Cornelis Johannes Kieviet

Born in Hoofddorp in 1858, he trained as a teacher and went on to work in several Dutch towns before becoming widely known as a writer for young readers. He published under the name C. Joh. Kieviet and is remembered above all as the creator of Dik Trom, one of the most famous characters in Dutch children's literature.

Kieviet began writing because he felt there were too few children's books that truly appealed to children. That practical, reader-first instinct helped shape stories that felt playful and energetic rather than overly moralizing. Alongside the Dik Trom books, he wrote many other novels and tales for younger audiences.

He died in 1931. More than a century after his best-known work first appeared, his name remains closely tied to Dutch childhood reading and to the enduring popularity of Dik Trom.