C. Buddingh' (7 March 1908 – 5 July 1985) was a Dutch poet, writer, translator, and journalist. He is noted for his accessible, often humorous verse and for his contributions to children's poetry in the Netherlands.
Biography
- Birth name: Cornelis (Cees) Buddingh
- Born: 7 March 1908, Koudum, Friesland, Netherlands
- Died: 5 July 1985, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Buddingh' studied French and English at the University of Groningen and subsequently worked as a teacher of those languages. He later pursued a career in journalism, writing for Dutch newspapers and magazines such as Het Parool and Vrij Nederland.
Literary career
- Poetry: Buddingh' began publishing poems in the 1930s. His work is characterized by a clear, colloquial style and a gently ironic tone. He was loosely associated with the post‑war “Vijftigers” literary movement, though his verse often retained a conversational simplicity.
- Children’s poetry: He is especially remembered for his collections of poems for young readers, notably Poëzie voor de kinderen (1979). These poems display the same straightforward language and playful wit found in his adult poetry.
- Translation: Buddingh' translated French poetry into Dutch, contributing Dutch editions of works by poets such as Jacques Prévert and Paul Éluard.
- Editorial work: He served as an editor for the literary magazine Werkelijk and was involved in various publishing projects that promoted contemporary Dutch literature.
Selected works
- Het vliegende huis (Poetry, 1940)
- Een hand vol van verlangen (Poetry, 1953)
- Poëzie voor de kinderen (Children’s poetry, 1979)
Legacy
Buddingh' is regarded as an important figure in 20th‑century Dutch literature, particularly for his ability to blend everyday language with poetic expression. In recognition of his impact on Dutch poetry, the C. Buddingh' Prize was established in 1988 to honor outstanding debut poetry collections.
References
- Dutch Biographical Dictionary, 2021 edition.
- Het Literair Lexicon (Netherlands), entry on C. Buddingh'.
- National Library of the Netherlands catalogue, author listings for C. Buddingh'.
