Peter van Gestel

Peter van Gestel studied at Academy of Theatre and Dance and Nederlandse Radio-Unie. The recorded working language is Dutch and English. Works named in the authority record are Winterijs and Ko Kruier en zijn stadsgenoten. Distinctions recorded are Gouden Griffel, Zilveren Griffel, Woutertje Pieterse prize and Theo Thijsen Award.

• Name — Peter van Gestel • Pen Name — * Peter van Gestel • Sander Joosten • Born — 3 August 1937 • Birthplace — Amsterdam, Netherlands • Died — 1 March 2019 • Place of death — Amsterdam, Netherlands • Occupation — Writer • Language — Dutch • Years Active — 1962–2019

Van Gestel made his debut in 1962 with Drempelvrees, a collection of stories. He received the Reina Prinsen Geerligsprijs for this book. In 1976, he published the book Ver van huis under the pseudonym Sander Joosten. He made his debut in children's literature with Schuilen onder je schooltas in 1979. He received the Vlag en Wimpel award for this book. He received the Nienke van Hichtum-prijs 1987 for his book Ko Kruier en zijn stadsgenoten (1985) with illustrations by Peter van Straaten. For his children's book Winterijs he won the Woutertje Pieterse Prijs 2002 as well as the Gouden Griffel 2002 award and the Nienke van Hichtum-prijs 2003. He became the first to be awarded these three awards for a single book. Winterijs tells the story of a ten year old living in Amsterdam in the winter of 1947 developing a friendship with a Jewish boy. The story is inspired by van Gestel's brother's friendship with a Jewish boy when both were also ten years old. Van Gestel does not consider the book to be an autobiography but acknowledges that there are many similarities between the characters and people from his youth. In 2006, he won the Theo Thijssen-prijs for his entire oeuvre.

Van Gestel died in March 2019.