry, prose, and literary-historical works by Dutch authors including Harry Mulisch, Lucebert (correspondence), Rob van Essen, Delphine Lecompte, Thomas Rosenboom, and Menno Wigman, issued under the company's own name and via the Literair-historische reeks.

Named customers7 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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB)coreOthers · 1 February 2019Member of ILAB, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. Operates according to the ILAB Code of Ethics (ILAB Gedragscode). ILAB is a global organization uniting antiquarian booksellers.
• Nederlandsche Vereeniging van Antiquaren (NVvA)coreOthers · 1 February 2019Member of NVvA, the Dutch Antiquarian Booksellers Association. Industry body representing antiquarian booksellers in the Netherlands.
• Visit GroningenminorOthersLocal tourism/regional partner whose logo appears on the website footer alongside ILAB and NVvA.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• AbeBooks: Global online marketplace aggregating antiquarian and rare book listings from thousands of sellers, including many ILAB members. Comparable as a distribution channel where Artistiek Bureau competes for collector attention.

Direct peers

• De Slegte: Long-established Dutch chain selling secondhand and antiquarian books, including rare Dutch literature. Comparable because Nick ter Wal previously worked here and the overlap in inventory category, though De Slegte operates at much greater scale.
• Pickering & Chatto: London antiquarian bookseller trading in rare English and continental literature, manuscripts, and first editions. Comparable in ILAB-affiliated antiquarian trade focusing on literary heritage.
• Bubb >Kähle Antiqauri Buchhandlung: German online antiquarian bookseller platform aggregating multiple dealers' catalogs; comparable as a channel where Artistiek Bureau's catalogs intersect for collectors seeking Dutch literature across Europe.
• Bauman Rare Books: US antiquarian bookseller specializing in rare first editions, signed copies, and manuscripts. Comparable product mix and institutional clientele, serving collectors and cultural institutions.
• Antiquariaat Fokas Holthuis: Dutch antiquarian bookseller specializing in Dutch literature where founder Nick ter Wal worked from 2008 to 2019. Highly comparable in terms of core product (rare Dutch literary works) and customer base.
• Maggs Bros. Ltd. Long-established London antiquarian booksellers with ILAB membership handling rare books, manuscripts, and literary archives. Comparable at the higher end of the antiquarian market with similar provenance and authentication expertise.

Emerging players

• Boekwinkeltjes.nl: Dutch online marketplace for secondhand books operated by individual booksellers; Artistiek Bureau maintains a storefront here. Directly comparable channel for reaching Dutch collectors.

Broad incumbents

• Sotheby's Books & Manuscripts: Global auction house with a dedicated Books and Manuscripts department handling high-value literary archives and first editions. Comparable at the upper end where Dutch literary manuscripts and eminent collections are sold.
• Strand Bookstore (Rare Book Room): Iconic New York bookstore with a dedicated Rare Book Room for antiquarian and collectible editions. Comparable as a channel for signed and first editions but operating at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/artistiekbureau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Artistiek Bureau