Ilse media acquires Web-Log.nl from its founder and manager Joris Leermakers as of 1 July 2004. Web-Log.nl is the biggest weblog site in the Netherlands with more than 40,000 users. Mr. Leermakers will become a full-time employee of Ilse Media, working on the further development Web-Log.nl.
For Ilse media, the acquisition of Web-Log.nl fits perfectly into plans to expand its activities. "We see weblogging as a popular activity which is still in the early stages of its full potential," says General Manager Paul Molenaar. "The 'digital lifestyle' is taking off amongst consumers, with memories in the form of photographs, videos, messages and the like being stored in a place like a weblog."
It is expected that weblogging is going to grow enormously, combined with the storage and publication of photographs, personal documents and so on. With more than 16 million page views during the past month alone, and strong growth rates, the service's popularity has been increasing rapidly.
Ilse Media Group is the leading online publisher in the Netherlands and part of SanomaWSOY's magazine division, Sanoma Magazines B.V.