Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau
The Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP) is the largest news agency in the Netherlands. ANP was founded on December 11, 1934 by the association of Dutch newspapers (NDP). The news agency’s founders sought to produce a fast, fair and accurate alternative to the existing commercial news agencies.
Privatization
In 2000, the foundation was transformed into a private company, still owned by the newspaper publishers. In 2003 NPM Capital, the private equity firm of the Dutch family owned conglomerate SHV, bought 60% of the shares from the publishers PCM Uitgevers, Telegraaf Media Groep en Wegener. Within a year NPM sold 15% of the shares to the private equity firm Halder, a subsidiary of the investment company GIMV. A minority stake remained in the hands of the Dutch newspapers (30%) and the management (10%).
Workings
With 140 reporters, correspondents, editors and photographers ANP produces over 160.000 news articles a year, accompanied by 600.000 photos. The ANP Multimedia staff airs radio bulletins and edits news for online media and mobile phones. ANP Video produces news footage for television and major news websites. Throughout a network of international correspondents and news agencies ANP delivers foreign news to its customers. The daily production (in Dutch) consists of general, political, financial, sports and entertainment news. A selection in English is available through NIS News Bulletin.
The archives of ANP Photo consist of over 1 million digital images and 2,5 million slides. ANP owns the archives of the former Dutch photoagencies Kippa and Benelux Press.
Offices
The staff of 220 people is headquartered in Rijswijk, just outside The Hague, with bureaus in Amsterdam (Economic, City and Entertainment), Rotterdam (City), The Hague (Government), Eindhoven (Regional) and Brussels (EU/NATO).
In the Netherlands, ANP represents the news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP), Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA), EFE (Spain) and Belga (Belgium).