In the 1990s, as a writer, researcher, and editor, I was part of the literary experiment and pseudonym Philip Markus, two books of which were published by Nijgh & Van Ditmar. "De weg naar Oude God" (The Road to Old God) won the Geertjan Lubberhuizen Prize for the best prose debut of 1991. "Het Verlossende Woord" (The Redemptive Word) was longlisted for the AKO Prize, which is now known as the Libris Literature Prize.
In 2001, I disappeared from Dutch literature because the publisher at the time failed to recognize that his editor was performing a kind of lobotomy on my book. After an overly exuberant correspondence, I was allowed to leave.
I disappeared underground and ended up in a niche of experimental music. When I settled in Berlin in 2005, I quickly became part of the scene. By organizing concerts and performing myself, I managed to become known locally here and there. Think of an average of twenty-three people at a performance. So I'm used to the presence of an attentive audience.
I still write. The editors of Volgas magazine were very pleased with my contributions. Unfortunately, Volgas magazine only lasted four years. The magazine remained known only to a small group of fans.
In 2019, I started working as a guide for Berlin on Bike. And because I felt I shouldn't tell the story the same way every time, I immediately started reading books about Berlin, its neighborhoods, personalities, and history. That way, you eventually learn a little more. The great thing is that many traces of history are still visible in the city. And once you manage to find those traces during a walk or bike ride, you have a tour.
