How a Dutch newspaper survived wars, riots, and a van-ramming to dominate the market.
In short: De Telegraaf is the largest daily morning newspaper in the Netherlands, known for its populist, sensationalist style. From its 1893 origins to its survival through a thirty-year post-war publication ban, the paper has navigated intense controversy, shifting formats, and even targeted attacks by organized crime to remain a national institution.
Founded by Henry Tindal on 1 January 1893, De Telegraaf quickly became a central force in Dutch media. Following Tindal's death in 1902, the printer HMC Holdert acquired the paper. Holdert’s aggressive expansion strategy between 1903 and 1923 involved systematically acquiring and shuttering rival publications, effectively consolidating his influence. His editorial stance during World War I—which favored the British and French—sparked significant public controversy in a nation that was officially neutral and largely pro-German at the time.
The paper’s history is marked by extreme volatility. During World War II, the company published pro-Nazi content, resulting in a thirty-year ban on publishing after the conflict ended. This prohibition was lifted in 1949, allowing the paper to recover and eventually reclaim its status as the country's biggest newspaper. Its headquarters have also been a flashpoint for social unrest; in June 1966, the building was besieged by construction workers and Provo activists following a false report regarding a labor dispute death.
Today, the paper is owned by the Belgian company Mediahuis and led by editor-in-chief Paul Jansen, who has held the position since August 2015. While it maintains a broad, conservative, and populist appeal—frequently featuring sports, gossip, and sensationalist content—it balances this with serious financial reporting. Despite its reach, the paper remains a target for intimidation; in June 2018, a delivery van was intentionally rammed into its office building in an attack police linked to organized crime, likely motivated by the paper’s reporting on criminal activities.
The publication has undergone significant structural changes to adapt to the modern media landscape. It transitioned from a traditional broadsheet to a compact format in October 2014. It also experimented with a Sunday edition, which launched in March 2004 but was ultimately discontinued in December 2009. These shifts reflect a broader trend of declining print circulation, which dropped from a peak of 808,000 copies in 1999 to 393,537 by 2017.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: De Telegraaf
- Also: Wikidata — De Telegraaf · CC0
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