author

Jacob van der Klei

1879–1951

A Dutch teacher and storyteller, he wrote a steady stream of books, poems, and magazine pieces for young readers in the first half of the 20th century. His work ranged from school readers to adventure stories for boys, shaped by many years in the classroom.

1 Audiobook

Dubbele Twee: Leesboek voor het vierde leerjaar

Dubbele Twee: Leesboek voor het vierde leerjaar

by Jacob van der Klei

About the author

Born on February 14, 1879, in Boyl, Friesland, Jacob van der Klei trained as a teacher and worked at several elementary schools before becoming a headmaster. He taught in places including Hengelo, Vlieland, Paesens, Oosterwolde, and later Amsterdam, where he became head of the Lindenschool on January 1, 1918.

He made his debut as a children's author in 1910 with Dubbel Twee. Over the following decades he built a remarkably productive writing career, publishing youth novels, short stories, poems, fairy tales, legends, and school reading books. He also wrote under the pseudonym Jaap van Boyl, a name taken from his birthplace.

Van der Klei later became editor of several children's magazines, including Voor de Kinderkamer, De Kinderwereld, and Voor 't Jonge Volkje. After retiring early in 1934, he moved to Apeldoorn, where he died on February 13, 1951. No suitable confirmed portrait image was found from the sources checked during this search.