Simon Carmiggelt
Encyclopedia
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.
, the second son of Herman Carmiggelt and Jeanne Bik. He had one older brother, Jan. Simon did not turn out to be a very bright student, and he left secondary school in 1929. He enjoyed working as an editor for the school paper though, and he was determined to become a journalist
.
After various editorial jobs, he became a reporter for the left-wing newspaper Het Volk (The People). Later on he worked for the same paper as a drama critic. He also wrote short columns about daily life in The Hague, which he called Kleinigheden (Trifles). In 1939 Simon married Tiny de Goey. A year later she gave birth to a daughter, Marianne. In the same year the first collection of Kleinigheden was published, named Vijftig dwaasheden (Fifty follies).
When the Germans invaded the Netherlands in 1940 and Het Volk was taken over and censored, Carmiggelt resigned from the paper. During the war he had all sorts of small jobs, but he secretly got in touch with the Dutch resistance and worked for the underground newspaper
Het Parool. He was responsible for the lay-out and printing of the paper. He also wrote a few stories for Het Parool.
In 1943, Simon's brother Jan was arrested by the Germans for aiding persons in hiding. He was taken to camp Vught, where he died of exhaustion. Jan's death was to change the rest of Simon's life; he would never fully overcome the trauma it caused.
After the war he again started to write columns for Het Parool
. He signed them 'Kronkel' (Kink). His Kronkels became very famous for their melancholic, sometimes sombre tone and the ironic use of formal language. Many columns were about unsuccessful, disillusioned people in cafes and bars (often in Amsterdam
, where he then lived), who told the writer about their lives. But Carmiggelt also wrote about his children and later his grandchildren, his cats, and other small events in his life. His work became very popular, and he received various Dutch literary prizes. Together with the Dutch Indo author and essayist Tjalie Robinson
he is credited with establishing a whole new genre in Dutch literature that found successors like Rudy Kousbroek
.
In 1977 Carmiggelt started a secret liaison with the author Renate Rubinstein
. She was later to write a book about this, titled Mijn beter ik (My better self), which was published when both she and Simon had died. Simon Carmiggelt's last Kronkel was published in 1983. On November 30, 1987 he died of a heart attack. A year after his death, a statue of Carmiggelt (made by Kees Verkade
) was placed near his former house in Amsterdam
and near his summer house in De Steeg (Rheden
).
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...
because of his daily newspaper columns and his television appearances.
Biography
Simon Johannes Carmiggelt was born on 7 October 1913 in The HagueThe 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...
, the second son of Herman Carmiggelt and Jeanne Bik. He had one older brother, Jan. Simon did not turn out to be a very bright student, and he left secondary school in 1929. He enjoyed working as an editor for the school paper though, and he was determined to become a 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...
.
After various editorial jobs, he became a reporter for the left-wing newspaper Het Volk (The People). Later on he worked for the same paper as a drama critic. He also wrote short columns about daily life in The Hague, which he called Kleinigheden (Trifles). In 1939 Simon married Tiny de Goey. A year later she gave birth to a daughter, Marianne. In the same year the first collection of Kleinigheden was published, named Vijftig dwaasheden (Fifty follies).
When the Germans invaded the Netherlands in 1940 and Het Volk was taken over and censored, Carmiggelt resigned from the paper. During the war he had all sorts of small jobs, but he secretly got in touch with the Dutch resistance and worked for the underground newspaper
Dutch underground press
The Dutch underground press was part of the resistance to German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.After the occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, the Germans quickly took control over the existing Dutch press and enforced censorship and publication of Nazi propaganda. Independent...
Het Parool. He was responsible for the lay-out and printing of the paper. He also wrote a few stories for Het Parool.
In 1943, Simon's brother Jan was arrested by the Germans for aiding persons in hiding. He was taken to camp Vught, where he died of exhaustion. Jan's death was to change the rest of Simon's life; he would never fully overcome the trauma it caused.
After the war he again started to write columns for 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...
. He signed them 'Kronkel' (Kink). His Kronkels became very famous for their melancholic, sometimes sombre tone and the ironic use of formal language. Many columns were about unsuccessful, disillusioned people in cafes and bars (often 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...
, where he then lived), who told the writer about their lives. But Carmiggelt also wrote about his children and later his grandchildren, his cats, and other small events in his life. His work became very popular, and he received various Dutch literary prizes. Together with the Dutch Indo author and essayist Tjalie Robinson
Tjalie Robinson
Tjalie Robinson is the main alias of the Indo intellectual and writer Jan Boon also known as Vincent Mahieu. His father Cornelis Boon, a KNIL sergeant, was Dutch and his Indo-European mother Fela Robinson was part English and Javanese...
he is credited with establishing a whole new genre in Dutch literature that found successors like Rudy Kousbroek
Rudy Kousbroek
Herman Rudolf Kousbroek was a Dutch poet, translator, writer and first of all essayist. He was a prominent figure in Dutch cultural life between 1950 and 2010 and one of the most outspoken atheists in the Netherlands. In 1975 he was awarded the P.C...
.
In 1977 Carmiggelt started a secret liaison with the author Renate Rubinstein
Renate Rubinstein
Renate Ida Rubinstein was a German-Dutch writer, journalist and columnist.- Biography :Rubinstein was born in Berlin, Germany, to a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother...
. She was later to write a book about this, titled Mijn beter ik (My better self), which was published when both she and Simon had died. Simon Carmiggelt's last Kronkel was published in 1983. On November 30, 1987 he died of a heart attack. A year after his death, a statue of Carmiggelt (made by Kees Verkade
Kees Verkade
Kees Verkade is a Dutch artist and sculptor. He specializes in modeling the human form, with an emphasis on movement and emotion. Most of his sculptures are set in bronze. They depict a variety of people, including children, clowns, athletes, dancers, mothers, and lovers...
) was placed near his former house 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...
and near his summer house in De Steeg (Rheden
Rheden
Rheden is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.- Population centres :*Velp *Dieren *Rheden *De Steeg *Ellecom *Spankeren *Laag Soeren -Transportation:...
).
Selected bibliography
- 1940 - Vijftig dwaasheden
- 1940 - Honderd dwaasheden (extended version of Vijftig dwaasheden)
- 1948 - Allemaal onzin
- 1948 - Het jammerhout
- 1950 - Klein beginnen
- 1951 - Omnibus
- 1952 - Poespas
- 1954 - Al mijn gal
- 1954 - Articles de Paris
- 1955 - Duivenmelken
- 1956 - Fabriekswater
- 1956 - Kwartet
- 1956 - Spijbelen
- 1957 - Haasje over
- 1959 - Een toontje lager
- 1961 - Alle orgels slapen
- 1961 - Een stoet van dwergen
- 1962 - Dag opa
- 1962 - Kroeglopen I
- 1962 - Tussen twee stoelen
- 1963 - Oude mensen
- 1963 - We leven nog
- 1964 - Later is te laat
- 1964 - Kinderen (combination of Klein beginnen en Dag opa)
- 1965 - Kroeglopen II
- 1965 - Fluiten in het donker
- 1965 - Mooi weer vandaag
- 1967 - Morgen zien we wel weer
- 1968 - Drie van vroeger
- 1968 - Je blijft lachen
- 1969 - Mijn moeder had gelijk
- 1970 - Twijfelen is toegestaan
- 1971 - Gewoon maar doorgaan
- 1972 - Ik mag niet mopperen
- 1973 - Elke ochtend opstaan
- 1974 - Brood voor de vogeltjes
- 1975 - Slenteren
- 1975 - Maatschappelijk verkeer
- 1976 - Dwaasheden (1976)
- 1977 - Vroeger kon je lachen
- 1978 - Bemoei je d'r niet mee
- 1979 - De rest van je leven
- 1979 - Mooi kado
- 1980 - De avond valt
- 1980 - Residentie van mijn jeugd
- 1981 - Een Hollander in Parijs
- 1981 - Verhaaltjes van vroeger
- 1982 - Welverdiende onrust
- 1983 - De Amsterdamse kroeg
- 1983 - Met de neus in de boeken
- 1983 - Mag 't een ietsje meer zijn
- 1984 - Ik red me wel
- 1984 - Vreugden en verschrikkingen van de dronkenschap
- 1984 - Alle kroegverhalen (combination of Kroeglopen I en ~II)
- 1985 - Ontmoetingen met Willem Elsschot
- 1986 - Bij nader omzien
- 1986 - Trio voor één hand
- 1987 - De vrolijke jaren
- 1987 - Het literaire leven
- 1989 - Zelfportret in stukjes
- 1990 - De kuise drinker
- 1992 - Schemeren
- 1993 - Van u heb ik ook een heleboel gelezen...
- 1995 - Thelonious en Picasso
- 1999 - Beste Godfried, beste Simon
- 1999 - Voorhout
English
- 1957 - A Dutchman's slight adventures
- 1958 - Amsterdam by Simon Carmiggelt, Maria Austria, and Flora van Os-Gammon
- 1972 - I'm just kidding: More of a Dutchman's slight adventures