Born 28 of April 1962 in Wieringerwaard. Now lives in The Eifel, Germany, and Amsterdam. Used to be a subtitle translator, therefore knows quite a lot about The Bold and the Beautiful. Now devotes most of his time creating a garden on a hill. 

Author of four novels: Peartrees blossom white (1999), The Twin (2006, winner of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2010), June (2009), The Detour/Ten White Geese (2010, winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2013) and two etymological dictionaries for young adults (1997–1998).