
In a palace where every day began with “Er was eens…”, a young princess is cradled by a gentle storyteller in a secluded tower room draped in blue velvet and lit by soft, coloured lamps. The walls are lined with golden frames that hold the beloved images of Red Riding Hood, Tom Thumb and countless other fairy‑tale heroes, turning each tale into a living picture. This enchanted space becomes the heart of her childhood, a sanctuary where laughter and wonder grow alongside the lessons of the court.
Years later, the princess—now grown—returns to that same room, clutching a treasured storybook and longing for the magic she once heard aloud. Though her mentor has vanished, the memories linger, urging her to seek the fabled Story‑Fairy who dwells in the sun‑kissed East. With her father’s promise of a new journey, she sets her sights on rediscovering the joy of oral tales, hoping the old enchantments will once again fill her world with light.
Language
nl
Duration
~7 hours (449K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/
Release date
2006-05-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
A Dutch teacher and children's writer, she spent much of her career creating stories for young readers with fellow educator Katharina Leopold. Her work blends classroom warmth with gentle moral lessons, and it still circulates today through reprints and digital editions.
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1846–1914
A Dutch teacher turned beloved children's writer, she helped shape generations of holiday memories with warm stories and lyrics that became classic Sinterklaas songs. Her work brought everyday kindness and child-friendly imagination into books, magazines, and music.
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