Hella Haasse

(Batavia, Dutch-Indies, 1918) spent her youth in the Dutch-Indies. She attended elementary and grammar school there. After briefly studying literature in the Netherlands she went on to complete Theatre School. Almost immediatley after that she chose to dedicate her life to writing. Her childhood in the Dutch-Indies repeatedly plays a role in her work, as is obvious in her debut novella Oeroeg (1948) and the novels Heren van de thee (Gentlemen of the tea) (1992) en Sleuteloog, her much praised novel published in 2002. Most of Haasse's books are historical novels. For instance her first comprehensive, frequently reprinted novel Het woud der verwachting (The forest of expectations) (1949) is about Charles d'Orleans, a fifteenth century poet. Her most recent book is entitled Bij de les (Accompanying the lessons) (2004), which includes old educational school charts from the Dutch-Indies. Haase has been distinguished many times. On the 17th of November 2004 she received personally from Queen Beatrix the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren (The Dutch Literature Award). Hella Haasse died in 2011.
Archive available for: Hella Haasse
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Indische Winternacht 1997
With: Adriaan van Dis, Aya Zikken, Carel Alphenaar, De Nazaten van Prins Hendrik, Gamelan Ensemble Widosari, Hans Vervoort, Hella Haasse, Jill Stolk, Marion Bloem, Michaël Zeeman, Mischa de Vreede, Radhar Panca Dahana, Rayuan Samud'ra, Rendra, Sitok Srengenge, Sitor Situmorang, The Galaxy Band, Wieteke van Dort
In 1997 the second edition of the Indische Winternacht took place: a Dutch and Indonesian evening of literature, music, film and storytelling. Among the participants were: Adriaan van Dis, Wieteke van Dort, Mischa de Vreede, Jill Stolk, Hella Haasse, Aya Zikken, Marion Bloem, and from Indonesia Rendra, Sitor Situmorang, Panca Dahana and Sitok Srengenge. The writers were introduced by Carel Alphenaar and interviewed by Michaël Zeeman. With music by The Galaxy Band, Gamelan Ensemble Widosari and De Nazaten van Prins Hendrik.
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Indische Winternacht 1995
With: Aart van Zoest, Anneke Grönloh, Ernst Jansz, F. Springer, Goenawan Mohamad, Hamid Jabbar, Hella Haasse, Jill Stolk, Liane van der Linden, Marion Bloem, Nelleke Noordervliet, Paula Gomes, Rayuan Samud'ra, Rendra, Sitok Srengenge, The Blue Diamonds, Toeti Heraty, Yvonne Keuls
The Indische Winternachten was the final programme in the Festival Indië/Indonesië (Festival Dutch East Indies/Indonesia). In the main autitorium of Theater aan het Spui, writers read from their work. In the foyer they were interviewed. In three venues of Cinematheek Haags Filmhuis a programme of old and new films on the Dutch East-Indies and Indonesia were presented. The music programme presented Krontjong, the Blue Diamonds, Indo-rock and a show by Anneke Grönloh. You can download the complete festival programme magazine as a pdf here.