Libelle (Belgian magazine)

Libelle was started as a spin-off of the Dutch magazine with the same name in 1938.^[1] The parent brand of Libelle is published in the Netherlands.^[2] Each magazine has an independent editorial board.^[2]

Mediaxis sold both Libelle and its sister publication Femmes d'Aujourd'hui to the Finnish media company Sanoma in 2001.^[3] Then Libelle was published by Sanoma Magazines Belgium on a weekly basis.^[4][5][6] The Roularta Media Group acquired Libelle, Femmes d'Aujourd'hui and other women's title Gael in June 2018.^[3][7]

Libelle was the first Flemish women's magazine.^[8][9] It was also the first Belgian women's magazine, which did not heavily cover romantic serial novels.^[8] The publication of the magazine stopped during World War II, and it was relaunched as a weekly in November 1945.^[1][10][11] Libelle offers articles about home, recipes and fashion.^[4] The magazine had its headquarters in Antwerp^[10] before moving to Mechelen.^[11]

In 1970 Libelle merged with another Flemish women's magazine, Rosita.^[1][8] The magazine has had a conservative stance since then.^[1] In 1990 it merged with another magazine, Het Rijk der Vrouw.^[1][8] Libelle has its own clothing collection which is sold in cooperating stores.^[1] In 2004 the website of the magazine was started.^[1]

Libelle is the recipient of the 2003 Zorra Public Award for its woman-friendly commercial.^[9] The magazine also awarded the 2004 silver EFFIE prize.^[9]

In 2000 Libelle sold 214,700 copies.^[12] During the period of 2006-2007 it was the best-selling women's magazine in Belgium selling 267,000 copies.^[13] The circulation of the magazine was 226,161 copies in 2010 and 223,476 copies in 2011.^[14] It fell to 214,333 copies in 2012^[14] and to 212,251 copies in 2013.^[15]

• List of magazines in Belgium

• Official website
• Media related to Libelle (Belgian magazine) at Wikimedia Commons