Het Laatste Nieuws
Encyclopedia
Het Laatste Nieuws is a Dutch language
newspaper
based in Brussels
, Belgium
. It was founded by Julius Hoste Sr.
on 7 June 1888. It is now part of De Persgroep
, and has a circulation of 292,410 copies, making it the most popular newspaper in Flanders
and Belgium.
, The Adventures of Tintin
was in the paper. Stories included Tintin in the Congo
, Tintin in America
, The Broken Ear
, The Shooting Star
, and The Secret of the Unicorn
.
founded the newspaper on 7 June 1888, five days before the Belgian elections. With his newspaper he wanted to support the Liberal Party
in the upcoming elections and on the other side the Flemish movement
in Brussels, a city which was dominated by francophone
bourgeois (Franskiljons). The newspaper supported the cause of the Gelijkheidswet (E: equality law between French and Flemish in Belgium), the rescue of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (KVS) (E: Royal Flemish Theatre) in Brussels and the election of the first Flemish, liberal, Ghent municipal governing board in 1907.
Its liberal character, anti-francophone stance and support for the Flemish movement were essential characteristics of the new daily, just like its anti-clericalism
. In 1897, Flor Burton founded the newspaper De Nieuwe Gazet in Antwerp, with a substantially similar editorial policy.
When Julius Hoste Sr. died, his son, Julius Hoste Jr.
, took over full publishing responsibility. He moderated the confrontational style favoured by his father, adopting a more temperate and formal tone. He broadened the scope of the newspaper, including more regional news, and expanded the sports section to reach an even wider public.
When World War II
broke out, Julius Hoste Jr. fled to the United Kingdom
, although his newspaper continued publication under Nazi control. After the war he regained control but the business needed to be rebuilt. He shared day to day management with Albert Maertens and Marcel Stijns became head editor. On 1 February 1954 Julius Hoste Jr. suddenly died. By means of an ingenious legal arrangement he ensured that the political heritage of his newspaper was guaranteed and the company was incorporated when he died. His heirs commissioned Albert Maertens to create a foundation specifically intended to safeguard the future political and editorial policy of the newspaper.
On 3 May 1955 the Stichting Het Laatste Nieuws (E: The Latest News Foundation) was set up. It included in its charter an explicit reference to the liberal declaration of Oxford, or Oxford Manifesto
, which offered guarantees of editorial continuity for readers and journalists even in the event of the newspaper being sold. Frans Vinck, the son-in-law of Julius Hoste Jr., headed the company; Albert Maertens helped to manage the structure of the company, and Marcel Stijns remained the head editor. A new company was created: the Uitgeverij J. Hoste NV.
When television broadcasting started in Belgium in 1954, the competitive environment became more challenging and the newspaper had to modernize its activity. The Antwerp-headquartered De Nieuwe Gazet was taken over, partially in 1957 and then completely in 1963. The foundation's business was expanded with the introduction of weekly magazines and a printing business. In order to finance the new ventures, negotiations were started with potential investors. Albert Maertens began talks with the Van Thillo family, the Flemish bankers based in Antwerp, who had shown a particular interest in Press investment.
In the 1970s and 1980s the Van Thillo family acquired more and more shares in the newspaper, but its editorial course remained in accordance with the principles articulated by the foundation. At the moment De Persgroep
is headed by Christian Van Thillo
.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
based in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was founded by Julius Hoste Sr.
Julius Hoste Sr.
Julius Hoste Sr. , was a Belgian writer and businessman. He is the father of Julius Hoste Jr..In 1888, he founded the moderate liberal Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws...
on 7 June 1888. It is now part of De Persgroep
De Persgroep
De Persgroep NV is a Flemish media company owned by the Van Thillo family. In 1978 the family obtained 60 percent of shares in the publishing company Hoste...
, and has a circulation of 292,410 copies, making it the most popular newspaper in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and Belgium.
Comics
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of classic comic books created by Belgian artist , who wrote under the pen name of Hergé...
was in the paper. Stories included Tintin in the Congo
Tintin in the Congo
Tintin in the Congo is the second title in the comicbook series The Adventures of Tintin, written and drawn by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Originally serialised in the Belgian children's newspaper supplement, Le Petit Vingtième between June 1930 and July 1931, it was first published in book form...
, Tintin in America
Tintin in America
Tintin in America is the third title in the comic book series The Adventures of Tintin, written and drawn by Belgian cartoonist Hergé...
, The Broken Ear
The Broken Ear
The Broken Ear is the sixth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero...
, The Shooting Star
The Shooting Star
The Shooting Star is the tenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip books that were written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero....
, and The Secret of the Unicorn
The Secret of the Unicorn
The Secret of the Unicorn is the eleventh title in the comic book series The Adventures of Tintin, written and illustrated by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. Designed to be the first volume in a two-part story, the plot of The Secret of the Unicorn was continued in the twelfth Tintin adventure, Red...
.
History
The liberal Julius Hoste Sr.Julius Hoste Sr.
Julius Hoste Sr. , was a Belgian writer and businessman. He is the father of Julius Hoste Jr..In 1888, he founded the moderate liberal Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws...
founded the newspaper on 7 June 1888, five days before the Belgian elections. With his newspaper he wanted to support the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Belgium)
The Liberal Party was a Belgian political party that existed from 1846 until 1961, when it became the Party for Freedom and Progress, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès or PVV-PLP, under the leadership of Omer Vanaudenhove.-History:The Liberal Party was founded...
in the upcoming elections and on the other side the Flemish movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
in Brussels, a city which was dominated by francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
bourgeois (Franskiljons). The newspaper supported the cause of the Gelijkheidswet (E: equality law between French and Flemish in Belgium), the rescue of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (KVS) (E: Royal Flemish Theatre) in Brussels and the election of the first Flemish, liberal, Ghent municipal governing board in 1907.
Its liberal character, anti-francophone stance and support for the Flemish movement were essential characteristics of the new daily, just like its anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
. In 1897, Flor Burton founded the newspaper De Nieuwe Gazet in Antwerp, with a substantially similar editorial policy.
When Julius Hoste Sr. died, his son, Julius Hoste Jr.
Julius Hoste Jr.
Julius Hoste Jr. , was a Belgian businessman and liberal politician.He went to highschool at the Koninklijk Atheneum of Brussels. In 1902 he started at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles , where he obtained a law degree in 1907. Already as a student he had become interested in the Flemish movement,...
, took over full publishing responsibility. He moderated the confrontational style favoured by his father, adopting a more temperate and formal tone. He broadened the scope of the newspaper, including more regional news, and expanded the sports section to reach an even wider public.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, Julius Hoste Jr. fled to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, although his newspaper continued publication under Nazi control. After the war he regained control but the business needed to be rebuilt. He shared day to day management with Albert Maertens and Marcel Stijns became head editor. On 1 February 1954 Julius Hoste Jr. suddenly died. By means of an ingenious legal arrangement he ensured that the political heritage of his newspaper was guaranteed and the company was incorporated when he died. His heirs commissioned Albert Maertens to create a foundation specifically intended to safeguard the future political and editorial policy of the newspaper.
On 3 May 1955 the Stichting Het Laatste Nieuws (E: The Latest News Foundation) was set up. It included in its charter an explicit reference to the liberal declaration of Oxford, or Oxford Manifesto
Oxford Manifesto
The Oxford Manifesto, drawn up in April 1947 by representatives from nineteen Liberal political parties at Wadham College in Oxford, led by Salvador de Madariaga, is a document which describes the basic political principles of the Liberal International...
, which offered guarantees of editorial continuity for readers and journalists even in the event of the newspaper being sold. Frans Vinck, the son-in-law of Julius Hoste Jr., headed the company; Albert Maertens helped to manage the structure of the company, and Marcel Stijns remained the head editor. A new company was created: the Uitgeverij J. Hoste NV.
When television broadcasting started in Belgium in 1954, the competitive environment became more challenging and the newspaper had to modernize its activity. The Antwerp-headquartered De Nieuwe Gazet was taken over, partially in 1957 and then completely in 1963. The foundation's business was expanded with the introduction of weekly magazines and a printing business. In order to finance the new ventures, negotiations were started with potential investors. Albert Maertens began talks with the Van Thillo family, the Flemish bankers based in Antwerp, who had shown a particular interest in Press investment.
In the 1970s and 1980s the Van Thillo family acquired more and more shares in the newspaper, but its editorial course remained in accordance with the principles articulated by the foundation. At the moment De Persgroep
De Persgroep
De Persgroep NV is a Flemish media company owned by the Van Thillo family. In 1978 the family obtained 60 percent of shares in the publishing company Hoste...
is headed by Christian Van Thillo
Christian Van Thillo
Christian Van Thillo is a Belgian businessman. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Aurex-De Persgroep, a leading Belgian media concern, which owns the Belgian newspapers Het Laatste Nieuws and De Morgen. De Persgroep also owns part of the Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij a Belgian commercial...
.