Jan Blokker
Encyclopedia
Jan Andries Blokker, Sr. (May 27, 1927 – July 6, 2010) was a Dutch
journalist
, columnist
, publicist
, writer, and amateur historian
. In The Netherlands, Blokker was best known for his columns in De Volkskrant
, which he wrote between 1968 and 2006.
in Amsterdam
, grew up in a secular liberal family. His father was office clerk. At the age of seven, he and his father weekly visited the Cineac theatre for the Polygoon newsreel
.
Blokker went to the HBS
on the Keizersgracht. In 1944, after getting his gymnasium
-alpha
diploma, he went on to study Neerlandistiek
and History
. He never completed them.
In 1950, Blokker made his debut as a novelist with the novelle Séjour, for which he won the Reina Prinsen Geerligs award. Two more novels followed, Bij dag en ontij (1952) and Parijs, dode stad (1954). In 1952, Blokker became student reporter for the Dutch newspaper Het Parool
. After a while, Simon Carmiggelt
asked him to write film reviews. In 1954 he became film critic at Algemeen Handelsblad
. At the art section of the news paper, he met important Dutch writers like Henk Hofland
and Harry Mulisch
.
Blokker was also a screenwriter, who wrote the scripts for films like Fanfare
by Bert Haanstra
(1958) and Makkers staakt uw wild geraas
by Fons Rademakers (1960). He was also one of the people behind the satirical VARA
TV-program Zo is het toevallig ook nog eens een keer (1963–1964). At another broadcasting organisation, VPRO
, he became editor in chief. He was partly responsible for the revolutionary course that organisation took. He also provided VPRO's documentaries with commentary.
From 1968 on, he worked for De Volkskrant
as a columnist. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was seen as the voice of the intellectual left, specialized in satirical pieces about politics, current affairs and whatever was fashionable with the left-wing readers of the newspaper. Between 1978 and 1983, he was adjunct editor in chief at the newspaper. He wrote the column until 2006, when a conflict forced him to leave the newspaper. He continued his column for nrc.next
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
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...
, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
, writer, and amateur historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. In The Netherlands, Blokker was best known for his columns in De Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
, which he wrote between 1968 and 2006.
Biography
Blokker, born in the AdmiralenbuurtAdmiralenbuurt
Admiralenbuurt is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was constructed in the 1920s. The neighborhood is bisected by the Admiralengracht. In the 1990s it was part of the district of De Baajes.-References:...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, grew up in a secular liberal family. His father was office clerk. At the age of seven, he and his father weekly visited the Cineac theatre for the Polygoon newsreel
Polygoon (newsreel)
The Dutch Polygoon-Profilti was a well known cinema newsreel company in the Netherlands from 1919 to 1987. It started with weekly news items in the Dutch movie theaters and lasted until 1987 when it finally surrendered to television news journals, the NOS Journaal being the most popular.The company...
.
Blokker went to the HBS
Hogere burgerschool
The Hogere burgerschool or HBS was a secondary school type in the Netherlands, existing between 1863 and 1974. The school, with a five or sometimes six year program, was continued in 1968 as havo and vwo. The last hbs diplomas were given out in 1974.-External links:*...
on the Keizersgracht. In 1944, after getting his gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
-alpha
Geisteswissenschaft
Geisteswissenschaft is a traditional division of faculty in German universities that included subjects such as Philosophy, History, Philology, social sciences, sometimes even Theology, and Jurisprudence...
diploma, he went on to study Neerlandistiek
Dutch studies
Dutch studies may refer to:* the academic study of Dutch culture and language * Japanese Rangaku...
and History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He never completed them.
In 1950, Blokker made his debut as a novelist with the novelle Séjour, for which he won the Reina Prinsen Geerligs award. Two more novels followed, Bij dag en ontij (1952) and Parijs, dode stad (1954). In 1952, Blokker became student reporter for the Dutch newspaper Het Parool
Het Parool
Het Parool is an Amsterdam-based daily newspaper. It was founded as a resistance paper during World War II by Frans Van Heuven Goedhart and Jaap Nunes Vaz...
. After a while, Simon Carmiggelt
Simon Carmiggelt
Simon Carmiggelt was a Dutch writer who became a well known public figure in the Netherlands because of his daily newspaper columns and his television appearances.-Biography:...
asked him to write film reviews. In 1954 he became film critic at Algemeen Handelsblad
Algemeen Handelsblad
Algemeen Handelsblad was an influential Amsterdam-based liberal daily newspaper, founded in 1828 by J.W. van den Biesen. At the peak of its influence -- from the time of the Boer War, when it championed the Boer cause in South Africa, through World War I -- it was edited by Charles Boissevain.It...
. At the art section of the news paper, he met important Dutch writers like Henk Hofland
Henk Hofland
Hendrik Johannes Adrianus Hofland is a Dutch journalist, commentator, essayist and columnist. H.J.A. Hofland, as he is also commonly know, is often referred to as the éminence grise of Dutch journalism. In 1999 he was named Dutch "Journalist of the century" in a nationwide poll among his peers...
and Harry Mulisch
Harry Mulisch
Harry Kurt Victor Mulisch was a Dutch author. He wrote more than 80 novels, plays, essays, poems and philosophical reflections. These have been translated into more than 20 languages....
.
Blokker was also a screenwriter, who wrote the scripts for films like Fanfare
Fanfare (film)
Fanfare is a 1958 Dutch comedy film directed by Bert Haanstra. It was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Hans Kaart - Geursen* Bernhard Droog - Krijns* Ineke Brinkman - Marije* Wim Van den Heuvel - Douwe* Andrea Domburg - Lies...
by Bert Haanstra
Bert Haanstra
Bert Haanstra was a Dutch film and documentary director.Haanstra was born in the town of Holten and became a professional filmmaker in 1947. He won international acclaim with his short documentary Spiegel van Holland / Mirror of Holland, for which he received the Grand Prix du court métrage at the...
(1958) and Makkers staakt uw wild geraas
Makkers Staakt uw Wild Geraas
Makkers Staakt uw Wild Geraas is a 1960 Dutch drama film directed by Fons Rademakers. It was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear Award.-Cast:* Ellen Vogel - Norah Leegher-Buwalda...
by Fons Rademakers (1960). He was also one of the people behind the satirical VARA
VARA (broadcaster)
The Omroepvereniging VARA is a Dutch public broadcasting association operating within the framework of the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep system, founded in 1925 as the Vereeniging van Arbeiders Radio Amateurs...
TV-program Zo is het toevallig ook nog eens een keer (1963–1964). At another broadcasting organisation, VPRO
VPRO
The VPRO was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current...
, he became editor in chief. He was partly responsible for the revolutionary course that organisation took. He also provided VPRO's documentaries with commentary.
From 1968 on, he worked for De Volkskrant
De Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
as a columnist. In the 1960s and 1970s, he was seen as the voice of the intellectual left, specialized in satirical pieces about politics, current affairs and whatever was fashionable with the left-wing readers of the newspaper. Between 1978 and 1983, he was adjunct editor in chief at the newspaper. He wrote the column until 2006, when a conflict forced him to leave the newspaper. He continued his column for nrc.next
Nrc.next
nrc•next is a Dutch daily newspaper published in the Netherlands by NRC Media. The first edition was released on March 14, 2006. nrc•next is a morning edition tabloid, and its primary target group are young higher educated people.-History:...
.