Hendrik Groen

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Hendrik Groen
Born1954 (age 70–71)
Netherlands
CitizenshipDutch
Occupations
  • Writer
  • Author

Hendrik Groen is the pseudonym of Peter de Smet (born 1954), a Dutch writer. He is the author of the 2014 book Pogingen iets van het leven te maken: Het geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, 83¼ jaar (The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old), and its 2016 sequel Zolang er Leven is: Het nieuwe geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, 85 jaar. Both books won the Audience Award for the Dutch Book.

Pseudonym

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For years, it was unknown who was hiding behind the pseudonym, which caused a lot of speculation, with names ranging from Sylvia Witteman to Arnon Grunberg. In 2016 the Dutch newspapers De Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad published the identity of Groen as 62-year-old Peter de Smet.[1]

Career

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In 2014, Groen published the book Pogingen iets van het leven te maken: Het geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, 83¼ jaar, which was very successful, selling its foreign rights to over 35 countries, receiving the NS Public Prize 2016, and being adapted to both a stage play and a television series in 2017.[2][3] The play was directed by Gijs de Lange [nl] and had Beau Schneider in the role of Hendrik Groen.[4] Its sequel, Zolang er Leven is: Het nieuwe geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen, 85 jaar, also became a bestseller after its publication in 2016; in total, his diaries have sold over half a million copies in the Netherlands and Flanders.[2] Hendrik Groen has been described as "Netherlands' cuddly elderly man" and as "the most beloved senior citizen of the Netherlands".[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Peter de Smet is Hendrik Groen". www.nrc.nl (in Dutch). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Hendrik Groen". www.newdutchwriting.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Nieuwe serie: Het geheime dagboek van Hendrik Groen" [New series: The secret diary of Hendrik Groen]. www.vprogids.nl (in Dutch). 17 October 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Hendrik Groen - Pogingen iets van het leven te maken" [Hendrik Groen - Attempts to make something of life]. www.bostheaterproducties.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Hendrik Groen - Biografie" [Hendrik Groen - Biografy]. detamboer.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2025.
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