Harrie Geelen
Harrie Geelen (10 January 1939 – 30 August 2025) was a Dutch illustrator, film director, animator, translator, writer and poet. In 2014, he was made a knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion ("Ridder in de orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw"). Geelen studied Dutch in Amsterdam, where he met his wife Imme Dros, like himself a writer of Dutch children's literature.
Also recorded as Harry Geelen · Henricus Petrus Egidius Alphonsus Geelen
Harrie Geelen
![Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Uitreiking Gouden Harpen van de Stichting Conamus; v.l.n.r. Harrie Geelen (filmmaker etc.), Mieke en Harry Mildenberg Datum: 16 oktober 1978 Trefwoorden: Uitreikingen, prijzen Persoonsnaam: Geelen, Harrie, Mildenberg, Harry, Mildenberg, Mieke Fotograaf: Croes, Rob C. / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Uitreiking_Gouden_Harpen_van_de_Stichting_Conamus_v.l.n.r._Harrie_Geelen_%28film%2C_Bestanddeelnr_929-9496.jpg/1280px-Uitreiking_Gouden_Harpen_van_de_Stichting_Conamus_v.l.n.r._Harrie_Geelen_%28film%2C_Bestanddeelnr_929-9496.jpg)
Rob Croes for Anefo · CC0
- Name
- Harrie Geelen
- Occupation
- Writer, animator, illustrator, scriptwriter, composer, film director, creative director, animator
- Born
- 10 January 1939
- Birthplace
- Heerlen, Netherlands
- Died
- 30 August 2025
- Place of death
- Hilversum, Netherlands
- Nationality
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Fields
- young adult literature
- Honours
- Golden Calf for Best Long Documentary · Golden Harp · Silver Brush · Zilveren Griffel · Golden Paintbrush · Edmond Hustinx Prize for playwrights
- Languages
- Dutch
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Harrie Geelen (10 January 1939 – 30 August 2025) was a Dutch illustrator, film director, animator, translator, writer and poet. In 2014, he was made a knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion ("Ridder in de orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw"). Geelen studied Dutch in Amsterdam, where he met his wife Imme Dros, like himself a writer of Dutch children's literature.
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wikidata · Q336607 · wikipedia · Harrie Geelen
In this article
Biography
Biography
Geelen wrote several well known television children's programs and translated Disney movies into Dutch. He illustrated his own books and those of his wife Imme Dros, some books by Annie M. Schmidt and a book by Toon Tellegen. He published the novel "Het Nijlpaard Ellende" and short stories like "Ooms en Tantes, Tantes en Ooms". For the movie "Pinkeltje" he was the director, designer as well as the scriptwriter. Other work included feature films and a large TV series ("de Sommeltjes") with the use of simple computers. A lot of his children books were published by Querido. Some of his books are published in Japan, Sweden, and France. The animated documentary about addiction "Getekende Mensen" won a "Gouden Kalf", the Dutch award for outstanding television programmes. Many documentaries made by him at Toonder Studios won prizes in New Work and Paris. Some of the series he worked on: • 1968 t/m 1972 – Oebele; dialogue and songs. His wife Imme Dros attributed short stories which Geelen visualised using drawings of children • 1972 t/m 1976 – Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer?; scenario and songs • 1974 and 1976 – Q & Q; scenario • 1981 Pinkeltje – script direction and technical planning • 1983 – Als je begrijpt wat ik bedoel; director of soundtrack and co-scenarist • 2002 – Sommeltjes Scripts design animation direction (VPRO)"1996 Carmen & IK – Script songs animation, design and direction (NPS) • 2003 Annetje Lie in het holst van de nacht – story adapted from the novel of Imme Dros. Script songs animation, design and direction (VPRO) Geelen died in Hilversum on 30 August 2025, at the age of 86.
The recorded working language is Dutch. The field of work recorded is young adult literature. Places of work recorded in the authority are Hilversum. Employment is recorded with Prad, Dollywood and Toonder Studios. Work by Harrie Geelen is recorded in the collections of Eye Filmmuseum. Distinctions recorded are Golden Calf for Best Long Documentary, Golden Harp, Silver Brush and Zilveren Griffel.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Harrie Geelen • Occupation — Writer, animator, illustrator, scriptwriter, composer, film director, creative director, animator • Born — 10 January 1939 • Birthplace — Heerlen, Netherlands • Died — 30 August 2025 • Place of death — Hilversum, Netherlands
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Heerlen.
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Hilversum.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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