Dutch fiction has a rich and varied tradition that spans centuries. From the early classics of the Golden Age to the modern masterpieces of Harry Mulisch and Connie Palmen, Dutch writers have explored a wide range of subject matter and preoccupations, particularly in this list of best Dutch novels.
Common themes in the best Dutch novels
Some of the most common themes in Dutch fiction include:
• The search for identity: Many Dutch writers have explored the question of what it means to be Dutch, both in the context of the Netherlands and in the wider world.
• The relationship between individual and society: Dutch writers have often been interested in the ways in which individuals are shaped by the societies in which they live.
• The nature of reality: Dutch writers have often been preoccupied with the question of what is real and what is not.
• The experience of war: The Netherlands has been involved in many wars throughout its history, and this has been a major source of inspiration for Dutch writers.
In addition to these common themes, Dutch fiction also reflects the country’s unique culture and history. For example, the Dutch love of landscape has often been reflected in Dutch fiction, and the country’s Calvinist heritage has also had a significant impact on Dutch literature.
Dutch fiction is a vibrant and exciting tradition that continues to evolve. In recent years, Dutch writers have been experimenting with new forms and genres, and they have also been exploring new themes and ideas. As a result, Dutch fiction is now more diverse and accessible than ever before.
Here are twenty of the best of Dutch novels:
De Leeuwenkuil (The Lion’s Den) by Jacob van Lennep (1839)
De Leeuwenkuil is a historical novel set in the 17th century. The novel tells the story of two young men, Willem and Jacob, who are apprenticed to a merchant in Amsterdam. The two friends become involved in a dangerous political conspiracy, and they must use all of their wits to survive.
The novel is a classic of Dutch literature, and it is praised for its historical accuracy, its suspenseful plot, and its vivid characters. Van Lennep’s writing is clear and engaging, and he brings 17th century Netherlands to life in what is regarded as one of the best Dutch novels of all time.
Max Havelaar; or, The Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company by Multatuli (1860)
Max Havelaar is a novel by Multatuli (the pen name of Eduard Douwes Dekker) that tells the story of a Dutch colonial official in Java who is appalled by the mistreatment of the local people.
The novel is a scathing indictment of Dutch colonialism, and it played a key role in shaping and modifying Dutch colonial policy in the Dutch East Indies in the nineteenth and early twentieth century.
Max Havelaar is a complex and multilayered novel that explores a wide range of themes, including colonialism, racism, and the nature of justice. It is a powerful and moving story that has been praised by critics and readers alike.
De stille kracht (The Hidden Force) by Louis Couperus (1900)
De stille kracht is a Dutch novel published in 1900. It is set in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and tells the story of a Javanese family and their Dutch overlords. The novel explores the clash of cultures between the Dutch and the Javanese, and the hidden forces that drive the characters’ actions.
The novel is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Dutch literature and its author, Louis Couperus, one of the best Dutch novelists of all time.
It is a complex and multi-layered work that has been praised for its psychological insights, its lush descriptions of the Javanese landscape, and its exploration of the themes of colonialism, power, and religion.
De Gebroeders van Haarlem (The Brothers of Haarlem) by Nicolaas Beets (1859)
It is a coming-of-age story that tells the tale of two brothers, Gerrit and Jan, who grow up in Haarlem in the early 19th century. The novel follows the brothers as they go through school, fall in love, and start their careers.
The novel is considered to be one of the most important works of Dutch realism. It is a sensitive and insightful portrayal of childhood and adolescence, and it provides a fascinating glimpse into Dutch society in the early 19th century.
Nooit meer slapen by Willem Frederik Hermans (1961)
Nooit meer slapen (Never Again Sleep) tells the story of a Dutch geologist who travels to the Arctic to study the aurora borealis. The novel is a gripping and suspenseful tale of isolation, madness, and the struggle to survive in the harsh Arctic environment.
The novel’s protagonist, Dr. Rijpkema, is a brilliant but deeply flawed individual. He is arrogant, self-centered, and obsessed with his own work. He is also deeply insecure and afraid of failure.
When he arrives in the Arctic, he quickly finds himself isolated and alone. The harsh environment and the long nights begin to take their toll on his mental state.
He starts to see and hear things that aren’t there, and he begins to question his own sanity.
Nooit meer slapen is a complex and challenging novel that explores the nature of reality, the limits of human endurance, and the power of the imagination. It is a masterpiece of Dutch literature that has been praised by critics and readers alike.
The Windmills of God by Jan Wolkers (1963)
The Windmills of God is a novel by Jan Wolkers that tells the story of Eric, a young man who is sent to a reformatory school. The novel is a powerful indictment of the cruelty of the Dutch penal system and the destructive power of authority.
The novel is set in the Netherlands in the 1950s. Eric is a rebellious young man who is sent to the reformatory for stealing a car. The school is run by a sadistic headmaster who is determined to break Eric’s spirit.
Eric is subjected to a series of brutal punishments, including beatings, solitary confinement, and hard labour. He also witnesses the abuse of other inmates. As Eric’s spirit is broken, he begins to lose hope and contemplates suicide.
The Windmills of God is a harrowing novel that exposes the brutality of the Dutch penal system. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of human rights.
The Heart of the Night by A.F.Th. van der Heijden (1977)
The Heart of the Night is a sprawling and ambitious novel that explores the themes of identity, memory, and the nature of reality. The novel follows the life of Hans, a young man who is trying to find his way in the world. Hans is adrift, both literally and figuratively.
He has no clear sense of who he is or what he wants to do with his life. He drifts from job to job, relationship to relationship, and city to city.
As Hans moves through the world, he begins to question the nature of reality itself. He wonders if the world he sees is real, or if it is just a figment of his imagination. He begins to doubt his own memories, and he wonders if he is even the person he thinks he is.
The Heart of the Night is a complex and challenging novel, but it is also a rewarding one. Van der Heijden’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and he creates a world that is both familiar and strange. The novel is a meditation on the nature of identity, memory, and the search for meaning.
The Assault by Harry Mulisch (1982)
The Assault is a novel by Dutch author Harry Mulisch that tells the story of Anton Steenwijk, a man who survives a Nazi reprisal in Haarlem during World War II. The novel spans 35 years in Anton’s life, as he struggles to come to terms with the events of that night and their aftermath.
The novel begins with Anton as a 12-year-old boy, playing a board game with his brother Peter when they hear six shots. They run outside to see that a Dutch collaborator has been murdered in front of their house. The Nazis retaliate by burning down the Steenwijks’ house and killing Anton’s parents and brother. Anton is the only survivor.
The novel then follows Anton as he grows up, goes to university, gets married, and has children. However, he is never able to fully escape the shadow of the assault. He is haunted by the memories of that night, and he is constantly searching for answers about what happened and why.
The Assault is a complex and multi-layered novel that explores a wide range of themes, including guilt, memory, and the nature of evil. It is a powerful and moving story.
Hersenschimmen by J. Bernlef (1984)
Hersenschimmen (Clouds of the Mind) is a novel by J. Bernlef that tells the story of a man who is slowly losing his memory. The novel is a harrowing and moving account of the experience of dementia.
The novel’s protagonist, Dr. Alzheimer, is a professor of linguistics who begins to forget things. At first, he is able to compensate for his memory loss, but as the disease progresses, he becomes increasingly forgetful and confused. He starts to forget the names of his friends and family, and he is unable to remember simple tasks.
Hersenschimmen is a powerful and disturbing novel that provides a glimpse into the world of dementia. It is a story about loss, fear, and the fragility of the human mind.
The Eighth Day by Cees Nooteboom (1988)
The Eighth Day is a novel by Cees Nooteboom that tells the story of a man named Felix who travels to the Middle East in search of meaning. The novel is a meditation on the nature of faith, the search for truth, and the meaning of life.
Felix is a Dutch writer who has been feeling increasingly restless and dissatisfied with his life. He decides to travel to the Middle East in search of something new, something that will give his life meaning.
In the Middle East, Felix meets a variety of people, including a Sufi mystic, a Bedouin tribesman, and a young woman named Leila. These encounters challenge his preconceptions about the world, and they lead him to question his own beliefs.
The Eighth Day is a philosophical novel that explores the big questions of life. It is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel.
The Laws by Connie Palmen (1992)
The Laws is a novel by Connie Palmen that tells the story of a young woman named Marie Deniet who falls in love with a famous philosopher named Jacob Winckler. The novel explores the themes of love, power, and the nature of truth.
Marie is a student at the University of Amsterdam when she first meets Jacob, who is a professor of philosophy. They are immediately drawn to each other, and they begin a passionate affair. However, their relationship is complicated by the fact that Jacob is a married man, and he is also a very powerful figure in the academic world.
As their relationship progresses, Marie begins to question everything she thought she knew about love, power, and the nature of truth. She also begins to question her own identity, as she is drawn deeper and deeper into Jacob’s world.
The Laws is a complex and challenging novel, but it is also a deeply rewarding one. Palmen’s writing is sharp and insightful, and she gives us a fascinating portrait of a woman who is struggling to find her own way in the world.
The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (1999)
The Hare with the Amber Eyes is a memoir by Edmund de Waal that tells the story of his family’s collection of Japanese netsuke figurines. The novel is a moving and insightful exploration of the nature of memory, loss, and the power of art.
The novel begins with de Waal’s grandfather, Hans Ephraim, who purchases a netsuke figurine in Japan in the early 20th century. The figurine, a hare with amber eyes, becomes a cherished possession of the Ephraim family. However, the family is forced to flee Germany during the Holocaust, and the figurine is lost.
The novel then follows de Waal’s search for the hare with amber eyes. He travels to Japan, where he learns about the history of netsuke and the importance of these figurines in Japanese culture. He also meets with other collectors of netsuke, who share their stories of loss and redemption.
The Hare with the Amber Eyes is a beautiful and elegiac novel that explores the power of art to connect people across time and space. De Waal’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and he captures the essence of netsuke with great skill.
Asleep in the Light by Connie Palmen (2001)
Asleep in the Light is a novel by Connie Palmen that tells the story of Laura, a woman who is struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband. The novel is a meditation on the nature of grief, the power of love, and the search for meaning.
The novel begins with Laura’s husband, Jacob, dying suddenly of a heart attack. Laura is devastated, and she finds herself unable to cope with her grief. She withdraws from her friends and family, and begins to question the meaning of life.
As the novel progresses, Laura slowly begins to come to terms with her grief. She starts to re-engage with the world, and she begins to find new meaning in her life. However, she never fully forgets Jacob, and she continues to carry his memory with her.
Asleep in the Light is a powerful and moving novel that explores the depths of human grief. Palmen’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and she captures the raw emotion of Laura’s experience with great sensitivity.
The Girl with the Brimstone Hair by Tommy Wieringa (2002)
The Girl with the Brimstone Hair is a novel by Tommy Wieringa that tells the story of Lieneke, a young woman who is possessed by the devil. The novel is a dark and disturbing tale of good versus evil, and it explores the themes of religious faith, guilt, and redemption.
The novel is set in a small Dutch town in the 1960s. Lieneke is a devout Catholic who is struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality. She is also being tormented by visions of the devil, who appears to her in the form of a young man with brimstone hair.
As Lieneke’s possession worsens, she begins to commit increasingly violent acts. She sets fire to her house, murders her cat, and even tries to kill her own father. The novel culminates in a dramatic exorcism, in which Lieneke is finally freed from the devil’s grip.
The Girl with the Brimstone Hair is a powerful and disturbing novel that explores the dark side of human nature. It is a must-read for fans of dark fiction.
The Dinner by Herman Koch (2009)
The Dinner is a novel by Herman Koch that tells the story of two couples who meet for dinner to discuss a terrible crime that one of their sons has committed. The novel is a dark and suspenseful tale of guilt, betrayal, and the power of secrets.
The novel’s four protagonists are all well-to-do and successful. They seem to have everything they could ever want, but they are all hiding dark secrets. When the dinner turns to the topic of their sons’ recent crime, the secrets begin to unravel. The couples are forced to confront their own complicity in the crime, and they are all left with a sense of guilt.
The Discomfort of Evening by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (2018)
The Discomfort of Evening is a novel by Marieke Lucas Rijneveld that tells the story of Jas, a young girl who is coming of age in a religious household. The novel is a raw and unflinching look at the pain and beauty of life, and it explores the themes of grief, loss, and the power of words.
The novel begins with Jas’s father dying suddenly. Jas is devastated, and she begins to question her faith. She also begins to experience strange and disturbing visions. As the novel progresses, Jas slowly begins to come to terms with her grief. She starts to re-engage with the world, and she begins to find new meaning in her life. However, she never fully forgets her father, and she continues to carry his memory with her.
The Discomfort of Evening is a powerful and moving novel that explores the depths of human emotion. Rijneveld’s writing is raw and unflinching, and she captures the pain and beauty of Jas’s experience with great sensitivity.
Midnight Blue by Simone van der Vlugt (2018)
Midnight Blue is a suspenseful and atmospheric mystery novel that tells the story of Lotte, a young woman who is trying to piece together her past after being released from a mental institution. Lotte has no memory of her childhood or adolescence, and she is struggling to adjust to life in the outside world.
As Lotte tries to piece together her past, she begins to suspect that she may have been involved in a crime. She starts to receive threatening letters, and she begins to fear for her safety. Lotte must race against time to uncover the truth about her past before it’s too late.
Midnight Blue is a well-crafted mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Van der Vlugt’s writing is atmospheric and suspenseful, and she creates a sense of dread that builds throughout the novel. Midnight Blue is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.
Summer Brother Jaap Robben 2021
Summer Brother is a powerful and moving story of loss, survival, and the power of family. The novel tells the story of Michiel, a young boy who is sent to live with his grandparents during World War II. Michiel’s parents have been sent to a concentration camp, and he is the only one left in his family.
Michiel’s grandparents are kind and loving, but they are also struggling to cope with the war. Michiel must learn to adjust to his new life, and he must also come to terms with the loss of his parents.
Summer Brother is a beautifully written novel that captures the pain and beauty of war. Robben’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and he creates characters that are both relatable and unforgettable. Summer Brother is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human cost of war.
The Vanishing by Tim Krabbé (2020)
The Vanishing is a 1984 psychological thriller novella by Dutch author Tim Krabbé. The novel tells the story of Rex Hofman, a man who is driving with his girlfriend Saskia to the south of France when they stop at a rest stop. Saskia goes to the shop to buy drinks, but she never returns. Rex searches everywhere for her, but she is nowhere to be found.
The novel is told from Rex’s point of view, and it follows his obsession with finding out what happened to Saskia. He becomes increasingly paranoid and withdrawn, and he begins to suspect that she was kidnapped or murdered. However, there is no evidence to support his suspicions, and he is eventually forced to accept that she has simply vanished.
The Vanishing is a dark and disturbing novel that explores the themes of loss, obsession, and the nature of reality. The novel has been praised for its suspenseful plot, its atmospheric setting, and its psychological insights. It has been adapted into a film twice, in 1988 and 1993.
De Hel van ‘63 by Justus van Maurik (2009)
De Hel van ‘63″ tells the story of the 1963 Elfstedentocht, a long-distance ice skating race in Friesland. The novel follows the story of several of the racers, including a young man named Harmen who is determined to win the race.
The novel is set against the backdrop of the harsh winter of 1963, and the race is made even more difficult by the extreme weather conditions. The racers must battle freezing temperatures, strong winds, and treacherous ice.
“De Hel van ‘63” is a suspenseful and exciting novel that captures the drama of the Elfstedentocht. The novel is also a moving and human story about the power of determination and the human spirit.
So this concludes our list of best Dutch novels of all time. Let us know your thoughts!