Connecting the dots since 1911.

A long history with many milestones.

Since Keesing was founded in 1911 by Amsterdam-based journalist Isaäc Keesing, we have grown into the global market leader in print, online, and app puzzle formats. After he became successful with his financial archives, Keesing launched his own publishing house in 1916.

When Isaäc Keesing introduced Denksport, the first puzzle magazine in the Dutch market, it set off a new puzzle-playing craze and the brand quickly became a household name.

After 1945 Keesing expanded by publishing puzzle magazines in different languages. Keesing France, established in 1955, has been especially successful with its brand Sport Cérébral.

Our unmatched enthusiasm and expertise have helped Keesing become the world’s largest publisher of puzzles and braintainment games. And the story continues. Our ambition is to bring Braintainment to everyone, so we keep expanding and developing puzzle magazines all over the globe. And just as importantly, we keep moving into more markets in print and digital format.

Keesing Timeline.

Krysskungen
Acquiring the puzzle magazine portfolio of Krysskungen in Sweden
2024
Infopress
The acquisition of Infopress Group in Romania
2023
CoolGames, Dutchbook, Synonymer.se and Onni Kustannus Oy
Expanding our portfolio with the acquisition of CoolGames and Dutchbook in the Netherlands, Synonymer.se in Sweden and Onni Kustannus in Finland.
2023
Kappa Publishing and Kappa Books
Expanding our global footprint with the acquisition of Kappa Publishing and Kappa Books in the United States. Followed by the acquisition of RCI Jeux (France) and Sudoku SRL (Italy).
2022
Ediciones Pleyades and Küng Verlag
Acquisition of Ediciones Pleyades (Spain) and of Küng Verlag (Switzerland).
2021
New shareholder: BC Partners
Shares of Ergon Capital (Apheon) and Mediahuis are acquired by BC Partners
2021
Dohi and PRS
Acquisition of Dohi (Sweden) and majority stake in the puzzle activities of PRS (Italy).
2020
Aller, PIB, Bastei Lübbe
Acquisition of PIB Features (Denmark), the puzzles activities of Aller media (Sweden), and the PMV portfolio of Bastei Lübbe (Germany).
2019
Sanders, Bonnier and Elevate
Acquisition of Sanders, the puzzle activities of Bonnier and a minority stake in Elevate Labs leading braintraining app.
2018
Ergon Capital
MBO Keesing Media Group backed by Ergon Capital.
2017
Megastar
The acquisition of Megastar in France, making us market leader.
2012
TMG
TMG acquires Keesing
2006
NPM Capital
NPM Capital acquired a 100% share in Keesing.
2004
Sudoku
Sudoku was invented.
1984
Keesing goes international
Keesing starts with publishing puzzle magazines in different languages.
1945
Keesing is founded
Isaäc Keesing founds Systems Keesing (archive economic & financial information.
1911