Uitgeverij Cossee

What Uitgeverij Cossee does

Uitgeverij Cossee is an independent Dutch publishing house founded in autumn 2001 and based at Amstelveld in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The company publishes original Dutch-language fiction and non-fiction alongside literary works in translation, and released its first titles in spring 2002. It has operated continuously for more than two decades as a privately held company with no disclosed parent or investors.

The publisher distributes its titles through two channels: traditional Dutch retail bookstores and direct online sales from its own website. Pricing is set per title within a €15 to €29.99 band, consistent with literary fiction and non-fiction in the Dutch market. Marketing consists of a monthly newsletter and seasonal catalogues, indicating a low-cost, retention-oriented approach typical of small independent literary imprints. The company also offers a Foreign Rights service that licenses translation rights of its catalogue to international publishers, providing a secondary revenue stream beyond domestic retail.

There is no public disclosure of revenue, headcount, ownership structure, or partnerships. No AI, automation, or technology stack is described, and there is no evidence of geographic expansion beyond the Netherlands or of operating subsidiaries. The business model is structurally that of a small, editorially curated literary house reliant on catalogue longevity, author relationships, and translation licensing for incremental international revenue.

Name

Uitgeverij Cossee

Legal name

Uitgeverij Cossee

Website

https://cossee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Uitgeverij Cossee is an independent Dutch literary publisher, founded in 2001 in Amsterdam, publishing original Dutch fiction and non-fiction alongside translated literary works, distributed via bookstores and its own online store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Translated & International Trade Publishing (Rights/Localizations) (MPAJAAAO)

Keywords

• Independent book publishing
• Literary fiction publishing
• Translated literature publisher
• Dutch literary house
• Fiction and non-fiction books

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Book Sales: One-time sales of physical and likely digital books to consumers through bookstores and direct online sales. Revenue generated per unit sold at fixed retail prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Uitgeverij Cossee is an independent Dutch publishing house that publishes original Dutch-language and translated fiction and non-fiction. Each title is selected, edited, and designed in-house with a focus on producing books described as 'unexchangeable and unavoidable' ('onuitwisselbaar en onontkoombaar'). The publisher also offers a Foreign Rights service for licensing translation rights internationally.

Product overview

Uitgeverij Cossee is an independent publishing house that publishes original Dutch fiction and non-fiction alongside translated literary works. The company's core product offering consists of books across various genres including novels, poetry collections, and essays. Featured publications include works by authors such as Eva Meijer (Zee Nu), Italo Calvino (Palomar), Jane Gardam (Kostschool aan zee), and many others. The company also offers a Foreign Rights service for international rights licensing. The portfolio includes currently available titles as well as forthcoming releases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Uitgeverij Cossee Boeken (Book Publications) Catalog of original Dutch and translated literary fiction and non-fiction, including novels, poetry, and essays by established and emerging authors. Sold to Dutch-speaking general readers through bookstores and the publisher's website.
• Foreign Rights Licensing

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Atlas Contact: Major Dutch trade publisher (Amsterdam) with significant literary fiction and translated non-fiction list. Comparable in translated-literary focus and Dutch retail distribution model.
• Prometheus: Dutch general and literary publisher (part of VB|Prometheus group) publishing original Dutch and translated works. Comparable in catalog scope and Dutch retail distribution.
• De Geus: Independent Dutch literary publisher based in Breda with a strong translated-fiction list. Comparable as a mid-sized indie focused on literary translation and quality curation.
• Pushkin Press: London-based independent publisher focused on translated international literary fiction and non-fiction. Highly comparable as a translation-led, indie literary press with similar editorial ethos.
• New Directions Publishing: Long-established US independent publisher of international literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction (including Calvino). Comparable as an indie publisher of translated literary classics and contemporary literary fiction.
• Fitzcarraldo Editions: London-based independent literary publisher known for translated fiction and non-fiction and design-led editions. Closely comparable as an independent, design-conscious, translation-heavy literary house.
• Meulenhoff: Dutch literary imprint within the Prometheus/Singel group, publishing Dutch and translated literary fiction and non-fiction. Directly comparable in editorial scope and target audience.
• De Bezige Bij: Amsterdam-based independent Dutch literary publisher (founded 1934) publishing original Dutch and translated fiction and non-fiction. Closest direct comparable to Cossee in language, geography, and literary-editorial positioning.
• Querido: Amsterdam literary imprint within Singel Uitgeverijen, publishing Dutch and translated literary fiction, poetry, and essays. Highly comparable in catalog mix and reader base.
• Athenaeum-Polak & Van Gennep: Amsterdam-based independent publisher of literary fiction, non-fiction, and translated works. Independent, Dutch-market, quality-literary positioning mirrors Cossee's profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uitgeverij-cossee

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 Uitgeverij Cossee