Henri Borel

Born in Dordrecht on November 23, 1869, Henri Borel was a Dutch writer and journalist whose life was closely tied to the study of China. He studied Chinese at Leiden University and later worked as an interpreter and government official for Chinese affairs in the Dutch East Indies, experience that shaped much of his writing.

Borel became known for books and essays on Chinese philosophy, literature, and culture, helping introduce these subjects to Dutch readers at a time when they were still unfamiliar to many in Europe. After returning to the Netherlands, he worked in journalism and literary criticism, including for the newspaper Het Vaderland.

He died in The Hague on August 31, 1933. Today he is remembered not only as a novelist and essayist, but also as a mediator between cultures whose writing connected Dutch literary life with Chinese thought and storytelling.