HarperCollins Holland has agreed to acquire four lifestyle imprints from Gottmer Uitgevers Groep. The deal, announced January 7, divests Gottmer of its nonfiction imprints, including Becht (cookbooks and eco-friendly lifestyle), Altamira (mind, body, and spirit), Dominicus (travel guides), and Hollandia (water sports), all of which will transfer to HarperCollins on March 1.
"The lifestyle imprints have an impressive publishing history, exceptional authors, and great books and have become strong brands in their own right, trusted by generations of readers," said Jan-Joris Keijzer, managing director of HarperCollins Holland.
The acquisition includes the transfer of all associated personnel and Vaarbewijs Academy, a boating license training platform.
For Gottmer, the sale represents a strategic shift toward children's publishing. "In HarperCollins we have found a party that can allow the lifestyle imprints and employees to flourish further," said Marius van Campen, business director of Gottmer Uitgevers Groep. "For our own organization, this step means that we will focus on the titles and characters of Gottmer children's books and Big Balloon."
The acquisition builds on HarperCollins' initial entry into the Dutch market, which began with the integration of Harlequin's Netherlands program in 2015 as part of the publisher's broader foreign language expansion strategy. "Holland is a key market in our international portfolio and one where we see great growth opportunities," said Chantal Restivo-Alessi, chief digital officer and CEO of international foreign language at HarperCollins Publishers. "This acquisition will allow us to increase our market share and position us for continued growth in the market."
The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
