Coolblue was founded in Rotterdam in 1999 by students Pieter Zwart, Paul de Jong and Bart Kuijpers, starting as an online shop for MP3 players called MP3man.nl. It expanded its website and deliveries to Belgium in 2004 and opened its first physical stores in 2008. In 2016 it launched its own delivery and installation service, CoolblueDelivers, and in 2020 it entered Germany. Coolblue prepared a listing on Euronext Amsterdam in October 2021 but postponed it, and it remains privately held.
Coolblue Holding B.V. is a private Dutch company owned by Mondhoekie B.V. Mondhoekie is held by founder and CEO Pieter Zwart through his company Sourire B.V., by HAL Investments, and by managers and employees. HAL Holding N.V., the Rotterdam-based investment company of HAL Trust (listed on Euronext Amsterdam), reported a 56.36% interest in Coolblue at the end of June 2025. HAL and Zwart share control under a governance agreement. More than 1,100 employees also hold depositary receipts for shares. Many products Coolblue sells are made in China, but that does not affect who owns the retailer.
Coolblue shows no evidence of Chinese ownership. It is privately owned and jointly controlled by Dutch investment company HAL and founder Pieter Zwart, with the remaining shares held by managers and employees. Where its products are made does not determine who owns the retailer.
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