{"id":35678,"date":"2019-05-06T10:58:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T08:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/do-i-need-an-isbn\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T11:47:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T09:47:33","slug":"do-i-need-an-isbn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/knowledge-base\/do-i-need-an-isbn\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I need an ISBN?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You have your book almost finished and want to <a href=\"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/begrippen\/#uitgevenineigenbeheer\">self-publish<\/a>. In the final stages of completing your book, the topic of the \u201cISBN number\u201d likely comes up frequently. But what is it actually necessary for, how do you get your own ISBN, and does it really add value to your book? We would be happy to guide you through the world of ISBN numbers!   <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<!--more-->\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading h6\">What is an ISBN?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not as complicated as it might sound. ISBN literally stands for: International Standard Book Number. It is a unique series of 13 digits that serves as a kind of passport for your book. This number makes your book recognizable in the book industry and makes it findable and\/or orderable for bookstores, libraries, department stores, and other providers. Additionally, your book is easier to find on the internet. If you ask us whether an ISBN number adds value to your book, we always say a resounding: YES!     <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading h6\">What do all those numbers actually stand for?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many writers, the numbers in an ISBN might as well be Greek, because what exactly they stand for is often unknown. So what do these numbers actually mean? Well, the number is structured as follows:  <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>EAN standard (978)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Country code (90 or 94 for the Dutch-speaking area)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publisher designation or prefix<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Title designation\/book number<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check digit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Publishing is an unregulated profession in the Netherlands, so anyone can register as such. Are you self-publishing your book? Then you are the publisher yourself! Pretty cool, right? Come up with a name you want to register as a publisher. You will receive a publisher number or prefix after registration.     <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/isbn-nummers.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/isbn-nummers.jpg 720w, https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/isbn-nummers-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/isbn-nummers-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading h6\">How do I request this number?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to sell your book in bookstores or via an online platform (Bol.com), you need an ISBN. Your books are then ordered by these parties via the CB (Centraal Boekhuis). The stock of your books is stored there. For a fee, they take care of all logistical matters such as shipping, invoicing, royalties, etc.   <br\/><br\/>You now have 2 options:<br\/>1. You apply for your ISBN yourself<br\/>2. Bookadew applies for an ISBN for you<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Request an ISBN yourself<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you wish to be associated with your book as the \u2018publisher\u2019 yourself, you must apply for an ISBN yourself. After all, the \u2018PUBLISHER\u2019 can be found in every unique ISBN when the code is scanned. <br\/><br\/>As a PUBLISHER, you are responsible for:<br\/>&#8211; content and editing<br\/>&#8211; design and production<br\/>&#8211; business and legal aspects<br\/>&#8211; distribution of your book<br\/>&#8211; marketing and promotion<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to apply for an ISBN yourself?<br\/>1. Go to isbn.nl and register as a publisher\/applicant. (Check in advance whether the name for your publishing house already exists. It can also be your own name.) You do not need a Chamber of Commerce number to do this.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Choose your ISBN package (1 ISBN = 109.- excl. 21% VAT or 10 ISBNs = 297.- excl. 21% VAT). <br\/>&#8211; Single ISBN: suitable if you want to publish one book.<br\/>&#8211; Series of 10: Publisher prefix: handy if you want to release or reprint multiple books. With a prefix, you can create new ISBNs each time under your own publisher name. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Enter all book details. Remember title, author, language, format (hardcover, softcover), and target audience (NUR code). <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4. Complete the payment<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">5. You will receive your ISBN number digitally via email, and it will then appear in your account.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">6. Include the ISBN in your book&#8217;s colophon. If you want to sell it in bookstores or on bol.com, ensure that a barcode (EAN code) is also printed correctly on the back of the cover.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bookadew handles ISBN<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bookadew can also register your book and apply for an ISBN for you. In that case, Bookadew automatically becomes the \u2018PUBLISHER\u2019 of your book. However, we do not publish your book to the CB or other parties. You must always arrange this yourself. If a bookstore enters the ISBN, they will be directed to Bookadew and not to you. Bookadew will then forward the inquiries\/requests to you.     <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Selling through bookstores<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to sell the books through bookstores, make sure to coordinate this with Centraal Boekhuis.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You WILL now need to be registered with the Chamber of Commerce. After all, you are going to generate income. You will also agree on the price you want for your book with them, among other things. Keep in mind that you will spend approximately 42% of your selling price on CB+ bookstores. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cb.nl\/media\/uitgever\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a> for more information about the CB.    <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Selling through your own channels<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you prefer to handle sales through a local bookstore or stores rather than the CB? Then you use \u2018consignment\u2019. In this arrangement, you agree with the bookstore on the percentage they receive when a book is sold. Usually, in this form, they keep a small quantity of your books in stock. Anything that is not sold is returned to you. This way, there is no risk for the bookstore.     <br\/><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You have your book almost finished and want to self-publish. In the final stages of completing your book, the topic of the \u201cISBN number\u201d likely comes up frequently. But what is it actually necessary for, how do you get your own ISBN, and does it really add value to your book? We would be happy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-knowledge-base","category-marketing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35678"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35679,"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35678\/revisions\/35679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.bookadew.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}