**Exhibit 12.1**

 

**CERTIFICATIONOF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 302OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

 

I, FransH.J. Koffrie, certify that:

 

1.          I havereviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Buhrmann NV (the “registrant”);

 

2.          Based on myknowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of amaterial fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statementsmade, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, notmisleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

3.          Based on myknowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information includedin this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financialcondition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, andfor, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

4.          Theregistrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishingand maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange ActRules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

a.                    Designed such disclosure controls andprocedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designedunder our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to theregistrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us byothers within those entities, particularly during the period in which thisannual report is being prepared;

 

b.                   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’sdisclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report ourconclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures,as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on suchevaluation; and

 

c.                    Disclosed in this annual report any change inthe registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred duringthe period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or isreasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control overfinancial reporting; and

 

5.          Theregistrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our mostrecent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to theregistrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board ofdirectors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a.                    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the designor operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonablylikely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process,summarize and report financial information; and

 

b.                   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management orother employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internalcontrol over financial reporting.

 

 

Dated: March 11, 2005

 
| /s/ Frans H.J. Koffrie |   |
|------------------------|--------|

 

Frans H.J. Koffrie

Chief Executive Officer

 

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###### **CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER**

**PURSUANT TO SECTION 302OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

 

I,Floris F. Waller, certify that:

 

1.          I havereviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Buhrmann NV (the “registrant”);

 

2.          Based on myknowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of amaterial fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statementsmade, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, notmisleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

3.          Based on myknowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information includedin this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financialcondition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, andfor, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

4.          Theregistrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishingand maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange ActRules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

c.                    Designed such disclosure controls andprocedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designedunder our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to theregistrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us byothers within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annualreport is being prepared;

 

d.                   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’sdisclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report ourconclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures,as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on suchevaluation; and

 

c.                    Disclosed in this annual report any change inthe registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred duringthe period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or isreasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control overfinancial reporting; and

 

5.          Theregistrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our mostrecent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to theregistrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board ofdirectors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a.                    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the designor operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonablylikely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process,summarize and report financial information; and

 

b.                   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management orother employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internalcontrol over financial reporting.

 

Dated: March 11, 2005

 
| /s/ Floris F. Waller |   |
|----------------------|--------|

 

Floris F. Waller

Chief Financial Officer

 

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