Wintertuin

What Wintertuin does

Wintertuin is a Dutch literary organization (stichting/private foundation) founded in 1991 and headquartered in Nijmegen, Netherlands, operating festivals, talent development programs, a publishing imprint (Wintertuin Uitgeverij), and an online literary platform called Notulen van het Onzichtbare. Its core activities center on emerging writers and literary professionals, with a flagship annual Wintertuinfestival (six days of literature, performance, art, and music), the CELA international talent development program coordinating 165 writers, translators, and literary professionals across 11 European countries, a Writer in Residence program, and the Schrijfwerkplaats creative writing workshops for Dutch learners with migration or refugee backgrounds. The organization also operates Wintertuin Curaçao as a sister foundation established in 2017, producing books from Curaçaoan authors, and produces podcasts distributed via Spotify, Soundcloud, and Apple Podcasts.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight and content-centric: a WordPress-based website (wintertuin.nl), a separate e-commerce webshop (shop.wintertuin.nl), the standalone Notulen van het Onzichtbare publishing platform, and podcast feeds. No AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or SDK integrations are evidenced. The "proprietary" architecture is the CELA program coordination framework, which orchestrates master classes, residencies, and marketing campaigns across multi-country partners.

Wintertuin's revenue model is a hybrid of public grants and earned income. Public funding flows from Creative Europe (EU), Nederlands Letterenfonds, Taalunie, Literatuur Vlaanderen, Cubiss, VSBfonds, and Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, supporting programs including CELA, Schrijfwerkplaats, and FLI. Earned revenue streams include book sales (€7.50–€24.99), chapbooks (€7.50–€15), e-books (€5), festival tickets (from €15), and merchandise (tote bags €5, t-shirts €25.50, sweaters €48.50). Distribution is direct via the own webshop, through Netherlands and Flanders bookstores, and via cultural venues (theaters, libraries, asylum centers, nursing homes, schools). Customer segments are emerging writers, readers and literature enthusiasts, translators and literary professionals, writers with refugee or migration backgrounds, Curaçaoan writers, and cultural institutions. No financial revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

Wintertuin

Legal name

Wintertuin

Website

https://wintertuin.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wintertuin is a Dutch literary foundation (stichting) founded in 1991 and based in Nijmegen that organizes the annual Wintertuinfestival, runs the EU-backed CELA talent development program across 11 European countries, publishes books via Wintertuin Uitgeverij, and operates Wintertuin Curaçao as a sister foundation serving emerging writers, translators, and readers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Arts & Cultural Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing (MPAJABAK), Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Literary festivals
• Literary talent development
• Independent publishing
• Creative writing workshops
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Nijmegen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Book and Publication Sales: Wintertuin Uitgeverij publishes books and chapbooks annually. Titles are sold via their own webshop and through various bookstores in the Netherlands and Flanders.
2. Festival and Event Tickets: Annual Wintertuinfestival organized in Nijmegen featuring literature, performance, art, music and encounters. Ticket sales provide revenue from the festivalavond and other events.
3. Grant and Funding Support: Supported by Creative Europe (EU), Nederlands Letterenfonds, Taalunie, Literatuur Vlaanderen, Cubiss, VSBfonds, and Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie for various programs including the Schrijfwerkplaats and talent development initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wintertuin is a Dutch literary organization that organizes festivals, literary programs, and workshops, and publishes books through its imprint Wintertuin Uitgeverij. Its core offerings include the annual Wintertuinfestival in Nijmegen, the CELA international talent development program for emerging writers and translators across 11 European countries, a Writer in Residence program, creative writing workshops (Schrijfwerkplaats) for Dutch language learners, and the online literary platform Notulen van het Onzichtbare. The organization operates as a hybrid cultural institution serving emerging writers, readers, and literary professionals in the Netherlands and internationally.

Product overview

Wintertuin is a Dutch literary organization based in Nijmegen that operates as a multi-faceted cultural institution offering festival events, talent development programs, publishing services, and educational workshops. The core offerings include the annual Wintertuinfestival (six-day literature festival), CELA (international talent development for writers and translators), Writer in Residence program, and Wintertuin Uitgeverij publishing house. The organization also runs the Schrijfwerkplaats creative writing workshops for Dutch language learners with migration backgrounds, produces podcasts, manages the online platform Notulen van het Onzichtbare, and operates Wintertuin Curaçao as a sister organization. Additional programs include FLI (Future Language Innovation), Conversations symposiums, and Chapbooks as literary calling cards for emerging writers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Notulen van het Onzichtbare: Online literary platform operated by Wintertuin
• Wintertuin Curaçao
• CELA - Connecting Emerging Literary Artists
• Wintertuin Creative Writing Academy
• Schrijfwerkplaats
• Wintertuinfestival

Products and services

• Wintertuinfestival Annual literature festival held in Nijmegen celebrating bold stories through literature, performance, art, music, and encounters across six days.
• CELA (Connecting Emerging Literary Artists) International talent development program connecting emerging writers, translators, and literary professionals across 11 European countries through a four-year intensive program of master classes, residencies, and marketing campaigns.
• Writer in Residence Monthly residency program for international emerging writers at the Besiendershuis in Nijmegen, connecting them to the Dutch literary network.
• Wintertuin Uitgeverij (Publishing House) Publishing house producing books including chapbooks, novels, poetry collections, and works from Curaçaoan authors, sold via Wintertuin's own webshop and through bookstores in the Netherlands and Flanders.
• Wintertuin Schrijfwerkplaats Creative writing workshops for people learning Dutch (NT2 learners) with refugee or migration backgrounds, resulting in published collections.
• Wintertuin Podcasts Podcasts about stories, the literary world, and the writing process, distributed via Spotify, Soundcloud, and Apple Podcasts.
• Notulen van het Onzichtbare Online literary platform featuring texts, interviews, and essays from writers and translators in residence.
• Conversations Series of international symposiums mapping the latest developments in the literary sector with panel discussions of literary experts.
• Chapbooks Small-format publications showcasing emerging writers' capabilities, serving as artistic business cards for the literary field.
• Vergezichtenfestival Annual festival bringing together stories from all corners of the world, connecting writers, asylum seekers center residents, artists, neighbors, and audiences of all ages.
• Talentontwikkelingstraject Development program coaching writers in building an independent professional artistic practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ events annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wintertuin CuraçaocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Sister foundation of Wintertuin since 2017, working to strengthen the literary infrastructure in the Caribbean. Organizes activities, festivals, workshops and courses throughout the year, with results appearing in publications and online.
• CELA Consortium Partners (11 European countries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners from Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Belgium, Ukraine, and Netherlands. Provides an international development program for 165 emerging writers and literary professionals.
• FLI - Future Language Innovation ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransnational network connecting literary artists from Curaçao, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. Supported by Creative Europe programme of the EU. Partners include Escuela de Escritores and Escrever Escrever.
• De Nieuwe OostcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork organization representing Wintertuin in the arts and culture sector. Develops talented makers into creators with independent sustainable professional practice. Houses Theater a/d Rijn (Arnhem), BRUT (Deventer), and literature in Nijmegen.
• Festivalhuis NijmegencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint housing with festivals InScience, Music Meeting and Go Short. Pooling of knowledge and experience between music, literature, film and science festivals in the city centre of Nijmegen.
• Bibliotheek DeventerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLibrary partner for Schrijfwerkplaats creative writing workshops for Dutch learners.
• Bibliotheek RotterdamminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLibrary partner for Schrijfwerkplaats creative writing workshops.
• Bibliotheek Gelderland ZuidminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLibrary partner for Schrijfwerkplaats creative writing workshops in Nijmegen.
• ArtEZ University of the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Creative Writing bachelor's program - the only full-time HBO study in the Netherlands for writing and presenting prose, drama, poetry, documentary and literary non-fiction. Ambitious talent can enrol here.
• azc GraveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAsylum seekers center partner for Schrijfwerkplaats Over oceanen project.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Perdu: Amsterdam-based literary organisation running a literary stage, residencies, festivals, and talent development. Closely comparable to Wintertuin's Dutch literary-organisation model with international writers in residence.
• Passa Porta: Brussels-based international literary house combining a residency programme, writing workshops, festivals, and translation-focused events. Highly comparable to Wintertuin's integrated talent-development and literary programming model.
• Trafika Europe: European platform showcasing literature in translation through radio and online channels. Comparable to Wintertuin's cross-border literary translation focus via CELA and FLI.
• Das Mag: Amsterdam-based independent publisher known for essays, literary non-fiction, and translated works. Comparable to Wintertuin Uitgeverij's role as an independent literary publisher of niche and translated titles.
• Crossing Border: The Hague literary and music festival with international focus on emerging voices. Comparable to Wintertuinfestival in scope and audience development.
• Winternachten / Writers Unlimited: The Hague-based international literature festival featuring writers, poets, and translators from across the world. Directly comparable to Wintertuin's international festival programming.
• LiteraturHaus Berlin: German literary organisation hosting readings, festivals, workshops, and international exchange programmes. Comparable to Wintertuin as a multi-format literary institution with international scope.
• International Literature Festival Utrecht (ILFU): Dutch international literature festival with comparable programming to Wintertuinfestival, focused on bringing international writers and translators to Dutch audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Atlas Contact: One of the largest general publishers in the Netherlands with broad fiction, non-fiction, and translated titles. Represents the incumbent publisher landscape that Wintertuin Uitgeverij operates alongside.
• De Bezige Bij: Major Dutch literary publisher with a deep catalogue of Dutch and translated literature. Comparable broader incumbent publisher against which Wintertuin Uitgeverij positions its independent, emerging-writer focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wintertuin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wintertuinnl

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 Wintertuin