A Different Side of Paris
What if one ordinary walk could completely change the way you see a city?
In De wandelaar (The Walker), Dutch author Adriaan van Dis takes readers beyond the postcard version of Paris. The story follows Mr Mulder, a wealthy Dutch man living in Paris, whose life changes after he rescues a dog from a burning building. Through the dog, Mulder discovers a very different side of the city — one inhabited by homeless people, refugees and undocumented migrants.
From Comfortable Life to New Perspectives
At first, Mulder is simply a man who enjoys his daily walks through Paris. But his encounters with people living on the margins of society force him to look at his city — and himself — differently.
He wants to help, but things don’t always turn out as expected. This makes De wandelaar more than a story about Paris. It raises questions about compassion, privilege, migration and what it really means to help someone.
Why Expats Will Enjoy This Book
For expats learning Dutch, De wandelaar offers an interesting combination of language, culture and an international setting.
Van Dis himself has a strong connection with Paris. He lived there for more than seven years and continues to feel closely connected to the city. In the novel, he shows both sides of Paris: the beautiful city of culture and the less visible world of poverty, homelessness and migration.
That international perspective makes the book particularly appealing to expats: you can explore themes such as belonging, cultural differences and life in another country while practicing Dutch.
Part of the Leeslicht Series
The Leeslicht edition is a simplified Dutch version of Van Dis’s original novel. It is 126 pages long and suitable for A2–B1 Dutch learners, making it accessible to people who are still developing their Dutch reading skills. The adaptation was written in simple Dutch by Jet Doedel.
A Short Book With Big Questions
De wandelaar is a great choice for Dutch learners who want more than a simple language exercise. It offers an engaging story, introduces readers to a different side of Paris and provides plenty of opportunities to discuss migration, society, culture and what it means to feel at home.
Perfect for expats looking to improve their Dutch while discovering a thought-provoking story by one of the Netherlands’ best-known authors.
