Janwillem van de Wetering
- Born:
- February 12, 1931, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Died:
- July 4, 2008, Blue Hill, Maine, USA
- Nationality:
- Dutch
- Profession(s):
- Author, Businessman, Zen Buddhist practitioner
Early Life and Education
- Spent his early years in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
- Experienced the German bombing of Rotterdam during World War II.
- Briefly imprisoned by the Nazis for resisting forced labor.
- Traveled extensively after the war, working various jobs in Europe, Africa, and South America.
- Early experience with Zen Buddhism influenced his later life and writing.
Career and Major Achievements
- Established a successful import-export business in the Netherlands.
- Joined the Amsterdam police force as a reserve officer in his late 30s, an experience that deeply influenced his writing career.
- Began writing his "Amsterdam Cops" series of detective novels featuring the characters Grijpstra and De Gier.
- Achieved international recognition for his crime novels and books on Zen Buddhism.
- Published over 30 books, translated into numerous languages.
Notable Works
Amsterdam Cops Series
- Outsider in Amsterdam (1975)
- Tumbleweed (1975)
- Death of a Hawker (1977)
- The Japanese Corpse (1977)
- The Blond Baboon (1978)
- The Maine Massacre (1979)
- The Mind-Murders (1981)
- The Sergeant's Daughter (1982)
- The Corpse on the Dike (1996)
- After the Rain (1999)
Zen Buddhism Books
- The Empty Mirror: Experiences in a Japanese Zen Monastery (1973)
Legacy and Impact
Janwillem van de Wetering left a significant mark on crime fiction, blending elements of mystery with philosophical and spiritual insights derived from Zen Buddhism. His "Amsterdam Cops" series is particularly celebrated for its realistic depiction of police work and its exploration of the human condition. This Janwillem van de Wetering biography highlights his unique contribution to literature.