Along with Mediahuis, DPG Media Group is one of the two largest media groups in Flemish-speaking Belgium, both of which dominate the print media market.
The DPG Media Group adopted its current name in 2019, having previously been known as De Persgroep. The company was established in 1987 when the Van Thillo family acquired 66% of the shares then owned by Hoste NV. The company’s name, Hoste NV, honors Julius Hoste, a prominent figure in the newspaper industry who began his career in the late 1880s. His son, Julius Hoste Jr., assumed leadership after his death in the 1930s.
The company was formally established as Hoste NV in 1954 following the passing of Julius Hoste Jr., though it remained within the family under the joint leadership of Julius Hoste Jr.’s son-in-law, Frans Vink.
During the 1960s, as substantial investments were necessary to maintain competitiveness in a growing market, the Van Thilo family assumed a significant shareholding in the company. The Van Thilo family gradually acquired more shares, becoming the majority owner in 1987. This shift was symbolized by the name change to the Persgroep.The group, headed by Christian Van Thilo, has continued to grow and has taken full ownership of De Medialaan in 2019. As a result, both media groups have merged under the name of DPG Media.
According to Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media, the Flemish Media Regulator, the shares of DPG Media are mostly owned by Epifin. According to the Euromedia Ownership Monitor, Epifin’s ownership is not fully transparent, but it is widely known that the company is controlled by three families (Van Thillo, Criel, and Convent). The Van Thillo family in particular has been identified as having significant influence.
The Van Thillo family is among the historically wealthiest in Belgium, with a substantial portion of their fortune amassed through banking and commercial activities in Congo during the colonial period (1908-1960). Beginning in the 1940s, the Van Thillo family increasingly invested in the media sector. Initially led by Bill (often referred to as Cyriel) Van Thillo, the family subsequently expanded its media presence through his sons Joris, Herman, and Ludo, and, since 1990, his grandson Christian Van Thillo.In 1948, Bill acquired the printing company Patria, subsequently renaming it Astra Printing and incorporating his three sons into the business. Over time, the Van Thillo family’s media holdings grew, including a majority stake in Hoste NV in 1987. Three years later, Christian assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the group, a position he held for 30 years before transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman, a position he still holds today. He continues to play a key role in shaping the group’s long-term strategy.
DPG Media owns the serious newspaper De Morgen and Het Laatste Nieuws, the bestselling newspaper in the country, VTM, the first commercially financed channel in the country launched in 1989, and the radio stations Joe and Qmusic.
