Annie M.G. Schmidt

Annie M.G. Schmidt (1911–1995) was a Dutch writer of children’s books, plays, poems, and songs, known for irreverent humor and works such as Jip and Janneke.

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Jip and Janneke: A Dutch children’s book series about two young neighbors, illustrated by Fiep Westendorp. Schmidt’s best-known children’s characters made everyday mischief a lasting literary tradition.
Fiep Westendorp: A Dutch illustrator best known for drawing characters in Annie M.G. Schmidt’s children’s books. Her drawings gave Jip and Janneke their instantly recognizable visual form.
Kapelle: A municipality in the Dutch province of Zeeland, where Annie M.G. Schmidt was born. Schmidt’s childhood began in this Zeeland village, far from the urban worlds of many later stories.
Dutch children's literature: Literature written for children in the Dutch language and its cultural traditions. Schmidt’s humor and everyday child protagonists became central to its modern history.
Pluk van de Petteflet: A Dutch children’s novel about a boy who lives in a small red crane truck. This beloved novel shows Schmidt’s imaginative storytelling beyond her shorter Jip and Janneke tales.
Harry Bannink: A Dutch composer who wrote music for theater, television, and songs with Annie M.G. Schmidt. Their long collaboration produced major Dutch musicals and widely remembered songs.
Dutch resistance: The organized and informal opposition to Nazi occupation in the Netherlands during World War II. Schmidt worked in the resistance press during the German occupation.
Annie M.G. Schmidt Prize: A Dutch annual award for the best theater song, named after Annie M.G. Schmidt. The prize honors the songwriting tradition that Schmidt helped establish.
Minoes: A Dutch children’s novel about a woman who was transformed from a cat and communicates with cats. Schmidt’s comic fantasy became one of her best-known novels and inspired screen adaptations.
Wim Sonneveld: A Dutch cabaret performer and singer who performed songs written by Annie M.G. Schmidt and Harry Bannink. His performances helped bring their witty songs to a broad audience.