Dutch Treats: An Interview with Mensje van Keulen

Celebrated Dutch author Mensje van Keulen shares the inspirations behind her story “Devil’s Island” in Dutch Treats, her love of American short fiction, and what she recommends most to visitors in Amsterdam.

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Dutch Treats: Meet Mensje van Keulen

• Tell our readers a little about yourself.

I’m a full-time writer. I was born in The Hague and live now in Amsterdam.

• Where did the idea for “Devil’s Island,” your contribution to Dutch Treats, come from?

My own neighborhood, where the Old Catholic Church is located across from Café Loetje, gave me the idea for this story, so it is not without reason that the devil—always an interesting character—might play a role….

• What are some of your favorite books by American writers, and why do you like them?

I enjoy reading short stories by Patricia Highsmith, Poe, Carson McCullers, Carver, Cheever, James Salter, and others. They manage to maintain tension in a short space of time.

• If American readers were to visit The Netherlands, what’s one thing you’d encourage them to see or do?

There are so many walks worth taking in Amsterdam, so many museums and quiet parks. And when you’re tired, take a canal cruise. By the way: the church and cafe I mentioned are not far from the three major museums on Museumplein (Museum Square): the Van Gogh, Rijks, and Stedelijk.

Dutch Treats will be available September 1, 2025.

Preorder the Paperback here — Dutch Treats Paperback

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