# one. Amazon comes to the Netherlands
Yes, it is (finally?) So far: Amazon today launched a .com version of its website. It will sell as e-books and Kindle e-readers, in three variants. Initially, the Dutch consumer more than 20,000 Dutch titles presented, plus another three million books in other languages. The e-readers from Amazon were all purchased from the foreign sites of the company, as well as foreign-language e-books, but it is the first time that Amazon is as concrete and direct focus on the Dutch market.
According to Jorrit van der Meulen, vice president of Kindle at Amazon Europe, the company comes to the Netherlands because the time is ripe. “We have hundreds of thousands of existing Kindle customers in the Netherlands and we have deals with all major publishers. If you combine those two pieces, you have a good offer for customers. ” Van der Meulen would not say how many Kindle customers are exactly in the Netherlands. However, he says that it is Dutch who bought at least one e-book at the Internet company, e-reader or one of the Kindle apps.
# 2. Does Amazon for the full 100% to the Netherlands
No, actually getting Netherlands – initially – a stripped down version of Amazon presented. Who wants to buy an physical book, must be completed to a foreign Amazon sites. It just is easier to launch a digital service than a physical, says Van der Meulen. “What we are launching for the Dutch market, is a Kindle store, with all services around it. That’s where we want him ready. “
About any other launches in the near future (the foreign flopped Fire Phone for example) make any statements. Well Amazon launches simultaneously with e-readers and e-books Dutch architecture Kindle Direct Publishing, where publishers and authors to publish books in exchange for “up to 70 percent of the royalties. Amazon says thousands of Dutch writers use the platform.
# 3. Which e-book Amazon will sell in the Netherlands?
Amazon stressed that all “major” publishers in the Netherlands to participate in the sale of e-books through Amazon.nl. Publisher Marble apparently not part of that group: the company said last week against the NIS that it does not agree with the terms of Amazon – which later bit more in this article. Among the publishers who have signed a contract with Amazon are famous names like WPG Uitgevers, Prometheus, Anthos and Dutch Media. The terms of the contracts vary.
In conversation with Management Team tells Ezequiel szafir, vice president of Kindle Content at Amazon Europe, which is about 4 to 5 months ago started negotiations . “It went very fast. All major publishers are on board, also we have many, but managed to bind. “Not all, small and medium-sized Dutch publishers to us According to the company’s local content is very important. “We see this in other countries where we compete,” said Van der Meulen.
# 4. What does an e-book at Amazon?
In America fights Amazon all times with publisher Hachette about the prices of e-books, but according szafir has not made the talks with Dutch publishers complicated. “When it comes to real business , people do not make decisions based on what they read here or there. They go with you to talk about the conditions that you ask and if they are good, they. ‘Signs Szafir says that Amazon wants to close more contracts with publishers, as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (pictured below), the ultimate goal is that each book (any book) is available within 60 seconds. Amazon denies that the maximum price on e-books enforces by Dutch publishers such as lawyer Hans Bousie recently claimed. Van der Meulen and szafir responded as follows to questions on this issue:
MT: What is the price of an e-book on Amazon.nl
Van der Meulen: “That determination publishers and writers themselves.”
You have no maximum price fixed
? Van der Meulen, “No.”
It is claimed in the market
Van der Meulen. “We talk with customers all over the world and they all say that a digital book should cost less than a comparable physical book. That we see and that publishers see too. We have had many conversations about it, but at the end of the day, in most cases, they note. ‘Price
It is possible that the price of an ebook higher then, the price of a physical book
szafir: “You will see that many e-books cost less than 5 euros, because that’s the way Dutch publishers to watch the market ‘
Van der Meulen’. But to answer your question: yes, you can. They probably will not sell many ebooks in that case, but it is possible to allocate the price.
You have no requirement laid down in contracts that an e-book should not cost more physical than the cheapest version of a similar book
Van der Meulen: “We do not talk about the specific negotiations. That’s what I got here. “Continued on to say
A look at the more distant future than. Will there ever be a Spotify-like subscription e-books in the Netherlands
Van der Meulen: “We have recently in America, England, Germany, Italy and Spain but we are still in an early stage. Ask five years again. I do not want to speculate on such matters. It is important for our competitors to consumers, hence. “
# 5. What is the marketing strategy in the Netherlands?
Step 1 of the marketing strategy of Amazon in the Netherlands free publicity . Please see Exhibit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and, of course, also belongs to this article, this summary. Amazon invited the Dutch press from under embargo: the only thing that was announced was that it was a briefing of the company, even at the time the embargo ended was initially an embargo. In vain the way, as some newspapers broke the embargo last night, shortly before the launch.
Step 2 is the existing Amazon customers informed; for example, the hundreds of thousands who e-book for Kindle’ve already bought . Van der Meulen, “All our Dutch customers receive a notification that they can convert their account to a .com version. We will not introduce any major advertising or television campaigns initially. Why not? I do not think we have that is currently required.
# 6. Ok, but how many chances does Amazon?
Whether Amazon can break pots on the Dutch market, depends on who you ask. Even the company obviously thinks so. In the words of Van der Meulen: “We are very excited about the growth opportunities in the Netherlands. We see that more is read in every country where we launch Kindle, I expect it will not be here otherwise. “
The company is the largest competitor before him Bol.com, itself facing NOW. nl says it is responsible for 60 percent of the Dutch e-book sales. Director Daniel Ropers already throws some oil on the fire: “The question is whether a new foreign entrant for Dutch can still add a lot.” Knowing how you can win from Amazon? Read the tips for effective preparation
More on Amazon:.
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Goodreads is a social network where you can keep track of how far you are in a book. Do you have a book once read, you can leave a review. The service was acquired in March 2013 by Amazon. 
