A Dutch Book with a Remarkable Story Behind It
Looking for an accessible Dutch book to read while learning the language? Voetstappen by Kader Abdolah is a beautiful choice. This Leeslicht edition brings together three short stories about love, loss and homesickness, written in accessible Dutch.
The three stories — Een nacht, Voetstappen and Strijder in de schaduw — A night, Footsteps, Fighter in the shadows, each explore people who are searching for connection, remembering someone they have lost, or dealing with love and longing. The Leeslicht edition is just 80 pages, making it a manageable and engaging book for Dutch learners.
Kader Abdolah: From Iran to Dutch Literature
Kader Abdolah was born in Iran in 1954 and came to the Netherlands in 1988. He had to build a completely new life — including learning a completely new language. Remarkably, he eventually became one of the best-known writers in the Dutch language.
But how did he learn Dutch?
He started with language courses, but soon discovered another way: he read Dutch literature. He studied Harry Mulisch word by word with a dictionary, read poetry by Rutger Kopland and discovered the children’s books of Annie M.G. Schmidt. He also read Dutch columns and poetry to understand how the language really worked.
Learning Dutch Through Reading
Abdolah’s story is a wonderful reminder that learning a language is about more than memorizing vocabulary and grammar. You need to experience the language. Read it, listen to it, speak it and discover how people really use it.
And that makes Voetstappen especially interesting for Dutch learners. You are not only reading a story, you are also discovering Dutch through the eyes of a writer who once had to learn the language himself.
Three Kader Abdolah Books Expats Should Discover
If you enjoy Voetstappen, there are three other books by Kader Abdolah that every expat should know, all available in English as well.
De reis van de lege flessen, The Journey of the Empty Bottles follows an Iranian refugee building a new life in the Netherlands, exploring identity, belonging and the challenges of starting again in a new country.
Spijkerschrift, My Father’s Notebook, is an moving story about a father and son, connecting memories of Iran with life in the Netherlands and the experience of living between two cultures.
Het huis van de moskee, The House of the Mosque offers a fascinating look at Iranian family life, culture, religion and social change. Together, these books provide not only engaging stories, but also a deeper understanding of migration, cultural identity and what it means to find your place in a new country.
Ready to practice your Dutch? Pick up Voetstappen, read a few pages and see where the story takes you.
