De Bibliotheek Eemland

What De Bibliotheek Eemland does

De Bibliotheek Eemland, legally Stichting de Bibliotheek Eemland, is a Dutch public library foundation founded in 1913 and headquartered in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. It operates nine branch locations across the Eemland region in the province of Utrecht — Amersfoort (Het Eemhuis), Achterveld, Baarn, Bunschoten, Hoogland, Leusden (two service points), Vathorst, and Woudenberg — complemented by an online lending platform, a volunteer-driven Bieb aan Huis home delivery service, and a digital storefront at bibliotheekeemland.nl. The foundation employs 51–100 staff and serves individual residents, families, schools (including 51 primary schools in the 2026 Nationale Voorleeswedstrijd), and partner educational institutions (MBO Amersfoort, ROC Amersfoort) across reading promotion, digital inclusion, and lifelong learning.

The core product is the Bibliotheekpas (library membership), delivered through annual subscription tiers (Klein, Standaard, Plus, Digitaal Compleet, free for under-18s), and operationalized via a third-party technology stack: the OCLC-powered Wise App for catalog, reservations, and family account management; the Probiblio-licensed BiebApp for non-member pay-per-borrow at €3 per item; the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) online Bibliotheek for e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines; and BiebPrinten for cloud-based printing. Specialized modules include Medialab (programming, AI, fake news, podcast workshops), DigiTaalhuis (basic reading/writing/digital-skills training in every Eemland municipality), IDO (Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid) for DigiD-mediated government-services navigation, VoorleesExpress for early-literacy home visits, the Leesclubservice webshop for reading clubs, and the Scholenaanbod (dBOS) program for schools.

The business model is hybrid: the bulk of operating revenue comes from municipal subsidies and Wsob funding across five core municipalities (Amersfoort, Baarn, Bunschoten, Leusden, Woudenberg), supplemented by recurring member subscription fees, ancillary transaction-based services (print/copy/scan, BiebApp pay-per-borrow, reading-bag fees, school kit delivery at €25 per direction, taalambassadeur engagements from €32.50–€75), and fine revenue. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer via branch walk-ins, mobile apps, the website, segmented email newsletters, and social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok), with events such as Fantasy Festival, STORY AWARDS, Pride, and reading competitions used as engagement vehicles.

Name

De Bibliotheek Eemland

Legal name

Stichting de Bibliotheek Eemland

Website

https://bibliotheekeemland.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

De Bibliotheek Eemland is a Dutch public library foundation founded in 1913, operating nine branches across the Eemland region. It serves residents with physical and digital lending, reading programs, digital-literacy training, and government-services assistance through municipal funding, subscriptions, and ancillary fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending
• Reading promotion
• Digital literacy
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual and monthly subscription fees for library membership. Children under 18 receive free membership. Adults pay annual fees with discounts for automatic debit payment. Different tiers: Klein (small), Standaard (standard), Plus, and Digitaal Compleet (digital complete).
2. Pay-per-borrow (BiebApp): Non-members can borrow materials using the BiebApp at €3 per book or DVD, with the first 2 loans free for new users. Maximum 3 items at a time for 3 weeks.
3. Print, Copy, and Scan Services: Revenue from printing (€0.10-0.50 per page), copying (€0.20-1.25 per page depending on size and color), and scanning (free).
4. Reading Club Service: Reading clubs can order reading bags with 8 identical books via webshop for a fee that varies by book publication year. Includes 9% VAT.
5. School Services: Schools can order educational kits and themed collections. Delivery and pickup cost €25 each. Introductory lessons for dBos schools are free.
6. Language Ambassador Services: Language ambassadors (taalambassadeurs) can be engaged by organizations for a fee. Starting rate €32.50-75 for 2 hours depending on commercial/non-commercial status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

De Bibliotheek Eemland is a public library foundation operating 9 branches across the Eemland region in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands, lending physical and digital media including books, e-books, audiobooks, DVDs, and magazines. Beyond lending, the library delivers community programming such as reading clubs, digital literacy training (Medialab), language support (DigiTaalhuis, Taalambassade), school partnerships (dBOS), and government digital services assistance (IDO). Members access services via a tiered subscription (Klein, Standaard, Plus, Digitaal Compleet), with non-members able to pay per borrow through the BiebApp.

Product overview

De Bibliotheek Eemland operates a network-based library system offering physical and digital materials, reading promotion programs, and digital literacy services. The core offering centers on the Bibliotheekpas (library membership card) enabling borrowing across multiple branches. Digital services are delivered through the Wise App (catalog management) and BiebApp (for non-members). The portfolio includes specialized services like Medialab (digital skills), DigiTaalhuis (basic skills training), IDO (government services assistance), Taalambassade (language accessibility), and VoorleesExpress (early literacy). Reading clubs, school programs, and home delivery extend access to underserved populations. The service integrates with Online Bibliotheek for digital content and BiebPrinten for printing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wise App: Mobile application for managing library accounts, reserving materials, and extending loans
• BiebApp
• DigiTaalhuis
• Taalambassade
• Informatiepunt Digitale Overheid (IDO)
• Medialab
• VoorleesExpress

Quantifiable outcome

• 410 children read 1300+ books and participated in the Eemlands Eigenwijze Kinderjury 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kunsthal KAdEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Co-organizer of the STORY AWARDS, a storytelling competition for youth aged 10-24 years. Kunsthal KAdE hosts the exhibition while Bibliotheek Eemland supports the youth engagement and reading promotion aspects of the program.
• NEOS CultuuronderwijscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partner in the STORY AWARDS project, contributing cultural education expertise and helping engage schools and students in the storytelling competition for youth.
• MBO AmersfoortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in the De Bibliotheek op School (dBOS) program, with 5 opleidingen (programs) collaborating on reading promotion and digital literacy initiatives.
• ROC AmersfoortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational education partner in the De Bibliotheek op School (dBOS) program for reading promotion and digital literacy at MBO level.
• SpellenpoortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGaming partner for the Fantasy Festival event, contributing gaming expertise and activities to the festival program.
• Tabletop AmersfoortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTabletop gaming partner for the Fantasy Festival event.
• KAdECaféminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner venue for the Fantasy Festival event.
• Scholen in de KunstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural education partner collaborating on the Fantasy Festival program.
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational library organization providing the online Bibliotheek platform for e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines. Also manages the website technology (WCAG accessibility) for member libraries.
• Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS)minorOthersAnnual data sharing partnership: library provides member data (birthdate, gender, postal code, house number) to CBS for statistical enrichment and research purposes. Data is pseudonymized upon receipt.
• Multiple Municipalities (Eemland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal governments of Amersfoort, Baarn, Bunschoten, Leusden, and Woudenberg support and fund library services including DigiTaalhuis and IDO programs.
• Gemeente (Municipality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government funding and support for the VoorleesExpress program, which provides language development support to families with children who have language disadvantages.
• ProbibliocoreTechnology or IntegrationOrganization that holds the intellectual property rights for the BiebApp. The library operates under license to use this technology for member services.
• OCLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider for the Wise App, which enables catalog access, reservations, and renewal functionality across Dutch libraries.
• SeniaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of reading guides for book clubs. Reading clubs using Senia guides should order reading bags from the library webshop first, before ordering guides.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DOK Delft: Innovation-focused Dutch public library organization known for service design and digital innovation. Highly comparable as a regional Dutch public library foundation, and a useful reference for best-practice in programming and digital services.
• Biblionet Groningen: Provincial library organization serving the Groningen region with branches, digital lending, and community programs. A direct regional peer of similar size and structure to De Bibliotheek Eemland.
• Bibliotheek Den Haag: The Hague's public library offering physical branches, e-lending, and educational programming. Comparable as a mid-to-large regional Dutch public library serving a multi-municipal urban area.
• Bibliotheek Amsterdam: Amsterdam's public library system, the largest in the Netherlands. Operates multiple physical branches, e-book lending, and community programming — directly comparable service mix and membership model to De Bibliotheek Eemland, just at greater scale.
• Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Rotterdam's public library foundation operating branches, digital lending, and literacy programs. Same Dutch public library foundation model and municipal funding structure, making it a clean direct peer for benchmarking.

Others

• OCLC: Global library technology cooperative that provides the Wise App, cataloging, and resource-sharing systems used by De Bibliotheek Eemland. A key technology vendor and ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor.
• Stichting CPNB: Foundation promoting Dutch-language reading (including the Kinderjury that De Bibliotheek Eemland co-runs). A sector enabler that drives participation in reading programs across Dutch libraries, including Eemland.
• Probiblio: Provincial service organization for libraries in North and South Holland. Holds the BiebApp IP licensed by De Bibliotheek Eemland, provides collection support and innovation services to member libraries — a sector enabler/supplier rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): The national library of the Netherlands, which also operates the national e-book/audiobook platform used by all Dutch public libraries. Functions as both a back-end infrastructure provider and a sector-wide policy/coordinator body, sitting above regional libraries like De Bibliotheek Eemland.

Regional players

• Bibliotheek Utrecht (Bibliotheek Utrecht Provincie): Provincial library organization for the broader Utrecht region. While De Bibliotheek Eemland operates within Utrecht province, Bibliotheek Utrecht is a separate organization serving neighboring municipalities — comparable services with overlapping provincial reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BibliotheekEemland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibliotheken-eemland
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibliotheekeemland
• Xx.com/BiebEemland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 De Bibliotheek Eemland