Cornelis Johannes Kieviet

Born in 1858, Cornelis Johannes Kieviet was a Dutch teacher who became one of the best-known writers of children's fiction in the Netherlands. He is most closely associated with Dik Trom, the mischievous but warm-hearted boy who became his signature character and remained popular long after the books first appeared.

Kieviet's background in education shaped his writing, but his stories stood out because they leaned into humor, adventure, and the everyday world of children rather than stiff lessons. That approach helped make his books especially memorable for generations of young readers.

He died in 1931. His work, and especially the Dik Trom stories, continued to hold a lasting place in Dutch children's literature, with the character becoming iconic enough to inspire public memorials in his hometown area.