Justus van Maurik

Justus van Maurik Jr. was a Dutch author born in Amsterdam on August 16, 1846, and he died there on November 18, 1904. He is generally described as both a writer and a cigar maker, and his work became closely associated with Amsterdam life and its characters.

He first became known for farces and humorous plays, and in 1878 he published his first novel, Mie de porster. After that, he produced a large body of stories, sketches, and other writings. Sources also note that he was one of the editors involved in founding De Amsterdammer in 1877.

His reputation rests on his warm, comic, observant writing style and on the vivid local color of his work. Many of his books were illustrated by the artist Johan Braakensiek, which helped give his published work an even more distinctive personality.