Nicolaas Beets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicolas Beets
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| Born | 13 September 1814 Haarlem, Netherlands |
| Died | 13 March 1903 (aged 88) Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Pen name | Hildebrand |
| Occupation | Protestant minister |
| Subject | Short autobiographical stories |
| Notable works | Camera Obscura |
Nicolaas Beets (born September 13, 1814 – died March 13, 1903) was a famous Dutch writer, poet, and religious leader. He also wrote under the pen name Hildebrand. He is best known for his book Camera Obscura.
Contents
His Early Life and Studies
Nicolaas Beets was born in Haarlem, a city in the Netherlands. His father was a pharmacist.
From 1833 to 1839, Nicolaas studied theology at the university of Leiden. Theology is the study of religious faith and practice. He earned his doctorate degree there.
A Minister and Professor
In 1840, Beets became a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church in Heemstede. A minister is a religious leader who guides a church community. In the same year, he married Aleida van Foreest.
In 1848, he became a correspondent for the Royal Institute of the Netherlands. This organization later became the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1851, and he joined as a full member.
In 1854, he moved to Utrecht. From 1874 to 1884, he worked as a professor at the University of Utrecht. He taught church history, which is the study of how the Christian church has developed over time.
His Writings
Nicolaas Beets wrote many different types of works. He wrote prose (like stories), poetry, and sermons (religious speeches).
His most famous book is called Camera Obscura. He wrote this book under his pen name, Hildebrand, while he was still a student. It is a collection of short, often funny, stories about Dutch life.
One of his poems, "De moerbeitoppen ruischten" (The Mulberry Tree Tops Rustled), is very well-known and popular. People have included it in many poetry collections. Some critics even called it "immortal."
You can find Nicolaas Beets's old papers and writings at the Leiden University Library. They are also available to view online.
Family and Later Years
In 1840, Nicolaas Beets married Aleida van Foreest. She was the granddaughter of another famous person, Johannes Hendricus van der Palm. Nicolaas and Aleida had nine children together.
After Aleida passed away, he married her sister, Jacoba Elisabeth, in 1859. With Jacoba, he had six more children. Nicolaas also had a sister named Dora Beets, who was also a writer.
Nicolaas Beets lived to be 88 years old. He died in Utrecht in 1903 from a brain haemorrhage.
See also
In Spanish: Nicolaas Beets para niños
