a historical behind-the-scenes look
Family business
In 1954, lawyer Willy De Nolf (born in 1923 in Roeselare) stepped away from the Kortrijk bar after ten years of practice to fully dedicate himself to printing and publishing the local newspaper De Roeselaarse Weekbode (founded in 1947). He then founded NV Roularta and, together with his wife Marie-Thérèse De Clerck, began building what would grow into an internationally active media group.
In 1971, Willy’s children, Rik and Caroline, married Lieve and Leo Claeys—the youngest members of the Claeys family. (Louis Claeys, born in 1908 in Zedelgem, was the inventor of the Clayson combine harvester.) Around that time, Rik joined the family business and was appointed director of the magazine division in 1972.
Founder Willy De Nolf passed away in 1981. By then, the second generation had already been active for nearly a decade. Rik De Nolf and his brother-in-law Leo Claeys went on to lead the company together for more than thirty years.
In 2015, Rik De Nolf was succeeded as CEO by his son-in-law Xavier Bouckaert. Since then, Rik has continued to serve as chairman of the board of the media group.
Newsmagazines
In the early 1970s, Belgium lacked homegrown news magazines comparable to popular American titles like Newsweek or Businessweek. Roularta Media Group (RMG) stepped in to fill that gap with the launch of Knack in 1971—the first Flemish news magazine. What started with one single magazine quickly evolved into an internationally active media group, with a diverse portfolio of strong brands in both Dutch and French, and a solid presence in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Roularta expanded rapidly with new titles: the financial-economic magazine Trends was launched in 1975, followed by its French-language counterpart Trends/Tendances in 1976. In 1980, Sportmagazine made its debut, later evolving in 2001 into the more football-focused Sport/Voetbalmagazine and Sport/Foot Magazine.
The editorial team of Knack is based in Brussels, where Roularta also established its national advertising sales office: Roularta Advertising. The Knack brand expanded in 1981 with the launch of the lifestyle magazine Knack Weekend and again in 2000 with Knack Focus, a weekly magazine dedicated to culture, entertainment and television.
The French-language equivalent, Le Vif, was introduced in 1983 and later complemented by Le Vif Weekend and Focus Vif in 1986 and 2000 respectively. A collaboration with the French magazine L’Express led to the joint venture Le Vif/L’Express in 1986, which further expanded in 1988 with the acquisition of the Brussels weekly Pourquoi Pas?
In 2018, RMG acquired a 50% stake in Mediafin—a joint venture with Rossel—publisher of the daily newspapers De Tijd and L’Echo, and the weekly De Belegger/L’Investisseur. These business publications serve entrepreneurs, managers, investors and decision-makers with coverage of the business world, financial markets and policy. De Belegger/L’Investisseur offers weekly insights into stock markets and other investment opportunities, both in print and digital formats.
Local media
With the acquisition of De Roeselaarse Weekbode and the free house-to-house advertising newspaper Advertentie, founder Willy De Nolf laid the groundwork for an extensive local media network. In West Flanders, numerous regional weekly newspapers—including De Weekbode, Het Wekelijks Nieuws, De Zeewacht, Het Brugs Handelsblad, and Het Kortrijks Handelsblad—gradually merged into a single province-wide publication: De Krant van West-Vlaanderen (commonly known as KW). Since 2000, KW has been published every weekend as a paid newspaper with regional editions, complemented by daily news updates on kw.be.
Meanwhile, the reach of free newspapers expanded across Flanders in the 1960s and continued into the 1970s and beyond. Under the banner ‘Groep E3’, dozens of regional titles such as Groot-Antwerpen and Groot-Gent were launched. A major revamp in 1979 unified these publications under the name De Streekkrant, each edition featuring local content. This paper became a key channel for consumer information, local news and classified ads. At its peak, De Streekkrant published around fifty editions with a combined reach of almost 3 million copies.
Roularta also introduced a second network of free local tabloids targeting hyperlocal advertisers. Notable titles in this segment included Fonteintje, Wegwijzer, Tam Ta, and Het Gouden Blad. In Limburg, the name De Weekkrant was retained following its acquisition from the Concentra group.
In 1994, Roularta strengthened its position in the lifestyle segment by acquiring Steps, a local magazine known for reportage, shopping tips and image-driven campaigns. In 2024, Steps was rebranded as DZ Magazine, now published alongside De Zondag.
In 1999, Roularta launched De Zondag, a free Sunday newspaper that reaches approximately 1.3 million readers weekly via displays in bakeries and retail outlets—rather than traditional door-to-door delivery. This “pull” distribution model, combined with multiple regional editions, offers readers interviews, lifestyle features, regional news, leisure and sports coverage. In 2021, De Streekkrant was fully integrated into De Zondag.
Roularta Local Media continues to invest in a robust digital advertising network. Through Roularta Local Display Advertising, advertisers can run targeted online campaigns with geotargeting on platforms like knack.be, flair.be, and kw.be. Since 2009, Roularta Digital has supported campaigns on Google and Facebook.
A recent innovation is Mijn Stad TV, launched in 2021. This network of nearly 1,000 digital screens in high-traffic retail locations all across Flanders gives advertisers local visibility via large displays in bakeries, brasseries, supermarkets, gas stations and more.
All local media and advertising solutions are consolidated under the Roularta Local Media department.
Television
Since the 1980s, Roularta Media Group has established a strong position in the Flemish television market. In 1987, following the cable decree that ended the public broadcaster’s monopoly, VTM (Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij) was founded as the first independent television channel in Flanders. Roularta was one of its nine founding shareholders, initially holding 11.1% of the shares. By 1998, Roularta had increased its stake to 50% through in partnership with De Persgroep (now DPG Media). This joint ownership continued until 2018, when De Persgroep acquired Roularta’s shares.
Roularta also expanded into regional television, starting in West Flanders in 1993 with the launch of Focus and WTV. Over the following years, this network extended into other provinces. In 2020, Roularta sold its remaining stakes in regional channels but continued to manage advertising sales for Ring TV.
In 1999, Roularta entered a joint venture with business newspaper De Tijd to launch Kanaal Z: a business-focused television channel. Its French-language counterpart, Canal Z, followed in 2001. Roularta later became the sole owner of both channels. Since 2025, the two operate under a unified brand: Trends Z.
Professional journals
Since 2003, Roularta Media Group has steadily built a strong presence in professional publishing and B2B communication. Through the acquisition of publisher Biblo, RMG became the publisher of medical trade magazines such as De Huisarts/Le Généraliste and De Apotheker. In 2011, it completed a merger with Artsenkrant, which has been fully owned by Roularta since 2013. Tax publications including Fiscoloog/Fiscologue, Tijdschrift voor Rechtspersonen, and Balans/Bilan also entered Roularta’s portfolio via Biblo.
In 2004, the acquisition of Keesing Business Media Belgium led to the creation of the Roularta Professional Information (RPI) division. This included trade magazines such as Grafisch Nieuws and M&C (Media & Communicatie) and later Data News, following the acquisition of VNU Business Publications Belgium in 2007. RPI also organized seminars and events for industrial and digital markets, often in collaboration with Roularta Seminars and Kanaal Z.
While Roularta developed many of its brands organically, it also strengthened its position through targeted acquisitions in niche sectors such as medical, graphic design and IT—particularly following its stock exchange listing in 1998.
In 2024, RMG made a strategic decision to focus on its core segments: News & Business and Women & Lifestyle. As a result, in July 2024, the technical trade magazines Grafisch Nieuws, Media & Communicatie, and Verpakking & Label were sold to Professional Media Group (PMG). In March 2025, the medical titles Artsenkrant, De Apotheker and AK Hospitals were also transferred to PMG.
Women & lifestyle
In 1988, Roularta Media Group expanded internationally through a joint venture with Bayard Presse. Plus Magazine, tailored to the active 50-plus demographic, was first launched in Belgium, followed by expansions into the Netherlands in 1990 and Germany in 2001—strengthening Roularta’s consumer portfolio. Later, titles such as Frau im Leben and G Geschichte were added to the group, with Roularta acquiring full ownership in 2020.
Other notable additions included Nest, launched in 2002 as a country and lifestyle magazine. From 2018 onward, it gained momentum through an additional print run bundled with Libelle Nest/Femmes Nest. In 2008, the health-focused monthly magazine Bodytalk was introduced, later integrated into the Knack/Le Vif portfolio. In 2011, Trends expanded its offering with a lifestyle supplement titled Trends Style.
In 2017, Roularta acquired the Dutch monthly Landleven from RELX. The following year, Roularta significantly strengthened its presence in the Belgian media landscape by acquiring Sanoma’s Belgian operations, including popular titles such as Libelle, Femmes d’Aujourd’hui, Flair, Feeling and Gaël. Publications like De Communiekrant, Loving You and La Maison Victor were subsequently integrated or repurposed within the group’s portfolio.
International
Roularta Media Group has steadily built a strong international presence, with a primary focus on key markets in the Netherlands, Germany and France.
The Netherlands
Roularta entered the Dutch market in 1990 with the launch of Plus Magazine through a joint venture with Bayard Presse. It later became involved in Plus Beurs and the advertising management company Media Plus. In 2021, Roularta acquired full ownership of Senior Publications Nederland, publisher of Plus Magazine and G/Geschiedenis.
In 2017, Roularta added the multimedia brand Landleven, focused on rural living. A major milestone followed in 2021 with the acquisition of New Skool Media (NSM), making Roularta the second-largest magazine publisher in the Netherlands. Roularta’s portfolio now includes leading titles such as EW (formerly Elsevier Weekblad), Beleggers Belangen and a wide range of special interest magazines including delicious., Seasons, Columbus Travel, Roots, Zin, Knipmode, Vorsten, KIJK, Fiets, Formule1, Truckstar and Moto73.
Shortly thereafter, Roularta acquired WPG Media’s activities, known for their ‘mindstyle magazines’ Happinez, Yoga by Happinez and Psychologie Magazine. This was followed by the acquisition of Flow Magazine from DPG Media. In 2024, Roularta relaunched the English edition of Flow Magazine, now reaching readers in over twenty countries. This highly successful relaunch has prompted plans to scale up international distribution starting in 2026.
All of these titles have cultivated loyal reader communities across print, digital and live events, reinforcing Roularta’s position in the feel-good and wellbeing segment.
Germany
Roularta launched Lenz (later renamed Plus Magazine) in Germany in 2001, alongside Bayard Presse. In 2008, it acquired the monthly magazines Frau im Leben and G/Geschichte. Roularta took full ownership of its German operations in 2021 but sold them in 2024 to refocus strategically on Belgium and the Netherlands.
France
Roularta’s activities in France date back to the 1980s, including free press titles in Northern France (Groupe Edinord), city magazines such as Steps and A Nous Paris and various monthly lifestyle, cultural and economic publications. In 2015 Roularta sold its French media holdings to the Altice Group, but continues to provide printing services for many French publications via Roularta Printing. Notably, around 50% of Roularta Printing’s capacity is dedicated to foreign publications.
Starting in 2002, Roularta began building a French magazine group through a series of acquisitions, culminating in 2006 with the takeover of Groupe Express, publisher of the weekly news magazine L’Express, which had long been Roularta’s partner in the joint venture Le Vif/L’Express in Belgium.
Roularta now publishes the weekly magazines L’Express and Point de Vue, alongside a wide range of monthly titles.
In the business domain: L’Expansion, L’Entreprise, Mieux Vivre/Votre Argent. In the cultural domain: Studio, Classica, Lire, L’Etudiant. In the lifestyle domain: Côté Sud, Côté Est, Côté Ouest, Côté Paris, Maison Magazine, Maison Française.
Digital
Digitization has created new avenues for growth. In 2022, Roularta Media Group brought all its media brands together in a single app: Mijn Magazines. All subscribers receive full or partial access to this digital kiosk, depending on their subscription plan. Through the app and website, users can endlessly explore a wide range of content created by Roularta’s editorial teams. Each subscription also allows two family members to read along for free.
For the local market, RMG offers a variety of digital solutions alongside its newspaper De Zondag. These include geotargeted advertising on websites and newsletters, as well as a unique network of digital displays located in high-traffic retail points across city centers in Flanders: Mijn Stad TV.
Printing house
For decades, the supporting divisions and services of Roularta Media Group have evolved in step with the rapid growth of its core activities. The printing house, in particular, has undergone continuous expansion and modernization. A major upgrade in the late 1980s prompted further investment in printing infrastructure. In 2006, construction began on a new state-of-the-art printing hall—spanning 19,500 square meters, roughly the size of three football fields. This facility houses advanced MAN rotary presses, including a heatset Colorman capable of printing 128 tabloid-format pages in full color on glossy paper.
Roularta Printing also installed four high-performance magazine presses: three 72-page presses and one 16-page press. Designed for five-color cover printing with varnish, operating at speeds of up to 100,000 copies per hour. These presses run six full days a week, making Roularta one of the most advanced printing facilities in Europe.
As technology moved forward, so did Roularta’s premedia department. In 1977, the first computers were introduced to convert text into photographic typesetting. Rapid advances in automation and digitalization transformed premedia into one of Europe’s most sophisticated units. Roularta Printing handles in-house finishing and distribution, processing newspapers, magazines, books and catalogs with glued or stapled bindings. Since 2023, an increasing number of publications have been packaged and shipped in paper wrap instead of plastic, in line with the group’s environmental commitment.
Half of the printing capacity is dedicated to Roularta’s own Belgian and Dutch publications, while the other half serves domestic and international clients. Roularta Printing produces and distributes leading titles worldwide, including The Economist, Bloomberg Businessweek, HTSI (Financial Times) and T Magazine (The New York Times).