Roularta is the third largest media group in Belgium’s Flemish-speaking media market, following DPG and Mediahuis.
The Roularta Group was established in 1954 by Willy De Nolf and his wife, Marie-Thérèse De Clerck. Initially, it consisted of separate local newspapers published in every city of the West Flanders province (West-Vlaanderen in Flemish). Over time, these newspapers were gradually consolidated under the KW Krant van West-Vlaanderen brand in 2000. Since then, Roularta has been producing a province-wide newspaper for the entire West-Vlaanderen region (one of the 10 provinces of Belgium, located in the northwestern part of the country), along with several local editions focusing on major cities in West-Vlaanderen.
In addition to its West-Vlaanderen publications, Roularta has produced several magazines, including Knack in 1971 and Trends in 1975. Le Vif, the French counterpart of Knack, was launched in 1983, and all of Roularta’s magazines are currently produced in both languages.
Roularta is distinguished by its focus on magazines and local news. The company has consistently created and acquired magazines, with a focus on lifestyle, entertainment, and professional-oriented publications, such as Data News. Roularta is widely “regarded as a market leader in Belgium in the field of magazines.”
According to the Euromedia Ownership Monitor, Roularta is owned by Koinon Comm. at approximately 70%, with the De Nolf family serving as the primary shareholder. The remaining shares are distributed among public shareholders (11.4%), Capfi Delen Asset Management, and West Investment Holding (combined 7%), while 10.5% remain as treasury shares, according to data from Vlaamse Regulator Voor de Media.
The De Nolf family exerts significant influence over Roularta’s management through its shares and its long-standing involvement in the company. The De Nolf family is among the wealthiest in Belgium, and the company has been under family leadership since its inception.Following Willy De Nolf and Marie-Thérèse De Clerck’s deaths, their son Rik De Nolf and son-in-law Leo Claeys assumed leadership roles at the company. Since 2015, the company has been led by Rik’s son-in-law, Xavier Bouckaert.
