Gyldendal

Gyldendal, formally known as Gyldendalske Boghandel, Nordisk Forlag A/S, is a Danish publishing house founded in 1770 by Søren Gyldendal. It is commonly referred to simply as Gyldendal and is regarded as Denmark's oldest and largest publishing house. Its business has historically centered on the acquisition, editing, production, distribution, and sale of books and related intellectual content. The company's publishing scope includes literary fiction, non-fiction, dictionaries, educational materials, and encyclopedic reference works. Its publishing list has included both Danish and translated literature, as well as works intended for schools, students, professionals, and general readers. The company has also operated through a number of publishing imprints and subsidiaries, including Rosinante, Høst & Søn, Samlerens Forlag, Forlaget Forum, Forlaget Fremad, Hans Reitzels Forlag, Munksgaard, Academica, Systime, Exlibris, and Gyldendals Bogklubber. Gyldendal also has an important historical connection with Norwegian publishing. Before 1925, the company was a leading publisher in Norway and published the complete works of Henrik Ibsen. In 1925, Gyldendal Norsk Forlag was established as a separate Norwegian publishing house after acquiring rights to Norwegian authors from Gyldendal. This marked a formal separation of the Norwegian publishing operation while preserving the Gyldendal name in Norway. Reference publishing became a significant part of Gyldendal's modern activities. The company published a printed encyclopedia, Den Store Danske Encyklopædi, but discontinued its print edition in 2006. It subsequently developed the work as an online encyclopedia supported first by paid subscriptions. In 2008, the company determined that a different operating model was needed for the online service, and in February 2009 it shifted to a subscription-free, advertising-supported model. The online encyclopedia was closed in 2017, and its contents were incorporated into Lex in 2020. Gyldendal is a publicly traded Danish company whose shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen in two share classes, identified as GYLD A and GYLD B. The company therefore combines a long-established editorial and literary identity with a corporate structure that includes multiple specialist publishing businesses. Its historical importance rests on its longevity, its role in Danish literary and educational culture, its earlier Scandinavian reach, and its continuing association with books, reference publishing, and learning materials.

Gyldendal was founded in Denmark in 1770 by bookseller Søren Gyldendal. The company developed into one of the country's central publishing institutions and is generally described as Denmark's oldest and largest publishing house. Its name derives from the founder and has remained associated with a broad publishing program rather than a single genre or format. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Gyldendal expanded its importance beyond the Danish market. Before 1925, it was also a leading publisher in Norway. Among the most notable parts of this Scandinavian role was the publication of the complete works of Henrik Ibsen. The Norwegian publishing relationship changed in 1925, when Gyldendal Norsk Forlag was founded after purchasing rights to Norwegian authors from Gyldendal. The creation of the Norwegian company separated the Norwegian publishing business while retaining the Gyldendal name for a distinct Norwegian publishing house. In Denmark, Gyldendal's activities came to encompass literary publishing, general non-fiction, educational and academic works, dictionaries, and reference publishing. Over time, the company built or operated a portfolio of specialist publishing businesses and imprints. These included Rosinante, Høst & Søn, Samlerens Forlag, Forlaget Forum, Forlaget Fremad, Hans Reitzels Forlag, Munksgaard, Academica, Systime, Exlibris, and Gyldendals Bogklubber. The portfolio reflects the breadth of the Danish book market, ranging from trade literature and children's books to education and professional material. Reference publishing became especially visible through Den Store Danske Encyklopædi. Gyldendal discontinued the printed version in 2006 and concentrated on an online edition. The initial online approach relied on paid subscriptions. By 2008, the company had concluded that a different model was required to support the site, and in February 2009 it changed to a subscription-free service financed through advertising. This transition reflected the broader challenge of maintaining authoritative reference publishing on the internet while finding a sustainable business model. The online encyclopedia was eventually closed in 2017. Its contents were later incorporated into Lex in 2020, preserving the material in another online encyclopedia rather than continuing the earlier service in its original form. Gyldendal operates as a public company. Its shares are traded on Nasdaq Copenhagen in two classes, GYLD A and GYLD B. The combination of a centuries-old publishing identity, multiple specialist businesses, and publicly traded ownership distinguishes Gyldendal within Denmark's media and publishing sector. Its historical role has included shaping access to Danish literature, educational knowledge, dictionaries, and reference content, while its digital encyclopedia experience illustrates the company's adaptation to changing methods of producing and distributing information.

• 2020

  Encyclopedia content moves to Lex

  [1]Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org

  The former encyclopedia's content was incorporated into Lex, another online encyclopedia.

• 2017

  Online encyclopedia closes

  [1]Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org

  Gyldendal's online encyclopedia was closed.

• 2009

  Online encyclopedia adopts advertising support

  [1]Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org

  The online encyclopedia moved from a paid-subscription approach to a subscription-free model supported by advertising.

• 2006

  Printed encyclopedia publishing ends

  [1]Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org

  Gyldendal stopped publishing the printed version of Den Store Danske Encyklopædi and focused on its online continuation.

• 1925

  Gyldendal Norsk Forlag is established

  [1]Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org

  A separate Norwegian publishing house, Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, was founded after acquiring rights to Norwegian authors from Gyldendal.

• 1770

  Gyldendal is founded

  [1]Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org

  Søren Gyldendal founded the publishing business in Denmark. It later became known as Gyldendalske Boghandel, Nordisk Forlag and commonly as Gyldendal.

A long-established Danish publishing house with broad coverage across literature, education, reference works, and general-interest books. Gyldendal's positioning combines cultural heritage and editorial authority with specialist imprints and digital publishing initiatives.

• Encyclopedia

  Den Store Danske Encyklopædi

  Gyldendal's major Danish encyclopedia project was published in print before the company discontinued the printed edition in 2006. It was then developed as an online reference service, initially using paid subscriptions and later adopting a subscription-free, advertising-supported model in 2009. The online service closed in 2017, while its contents were incorporated into Lex in 2020.

• Trade books

  Fiction publishing

  Gyldendal publishes fiction as part of its general trade publishing program. The category forms part of the company's long-standing literary role in Denmark and sits alongside its non-fiction, educational, dictionary, and reference activities.

• Trade books

  Non-fiction publishing

  The company's non-fiction list covers general-interest books and other factual publications. It is one of the principal categories in Gyldendal's broad publishing portfolio, which serves general readers as well as educational and professional audiences.

• Reference publishing

  Dictionaries and reference works

  Gyldendal has published dictionaries and other reference works in addition to its encyclopedia activities. These products extend the brand beyond conventional trade books and support its association with authoritative language and knowledge resources.

• Educational publishing

  Educational and academic publishing

  Gyldendal's educational portfolio includes school, student, academic, and professional publishing. Specialist businesses associated with the group include Systime, Hans Reitzels Forlag, Munksgaard, and Academica, reflecting activity across learning and professional fields.

• 2017

  Close the online encyclopediaStrategy

  Background

  Gyldendal's digital encyclopedia had already undergone changes from subscription access to an advertising-supported model.

  Action taken

  The company closed the online encyclopedia.

  Aftermath

  The encyclopedia's contents were later incorporated into Lex in 2020.

  Source

• 2009

  Adopt an advertising-supported online encyclopedia modelStrategy

  Background

  By 2008, Gyldendal had determined that the existing approach to supporting its online encyclopedia needed to change.

  Action taken

  In February 2009, the online encyclopedia became available without subscription fees and used advertising as its support model.

  Aftermath

  The service continued online until it was closed in 2017, after which its content was incorporated into Lex in 2020.

  Source

• 2006

  End printed encyclopedia productionStrategy

  Background

  Gyldendal had published a printed edition of Den Store Danske Encyklopædi but was moving toward digital distribution of reference content.

  Action taken

  The company stopped the print version and concentrated on an online encyclopedia.

  Aftermath

  The online service subsequently operated under paid-subscription and advertising-supported models before closing in 2017.

  Source

1. 1Gyldendalen.wikipedia.org