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February 13, 2026
The bristling wit and melancholy of Cees Nooteboom came to me when I needed it most
The great Dutch travel writer, who died this week, found history inscribed in every place he visited, all while remaining accountable to the present
TL;DR
- Cees Nooteboom, a Dutch author of 60 books including fiction, poetry, and travel writing, has died at 92.
- His work frequently examined themes of travel, departure, and the inscription of history in various forms.
- Nooteboom's writing was deeply affected by his childhood experiences during World War II.
- The author's novel 'All Souls' Day' provided a personal source of comfort and reflection for the writer of this piece during a period of grief.
- Nooteboom's travels, particularly to Spain and Iran, allowed him to explore the layers of history and human experience in different cultures.
- He viewed the traveler as someone assembling falsehoods to create a plausible past, emphasizing memory and recognition.
- Despite being lauded, Nooteboom was not widely read in English, with many readers discovering his work through personal recommendations.
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