Zeilen
Zeilen is a Dutch-language sailing magazine and digital media platform published since 1985 by Pijper Publishing B.V., serving recreational, adventure, and competitive sailors in the Benelux with monthly print issues, a mobile app, and multi-platform digital content.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Zeilen does
Zeilen is a Dutch-language sailing magazine and digital media platform, founded in 1985 and published by Pijper Publishing B.V. under the Pijper Media conglomerate. The publication serves the Benelux sailing market, covering recreational sailors, adventure cruisers, and competitive sailing enthusiasts with practical advice, equipment tests, navigation guidance, weather information, travel stories, and regatta coverage. Its primary geographic market is the Netherlands, with secondary reach into Belgium and Luxembourg.
The product portfolio combines a monthly print magazine (12 issues per year) with a multi-platform digital ecosystem: a responsive website (zeilen.nl), dedicated iOS and Android mobile apps (providing access to the current issue and up to 10 years of archived content), a sailing-specific weather portal (meteo.zeilen.nl), a sailing photography platform (vaarfoto.nl), an events calendar, an email newsletter, and a podcast. Curated article bundles cover maintenance topics and sailing routes (English Channel, Great Britain, Scandinavia). The digital ecosystem is aggregated under the Tijdschrift.land subscription platform, which also hosts 18 other Pijper Media titles.
Zeilen operates a B2C subscription-driven revenue model with four streams: print magazine subscriptions (€84/year quarterly-billed), digital-only subscriptions (€40/year), individual print and digital single issues (€7.99), and advertising/sponsored content. A cross-platform Privacy Abonnement (€11.99/year) provides ad-free, tracker-free access to all 18 Pijper Media titles. Distribution is handled through direct subscription fulfillment, retail/newsstand via Aldipress, and self-serve digital access via the app and Tijdschrift.land platform. The editorial team is led by Editor-in-Chief Ben Rutte, with a staff of approximately 41 employees based primarily at the Amsterdam office (Spaklerweg 53).
Zeilen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zeilen
- Legal name
- Pijper Publishing B.V.
- Website
- https://zeilen.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zeilen is a Dutch-language sailing magazine and digital media platform published since 1985 by Pijper Publishing B.V., serving recreational, adventure, and competitive sailors in the Benelux with monthly print issues, a mobile app, and multi-platform digital content.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zeilen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sailing Magazine Publishing
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Travel & Outdoors Magazines (MPAJAEAH)
Keywords
Where Zeilen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Zeilen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Print Magazine Subscriptions: Annual print subscriptions delivered monthly (12 issues per year). The primary subscription product, available from €84.00 per year (billed quarterly at €21.00). Also includes print subscribers who receive the same digital benefits as digital subscribers.
- Digital Magazine Subscriptions: Digital-only subscription giving access to the Zeilen-app, the full digital archive, and article bundles. Priced at €40.00 per year. Also available as a combined print+digital package.
- Single Issue Sales: Individual print copies sold at newsstands and through the webshop for €7.99 per issue. Single digital issues also available for purchase.
- Advertising and Sponsorship: The magazine and website carry paid advertising and sponsored content. The website uses cookies and tracking for personalised advertising. The promo/sponsored content section includes articles produced in partnership with yacht charter companies, sailing equipment brands, and marine service providers. Advertentieverkoop contact: Erik van Kasteel.
- Tijdschrift.land Privacy Subscription: A tracker-free, ad-free tier sold at €11.99 per year under the Pijper Media cross-title platform, giving access to all 18 Pijper Media websites.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Quarterly | Print subscription — 12 issues per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Digital-only subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Tijdschrift.land Privacy-abonnement — tracker-free cross-platform access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single print issue |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Zeilen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zeilen publishes a monthly Dutch-language sailing magazine delivered in both print (12 issues per year) and digital editions, supported by a daily sailing news website (zeilen.nl), a dedicated mobile reading app with a digital archive up to ten years deep, a sailing-specific weather portal (meteo.zeilen.nl), a sailing photo platform (vaarfoto.nl), an events calendar, and a podcast. Subscribers receive bundled print and digital access, with a €11.99/year tracker-free privacy tier available through the parent Pijper Media's Tijdschrift.land platform covering 18 titles.
Product overview
Zeilen is a Dutch sailing magazine platform founded in 1985, operated by Pijper Media. The product portfolio consists of the core Zeilen Magazine (available in print 12x/year and digitally via the Zeilen app), the Zeilen.nl website providing daily sailing news and content, the Meteo.zeilen.nl weather service for sailors, and the Vaarfoto.nl photography platform. Supplementary offerings include the Evenementenkalender event calendar, the Zeilen Podcast, and the Tijdschrift.land Privacy Abonnement (ad-free subscription service). The digital ecosystem centers on the Zeilen app for mobile access to the magazine and archives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tijdschrift.land: Subscription platform for Zeilen magazine and other Pijper Media publications
- Zeilen App
Products and services
- Zeilen Magazine (Print) The print edition of Zeilen sailing magazine, published 12 times per year, covering sailing news, travel reports, boat tests, and technical tips for Benelux-based recreational and adventure sailors. Available via direct subscription from €84.00/year (billed quarterly at €21.00) or single copy at newsstand for €7.99.
- Zeilen Digital Magazine Subscription (via Zeilen App) Digital edition of Zeilen magazine accessible via the Zeilen iOS/Android app and digitaallezen.zeilen.nl, including access to a digital archive spanning up to 10 year-issues and curated article bundles such as the Maintenance Bundle (Onderhoudsbundel) and sailing route bundles for Het Kanaal, Groot-Brittannië and Scandinavië. Priced at €40.00/year for digital-only, with free digital access bundled for print subscribers.
- Meteo.zeilen.nl Dedicated sailing weather portal providing sailing-specific meteorological information for sailors, accessible as a sub-brand of the Zeilen platform.
- Vaarfoto.nl Photography platform for sailing and maritime images associated with the Zeilen brand, enabling the community to share and browse sailing imagery.
- Tijdschrift.land Privacy Subscription Ad-free, tracker-free subscription tier sold at €11.99 per year under the Pijper Media cross-title Tijdschrift.land platform, giving access to all 18 Pijper Media websites without tracking or personalised advertising.
- Zeilen Podcast Audio podcast featuring sailing stories and narratives from Zeilen's reporters and contributors, promoted through the website and social media.
Companies that use Zeilen
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zeilen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Zeilen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Silver SailminorSilver Sail, a yacht charter company based in Split, Croatia, collaborates with Zeilen on sponsored editorial content promoting sailing holidays in Croatia and the Dalmatian islands. Articles include sailing route guides and trip reports, positioning Silver Sail's charter services to Zeilen's Dutch sailing audience. The partnership is disclosed as promotional content.
- AldipresscoreAldipress is the magazine distribution partner responsible for delivering print copies of Zeilen to newsstands and retail outlets throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Pijper Druk BVcorePijper Druk BV handles the printing and binding of the Zeilen magazine. This is an intra-group service provider within the Pijper Media group.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Zeilen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yacht: International sailing and yachting magazine covering bluewater cruising, performance sailing, and luxury yachting. Comparable to Zeilen in its blend of cruising content, boat reviews, and enthusiast readership.
- Sail Magazine: US-based sailing magazine covering boat reviews, seamanship, racing, and charter. Closely comparable to Zeilen in editorial mix (practical advice, gear, destinations, regattas) and print+digital business model.
- Practical Sailor: Independent sailing publication providing boat gear and equipment reviews. Comparable to Zeilen in its enthusiast readership and emphasis on practical sailing content (maintenance, gear tests).
- Yachting World: Long-established English-language sailing magazine covering cruising, racing, boat tests, and sailing travel. Directly comparable as a print+digital sailing enthusiast publication with a multi-decade brand and global audience.
- Cruising World: US sailing publication focused on cruising sailors, covering boats, gear, and destinations. Comparable to Zeilen in its recreational-sailor audience, monthly print cadence, and digital subscription offering.
- Sailing Anarchy: Digital-first sailing news and community site with strong regatta and racing coverage. Comparable to Zeilen as a sailing-focused media outlet combining news, community forums, and editorial content.
Broad incumbents
- Boat International: Global boating and superyacht media brand with print, digital, and events. Comparable to Zeilen as a sailing/boating enthusiast publisher, but operating at a larger, more luxury-oriented scale.
Regional players
- Watersport Magazine: Dutch water sports publication covering sailing, motorboating, and other on-water activities. Comparable to Zeilen in Dutch market focus and enthusiast readership, though with a broader water-sports scope.
- Holland Yachting: Dutch-language yachting and sailing media site focused on the Netherlands. Directly comparable to Zeilen in geography and Dutch-speaking sailing audience, with overlapping editorial and advertiser base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zeilen social profiles
Digital presenceZeilen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zeilen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Zeilen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zeilen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zeilen
What does Zeilen do?
Zeilen publishes a monthly Dutch-language sailing magazine delivered in both print (12 issues per year) and digital editions, supported by a daily sailing news website (zeilen.nl), a dedicated mobile reading app with a digital archive up to ten years deep, a sailing-specific weather portal (meteo.zeilen.nl), a sailing photo platform (vaarfoto.nl), an events calendar, and a podcast. Subscribers receive bundled print and digital access, with a €11.99/year tracker-free privacy tier available through the parent Pijper Media's Tijdschrift.land platform covering 18 titles.
Is Zeilen a public or private company?
Zeilen is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Zeilen founded?
Zeilen was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zeilen based?
Zeilen is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Zeilen make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Print Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are digital Magazine Subscriptions, single Issue Sales, advertising and Sponsorship and tijdschrift.land Privacy Subscription.
Who are Zeilen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yacht, Sail Magazine, Practical Sailor, Yachting World, Cruising World and Sailing Anarchy. Boat International is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Watersport Magazine and Holland Yachting.
Does Zeilen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zeilen.
What industry is Zeilen in?
Zeilen's product category is Sailing Magazine Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAEAH, Travel & Outdoors Magazines. Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.