Het Laatste Nieuws
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| Type | Daily |
| Format | Broadsheet |
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| Owner | De Persgroep |
| Editor | Luc Van Der Kelen |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Headquarters | Brusselsesteenweg 347 Kobbegem B-1730 |
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| Website: www.hln.be | |
Het Laatste Nieuws (in English The Latest News) is a Dutch language newspaper based in Brussels, Belgium, which 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.
[edit] Comics
During World War II, 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.
[edit] History
The liberal Julius Hoste Sr. founded the newspaper on 7 June 1888, five days for 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 the support for Flemish movement are some characteristics of the new daily, just like its anti-clericalism. In 1897, Flor Burton founds the newspaper De Nieuwe Gazet in Antwerp, with about the same editorial policy.
When Julius Hoste Sr. dies, his son, Julius Hoste Jr., takes over full responsibility. He moderates the confrontational style of his father by a more moderate, more academic style. He expands the scope of the newspaper towards more regional news and also a widened the sports section, to reach an even broader public.
When World War II broke out, Julius Hoste Jr. fled to the United Kingdom, although his newspaper continues its publication under Nazi control, but after the war he regains control but the business needs to be rebuilt. He shares day to day management with Albert Maertens, and Marcel Stijns becomes head editor. On 1 February 1954 Julius Hoste Jr. suddenly dies. By means of an ingenious legal construction he ensured that the political line of its newspaper was guaranteed and the company was incorporated when he died. His heirs commissioned Albert Maertens to create a foundation in order to safeguard the political line of the newspaper in the future.
On 3 May 1955 arises the Stichting Het Laatste Nieuws (E: Foundation The Latest News) with in its charter an explicit reference to the liberal declaration of Oxford, or Oxford Manifesto, which means a guarantee for the readers and the journalists even when the newspaper would be sold. Frans Vinck, son-in-law of Julius Hosts Jr., heads the company, Albert Maertens helps to manage the structure of the company, and Marcel Stijns remains the head editor. A new company is created: the Uitgeverij J. Hoste nv.
When television starts in Belgium in 1954, this means increased competition and the newpaper modernizes its business. The Antwerp De Nieuwe Gazet is taken over partially in 1957 and completely in 1963. The business is expanded with weekly magazines and a printing business. In order to finance the investments negotiations with potential investors are started. Albert Maertens starts talks with the Flemish-national Antwerp banker family Van Thillo, which shows an interest in investing in press.
In the seventies and eighties the Van Thillo family acquires more and more shares of the newspaper, but its editorial course remains in accordance with the principles put forth by the foundation. At the moment De Persgroep is headed by Christian Van Thillo.
[edit] External links
| The Belgian newspapers | |
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| Dutch: De Morgen | De Standaard | De Tijd | Gazet van Antwerpen | Het Belang van Limburg | Het Laatste Nieuws | Het Nieuwsblad | Het Volk | |
| French: L'Echo | La Capitale | La Dernière Heure | La Libre Belgique | Le Soir | Vers L'Avenir | |
| German: Grenz-Echo | |
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