From scientist to storyteller, Gert-Jan van den Bemd has led an extraordinary creative journey. After two decades studying vitamin D and estrogen’s effects on bone and cancer cells, he left science behind to write full-time. In this Dutch Treats interview, he shares the real-life inspiration behind his suspenseful story Promises to Keep, his love for Patricia Highsmith’s morally complex characters, and his favorite spots in The Netherlands that tourists often miss.
• Tell our readers a little about yourself.
I worked as a scientist for twenty years, studying the effects of vitamin D and estrogen on bone and cancer cells. Then I switched to science journalism. In 2022, I quit my job to become a fulltime writer. I try to make a drawing or painting now and then, but most of the time I’m busy writing.
• Where did the idea for “Promises to Keep,” your story in Dutch Treats, come from?
The idea came from a real observation: someone tried to sell a gun on a website where you could buy “normal” stuff, like books and furniture. Guns were not allowed, and the next day the gun was no longer visible. But I thought, What if someone remembered the name of the seller and made a false offer on some other item to get in contact...
• What are some of your favorite books by American writers, and why do you like them?
I really like Patricia Highsmith. I have a special cabinet in my living room where I keep some of her first editions. I like her focus on ordinary people who get into trouble in ways that could happen to any of us. That’s her strength.
• If American readers were to visit The Netherlands, what’s one thing you’d encourage them to see or do?
Amsterdam is nice, but way too crowded. Go to Rotterdam, Leiden, Haarlem, or Gouda instead. Or Leeuwarden or Maastricht. Or Breda, my hometown. Go to a local pub, have a beer or two, and I’m sure you'll have a nice conversation with locals. Ask what they love about their city, and they will show you the more off-the-beaten-path places.
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