Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum

What Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum does

Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum is a Dutch non-profit public library and adult education organization (ANBI status) headquartered at 's-Gravelandseweg 55 in Hilversum, Netherlands. The organization operates two physical sites — the Centrale Bibliotheek and Servicepunt Noord (a satellite inside wijkcentrum Lopes Dias) — and serves roughly 1,000 visitors per day. It combines a traditional lending library with the integrated course offerings of the former Volksuniversiteit Hilversum, delivering Dutch language courses, digital-skills programs (Klik & Tik, DigiSterker, Welkom Online), reading clubs, makerspace activities, and a 70-seat theater/room rental venue, alongside the Leescafé on-site café.

The technology stack is built on OCLC's Wise library management system, which powers the public catalog, self-service lending, the Mijn Bibliotheek member portal, and the Bibliotheek Wise mobile app (iOS/Android) for reservations and renewals. Supplementary digital products include the BiebApp for subscription-free per-item borrowing at €2 per item and the national Online Bibliotheek platform for e-books, audiobooks, and magazines (available with Basis and Top subscriptions); scholarly lending is enabled through WorldCat Discovery at €10 per request, with e-reader authentication migrating from Adobe Digital Editions to ByteBooks on 23 June 2026. Payments are processed via iDEAL/Wero and printing via Elsa.

Revenue is generated through a tiered subscription model (free youth membership 0–17, €20/year youth 18–21, €55/year Basis, €70/year Top with no late fees), complemented by transactional fees (BiebApp €2/item, late fees €0.25/day, interlibrary loan €10, uncollected reservations €1), room and theater rental, café sales (including a 10x coffee card at €20), and an implied municipal/ANBI funding layer. The organization is governed by a Raad van Toezicht (Anke Weeda as chair) with ~30 paid staff and 83 volunteers, and is preparing for a major expansion to a 5,000 m² Gooische Brink location in December 2026 following the sale of the existing 's-Gravelandseweg property to HF Vastgoed.

Name

Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum

Legal name

Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum

Website

https://bibliotheekhilversum.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum is a Dutch ANBI-status public library and adult education center in Hilversum, Netherlands, serving approximately 1,000 daily visitors with physical and digital lending, language courses, digital literacy programs, and community facilities.

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), Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations (EDAEAGAK), Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Adult education courses
• Digital literacy support
• Community learning spaces
• E-book lending services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilversum

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Library membership subscriptions: Annual and monthly subscription fees across four tiers: youth (free, ages 0–17), youth (€20/year, ages 18–21), basic (€55/year), and top (€70/year). Subscriptions provide access to physical and digital collections, renewals, and reservations. Payment available monthly or annually.
2. Room and theater rental: Hiring of seven distinct rooms and a theater for meetings, lectures, workshops, and book presentations. Pricing varies by room capacity and time slot (morning, afternoon, evening).
3. Per-item lending via BiebApp: Non-subscribers can borrow materials through the BiebApp at €2 per item. Maximum 3 items at a time, no renewals or reservations. First two loans are free.
4. Reading café food and beverage sales: On-site café serving coffee, tea, and food items. Offers a 10x coffee card for €20, making the 11th cup free.
5. Late fees and replacement charges: Late fee of €0.25 per item per day. Material replacement costs based on original price and age of material. Reservation charges from €2.50 per item for special collections. €1.00 charged for uncollected reservations.
6. Scholarly interlibrary loan requests: WorldCat Discovery requests for scholarly books from university libraries, museums, and research institutions worldwide; €10 per request.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum combines a public library with an adult education centre (Volksuniversiteit), lending physical and digital materials (books, e-books, audiobooks, films, magazines) under tiered annual/monthly memberships. It delivers paid courses in Dutch and foreign languages, creative writing, and digital literacy, and provides community spaces including study/work areas, a maker space (Maakplaats), a reading café, and rentable rooms and a 70-seat theater (expanding to 120 seats in December 2026).

Product overview

Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum operates as a combined public library and community education center (Volksuniversiteit) offering physical and digital lending services, educational programs, and community facilities. The core service combines the traditional library collection (books, DVDs, magazines) accessible via Wise library management system with digital services through the Online Bibliotheek platform. Key digital touchpoints include the Wise App for mobile catalog/reservation/renewal management, the BiebApp for subscription-free borrowing, and the Online Bibliotheek App for e-books and audiobooks. The Volksuniversiteit component provides Dutch language courses, digital literacy training (Klik & Tik, DigiSterker, Welkom Online), creative writing workshops, and cultural programming. The library is undergoing expansion, with relocation planned for December 2026 to Gooische Brink, doubling its space to 5,000 m² with expanded maker space, study facilities (from 80 to 250 spaces), and a larger theater (70 to 120 seats).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bibliotheek Wise App: Mobile app for catalog search, reservations, and material renewals.
• BiebApp
• Online Bibliotheek

Products and services

• Library Membership Subscriptions (Jeugd / Jongeren / Basis / Top)

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HF VastgoedminorOthers · 1 January 2025HF Vastgoed, a small project developer based in Naarden, purchased the current Bibliotheek Hilversum building at 's-Gravelandseweg 55. The property carries a social/destination designation. The historic Villa Erica (monument building) on the site will be preserved. The sale enables the library's relocation to the new Gooische Brink location planned for December 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bibliotheek Rotterdam: Rotterdam's municipal public library providing physical lending, e-books/audiobooks, courses, and community spaces. Directly comparable in mission, funding model, and service breadth within the Dutch public library network.
• Bibliotheek Den Haag: The Hague's public library offering lending, digital services, programming, and study spaces under municipal/ANBI structure. Comparable Dutch public library with similar adult education and community programming.
• OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam): Amsterdam's public library system offering physical lending, digital collections, courses, and community programs under a similar ANBI municipal model. Closest functional peer — same Dutch public library category, same service mix (subscriptions, courses, room rental, café), though at much larger scale.
• Bibliotheek Utrecht: Utrecht's municipal public library providing lending, online collections, courses, and community spaces. Peer within the Dutch public library system with similar service mix and municipal funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB): The national library of the Netherlands, providing national library services, digital infrastructure (including OCLC Wise), and policy leadership for Dutch public libraries. Functions as a sector-wide enabler and governance peer.
• NBD Biblion: Dutch library sector service organization supporting collection development, metadata, and content services for public libraries. Indirect peer as a key supplier and service provider in the same ecosystem.
• Online Bibliotheek: National digital library platform for e-books, audiobooks, and online magazines accessible to all Dutch public library members. Bibliotheek Hilversum integrates this platform as a value-add for paid members — comparable as a digital library service provider.

Others

• Biblionet: Dutch library network organization representing public libraries in policy and sector coordination. Adjacent ecosystem participant relevant to Bibliotheek Hilversum's funding and policy environment.
• Stichting CPNB: Dutch foundation promoting reading and literature, organizing campaigns like Kinderboekenweek and Nationale Voorleesdagen that public libraries including Bibliotheek Hilversum participate in. Sector adjacent.

Regional players

• Bibliotheek aan de Poel: Smaller Dutch regional public library serving surrounding Gooi region near Hilversum. Comparable peer in scale and service mix within the same geography, representing regional rather than municipal focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BibliotheekHilversum
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibliotheekhilversum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibliotheek-hilversum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Bibliotheek en Volksuniversiteit Hilversum