Xin Ou
Research expert covering Greater China
Coolblue - statistics and facts
1999 was a landmark year for e-commerce in the Netherlands. Long before most households had their own internet connection, two Dutch start-ups saw potential in this new digital sphere and managed to stay afloat during the dot-com crash. Fast forward to 2024, and Bol.com and Coolblue are the two leading e-commerce players in the Netherlands and Belgium. Whereas the former company started out as an online bookstore and transformed into an Amazon-esque generalist online marketplace, Coolblue has been an electronics e-tailer from the start. This wealth of e-commerce experience has allowed the company to stay at the top of the electronics e-commerce market, fending off noteworthy foreign and domestic competitors. As of 2024, Coolblue is ready to spread its wings, starting with a major expansion into the German online market.
