pseudonym
A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...
of Mensje Francina van der Steen, is a Dutch writer.
Career
Early in her career van Keulen made drawings, stories and poems for the magazine '' Propria Cures''. Van Keulen made her debut in 1972 with the book ''Bleekers zomer''. Van Keulen was editor of the magazine '' Maatstaf'' between 1973 and 1981.
In 1986, van Keulen won the
Zilveren Griffel
The Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) is an award given to authors of children's or teenagers' literature in the Netherlands.
History
Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Prop ...
award for her first children's book ''Tommie Station'' (1985). In 1991, she won the
Nienke van Hichtum-prijs
The Nienke van Hichtum-prijs (Dutch for Nienke van Hichtum Prize) is a biennial Dutch literary award for children's literature awarded by the Jan Campert-Stichting. The award is named after children's author Nienke van Hichtum and was first awar ...
for her children's book ''Vrienden van de maan''. A few years later, she received a
Vlag en Wimpel
In the Netherlands, the award is an honourable mention awarded by either the jury of the Gouden Griffel and Zilveren Griffel awards (for Dutch-language children's literature) or the jury of the Gouden Penseel and Zilveren Penseel awards (for ...
award in 1993 for her book ''Meneer Ratti''.
For her entire oeuvre she won the Charlotte Köhler Prize in 2011. She also won the
Constantijn Huygens Prize
The Constantijn Huygens Prize (Dutch: ''Constantijn Huygens-prijs'') is a Dutch literary award.
Van Keulen's children's books have been illustrated by various illustrators, including
Thé Tjong-Khing
Thé Tjong-Khing (; born August 4, 1933) is a children's book illustrator based in the Netherlands.
He was born in Purworedjo, Java to a large Chinese Indonesian family. As a child he was interested in the Tarzan comic strips of Edgar Rice Bur ...
, Willem van Malsen and
Jan Jutte
Jan Jutte (born 1 October 1953) is a Dutch illustrator of children's literature. He received the Gouden Penseel award several times for his work.
Career
Jutte made his debut as illustrator in 1983 with his illustrations in Annie M. G. Schmid ...
.
Some of van Keulen's work has been published under the pseudonyms Josien Meloen and Constant P. Cavalry.
Politics
Van Keulen was also ''
lijstduwer
''Lijstduwer'' (, 'list pusher') is a Dutch term for the last candidate on a party list.
In Suriname, the Netherlands and Belgium, this position is often taken by well-known non-politicians such as artists, celebrities and sports people. They ar ...
'' for the
Party for the Animals
The Party for the Animals ( nl, Partij voor de Dieren; PvdD) is a List of political parties in the Netherlands, political party in the Netherlands. Among its main goals are animal rights and animal welfare.
Since 2019, the PvdD's political lead ...
during the European Parliament election in the Netherlands in 2004 as well as in 2014.
She was also on the list of candidates during the
2006 Dutch general election
General elections were held in the Netherlands on 22 November 2006 following the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet. The elections proved relatively successful for the governing Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) which remained the largest part ...
as well as the
2017 Dutch general election
General elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday 15 March 2017 to elect all 150 members of the House of Representatives.
The incumbent government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte was the first to serve a full term since 2002. The previo ...
.
Personal life
Van Keulen has been a
vegetarian
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter.
Vegetarianism m ...
from age 20. Van Keulen was married and she has one son.
Awards
* 1986:
Zilveren Griffel
The Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) is an award given to authors of children's or teenagers' literature in the Netherlands.
History
Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Prop ...
, ''Tommie Station''
* 1991:
Nienke van Hichtum-prijs
The Nienke van Hichtum-prijs (Dutch for Nienke van Hichtum Prize) is a biennial Dutch literary award for children's literature awarded by the Jan Campert-Stichting. The award is named after children's author Nienke van Hichtum and was first awar ...
, ''Vrienden van de maan''
* 1993:
Vlag en Wimpel
In the Netherlands, the award is an honourable mention awarded by either the jury of the Gouden Griffel and Zilveren Griffel awards (for Dutch-language children's literature) or the jury of the Gouden Penseel and Zilveren Penseel awards (for ...
Nederlands Letterenfonds
The Nederlands Letterenfonds ("Dutch Foundation for Literature") is a Dutch organization that promotes Dutch literature at home and abroad. The Letterenfonds represents Dutch authors at such events as the Frankfurt Book Fair, and awards a number o ...
Digital Library for Dutch Literature
The Digital Library for Dutch Literature (Dutch: Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren or DBNL) is a website (showing the abbreviation as dbnl) about Dutch language and Dutch literature. It contains thousands of literary texts, second ...