A. den Doolaard
Encyclopedia
A. den Doolaard is the pseudonym
of the Dutch writer
and journalist
Cornelis Johannes George (Bob) Spoelstra Jr.
Den Doolaard went to high school in The Hague
. After the death of his father he worked as an accountant with the Batavian Petroleum Company (from 1920 to 1928). In 1926 he made his debut with a collection of poems. In 1928 he terminated his job and started a number of wanderings through the Balkans
and France, where he had several jobs such as mason, grape picker, farm worker and longshoreman. He incorporated the experiences gained during his wanderings in novels and newspaper articles.
Very early, den Doolaard warned against the rising fascism
. When the German
army invaded the Netherlands in 1940, he and his wife fled to the south. They eventually succeeded in reaching England, after spending nearly a year in France.
After the Second World War
, den Doolaard returned to the Netherlands. From 1954 he lived in Hoenderloo.
. For decades Dutch are among the most numerous tourists in Macedonia, and this leads to a wide cooperation between Macedonia and The Netherlands in different fields. Therefore, Macedonians express a great respect for the Dutch writer.
In 2006, in the Macedonian town of Ohrid
was erected a monument in honor of A. den Doolaard, and in 2011, a memorial room opened with an exhibition of books and documents explaining the life and work of the author. The exhibition was organized by the Macedonian writer and photographer Мisho Yuzmeski
, who also has published articles on the meaning of den Doolaard for the development of the Dutch-Macedonian relations.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of the Dutch writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Cornelis Johannes George (Bob) Spoelstra Jr.
Den Doolaard went to high school in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. After the death of his father he worked as an accountant with the Batavian Petroleum Company (from 1920 to 1928). In 1926 he made his debut with a collection of poems. In 1928 he terminated his job and started a number of wanderings through the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and France, where he had several jobs such as mason, grape picker, farm worker and longshoreman. He incorporated the experiences gained during his wanderings in novels and newspaper articles.
Very early, den Doolaard warned against the rising fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
. When the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army invaded the Netherlands in 1940, he and his wife fled to the south. They eventually succeeded in reaching England, after spending nearly a year in France.
After the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, den Doolaard returned to the Netherlands. From 1954 he lived in Hoenderloo.
A. den Doolaard in Macedonia
With the publication of his novels "Oriënt-Express" in 1934 and “The Wedding of the Seven Gypsies” in 1939, den Doolaard generated an extraordinary interest in MacedoniaRepublic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. For decades Dutch are among the most numerous tourists in Macedonia, and this leads to a wide cooperation between Macedonia and The Netherlands in different fields. Therefore, Macedonians express a great respect for the Dutch writer.
In 2006, in the Macedonian town of Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
was erected a monument in honor of A. den Doolaard, and in 2011, a memorial room opened with an exhibition of books and documents explaining the life and work of the author. The exhibition was organized by the Macedonian writer and photographer Мisho Yuzmeski
Мisho Yuzmeski
Misho Yuzmeski , is a Macedonian writer, publisher and photographer.Misho Yuzmeski worked as a guide, travel agent and interpreter...
, who also has published articles on the meaning of den Doolaard for the development of the Dutch-Macedonian relations.
Prices
- 1934 - Meiprijs for the novel "De herberg met het hoefijzer" (The Inn with the Horseshoe)
- 1980 - Edo Bergsma - ANWB Award for lifetime achievement