Hella Haasse (1918-2011)

Few literary authors gave such a strong and subtle voice to the Dutch people who spent part of their lives in Indonesia as Hella Haasse. She was born in 1918 in Batavia [Jakarta] in the former Dutch colony that is now Indonesia, and died in Amsterdam in 2011. She was regarded as the grand old lady of Dutch literature.

Hella Haasse wrote novels, short stories, essays and poems. Her subjects varied from the middle ages in France to 20th century Dutch literary writers. However, her most important subject was Indonesia, or more precisely the colonial Dutch East-Indies, or even more precisely: how the influence of all aspects of an overwhelming country in which a sensitive child grows up in fact never weakens, until the last breath.

 

Haasse’s talent was acknowledged at an early age. The gift of the Dutch booksellers guild in 1948 was the small novel Oeroeg. It was not her fist publication, but it was one of her most successful titles. Later she confessed that it was practically the only book that she wrote without any hesitation or deletion. In this little book, Haasse presents the story of a friendship between a Dutch and an Indonesian child. Here one can already find the nucleus of her writings: strong impressions, nature, mystery and great sensitivity. And moreover, the simultaneous attraction and conflict between very different cultures.

For many of her books, Haasse took the trouble to investigate her subjects carefully, in an almost scientific way. This did not mean that the success of her books lessened. Of Heren van de thee, published in 1992, about 19th century tea-plantations on the isle of Java, more than 60 editions appeared in 20 years time. Her work was awarded with all important Dutch literary prizes.

Many of Haasse’s books were translated, but very few in Indonesian. Although this may be an indication of her focus on colonial history, she never lost her interest for the present. Hella Haasse’s life has come to an end, but her large production of superbe literature maintains its promise of a bright future.

http://www.hellahaassemuseum.nl/