Johanna Elisabeth "Els" Coppens-van de Rijt (born August 18, 1943) is an artist and author from Vlierden,

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Coppens-van de Rijt was born in

Sint-Oedenrode Sint-Oedenrode () is a town in the province of North Brabant. Sint-Oedenrode is a moderately urbanized town in the Meierij of 's-Hertogenbosch. Sint-Oedenrode had an unknown population as of and has an area of . On 1 January 2017 Sint-Oedenrode ...

, as one of twins to a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

family with 11 children. She studied at the

Design Academy Eindhoven Design Academy Eindhoven is an interdisciplinary educational institute for art, architecture and design in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The work of its faculty and alumni have brought it international recognition, and is widely regarded as one of the w ...

with

Kees Bol Cornelis "Kees" Bol (September 21, 1916 – September 16, 2009) was a Dutch painter and art educator. His work was exhibited in art galleries and museums throughout the Netherlands, as well as in Paris. In 1950 Bol was awarded the Thérès ...

and

Jan Gregoor Johannes Jacobus "Jan" Gregoor (April 9, 1914 – May 20, 1982) was a Dutch painter and art educator. His works were extensively exhibited in art galleries and museums throughout the Netherlands. He taught art at the Design Academy Eindhove ...

and at the Art Academy of Maastricht. Here she met her husband, sculptor Joep Coppens. After her studies she made name as a painter, in particular of portraits.Brabander L: ''Geloven in Nederland''. (

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

for ''Believing in the Netherlands''). Kampen: Kok, 2006, p. 39. She ceased painting, however, due to having the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Since, she has been writing among others on her Christian belief.

Books written

* 1996 - ''The other reality'' * 1997 - ''I stayed at the edge of the river'' * 2002 - ''Frank letters of belief'' * 2008 - ''Martien Coppens, from village boy to city man'' (with Joep Coppens)

Books written

References

Further reading