The Zeeland Record will begin a new era in 2025 under new ownership and editorial leadership. In an agreement that was reached in December, The Detroit Legal News Publishing Co. acquired the weekly newspaper from The Zeeland Record Company. Longtime Editor Kurtis Van Koevering, the fourth-generation member of his family to operate the paper, retired at the end of 2024, and veteran West Michigan journalist Greg Chandler has been hired as the new editor.
“While the ownership has changed, everything else is staying the same. The content will remain the same as what we have published for more than a century,” Van Koevering said. “I am confident that under new ownership and leadership, The Zeeland Record will continue to thrive as it serves the Zeeland community going forward.”
Based in Detroit and with offices throughout the state, The Detroit Legal News is the leading provider of legal information in Michigan, publishing 11 newspapers across the Lower Peninsula. It also has been a source of legal notices published in The Zeeland Record for many years.
“We are looking forward to continuing to serve the Zeeland community with the best coverage of local news of any media source in Ottawa County,” Chandler said. “The Van Koevering family has set a high standard for keeping the community informed for more than 125 years, and it is my commitment to continue that high standard as we begin a new era at The Zeeland Record.”
The Zeeland Record dates back to the late 1890s, when then-19-year-old Adrian Van Koevering opened a print shop in downtown Zeeland with the help of a $50 loan from his uncle, a banker named Jacob Den Herder. Adrian later bought out a competing newspaper for $150.
From that point on, ownership of The Record remained in the Van Koevering family until the sale to The Detroit Legal News.
In addition to serving as editor of The Zeeland Record since the early 1990s, Kurt Van Koevering has a long and distinguished record of civic service in the Zeeland community. He was a member of the city’s Planning Commission for more than three decades and has played an active role in both local business and political affairs. He currently serves as chairman of the Ottawa County Road Commission board of directors.
ZR Graphics, a graphic design and printing business that has been part of The Zeeland Record Company for the last 20 years, was not part of the sale to The Detroit Legal News. It will continue to operate as a separate business entity under the leadership of Kraig Van Koevering, Kurt’s brother, with its location at 10700 Chicago Drive, Zeeland. The phone number for the graphics division will be (616) 283-2285.
Chandler brings more than 35 years of journalism experience to his role as editor of The Record. He spent eight years as news director at WHTC-AM in Holland and still calls local high school and Hope College football and basketball games on the radio station. He also covered Zeeland as a correspondent for The Grand Rapids Press for 17 years from 1998 to 2015 and was the publicist for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 2008-15.
Chandler comes to Zeeland from View Newspaper Group West in Hastings, where he wrote for The Hastings Banner, Barry County Reminder, and The Middleville-Caledonia Sun and News. An alumnus of Central Michigan University, Chandler holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast and cinematic arts from CMU, a master’s in mass communication from Miami (Ohio) University, and a master’s in business administration from Grand Valley State University.
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