Dirk Lives in Holland facts for kids

Dirk Lives in Holland is a special book by the famous Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren. It was first published in Sweden in 1963. The book also features amazing photos by Anna Riwkin-Brick.

This book is part of a series called Children's Everywhere. These books tell stories about kids from different countries. They show what life is like for them, using real photos.

The Story of Dirk

Dirk lives in a city in Holland right by the sea. His dad is a fisherman. Sometimes, Dirk gets to go fishing with him.

Dirk's Big Wish

Dirk really wants a bicycle. But his family can't afford to buy one. All the other kids have bikes. They ride together to see the Queen's sailing yacht. Dirk feels sad watching them go.

A Friend's Help

Dirk's friend, Elleke, tries to cheer him up. They play with a rabbit in the garden. Later, they try to walk to where the Queen's yacht will pass. But they are too late. The boat has already sailed away.

A Special Surprise

When Dirk's friend Japi tells his dad about Dirk's wish, Japi's dad says he wants to buy Dirk a bike. But he would need a long time to save enough money.

Then, Dirk's grandparents have a wonderful surprise! They use their own savings to buy him a brand new bicycle. Dirk is so happy! He quickly shows his new bike to Elleke.

A Documentary About the Book

Years later, in 2014, an Israeli director named Dvorit Shargal made a documentary. It was called Where is Elle Kari and what happened to Noriko-san?. This film looked back at the Children's Everywhere series.

Visiting the Real Dirk

In the documentary, Dvorit Shargal visits Dirk in Holland. Dirk shows her the places where the photos for the book were taken. He talks about his very first bicycle. He even reads a letter that Astrid Lindgren wrote to him later. In the letter, Astrid Lindgren remembered her visit to Holland. She recalled creating the book with Anna Riwkin.