Wim Brands
Wim Brands (Brummen, 29 March 1959 – Amsterdam, 4 April 2016) was a Dutch poet, journalist and TV presenter.
Wim Brands

Vera de Kok · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Wim Brands
- Born
- 29 March 1959
- Birthplace
- Brummen
- Died
- 4 April 2016
- Place of death
- Amsterdam
- Occupation
- poet, TV presenter
- Nationality
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Languages
- Dutch
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1879372 · wikipedia · Wim Brands
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Wim Brands • Born — 29 March 1959 • Birthplace — Brummen • Died — 4 April 2016 • Place of death — Amsterdam • Years Active — 1978–2016 • Occupation — poet, TV presenter
Biography
Biography
• Illustration — Brands in 2012 on the radio broadcast, Het Filosofisch Kwintet In 1978, the then 19-year-old Brands made his debut as a poet in Hollands Maandblad. His work appeared in literary magazines and he published several books, some of which involved poetry: Inslag (1985), Koningen, de gehavende (1990), Zwemmen in de nacht (1995), In de metro (1997), De schoenen van de buurman (1999), Ruimtevaart (2005), Neem me mee, zei de hond (2010), Serendipiteit: over ontdekkingslust en wetenschap (2014), Sterven is doodeenvoudig: iedereen kan het (2014) and finally ’s Middags zwem ik in de Noordzee (2014). He was also a member of the jury of ECI Literatuurprijs. On 26 January 2012, Compaan Uitgevers published his anthology De vijftig beste gedichten van Wim Brands (50 of the best Poems by Wim Brands). Brands began his career working as a journalist at Leidsch Dagblad and Vrij Nederland. Since 1987, Brands has worked for the Dutch broadcaster VPRO. He was one of the producers and presenters of the radioshow De Avonden. Brands was most recognised as a presenter of the television show Boeken on contemporary literature. In 2009, he received a medal of honor from the writer's association Vereniging van Letterkundigen (VvL). In 2013/2014 he was Writer in Residence at University College London.
Late life and death
Late life and death
Wim Brands was last seen as presenter on the television show Boeken on 20 March 2016. He had been presenting this program for the last 11 years of his life. The program was then taken over a week later by Jeroen van Kan, who later reported that Brands medical condition prevented him from presenting the show. On 4 April 2016 Brands died aged 57. The broadcaster VPRO later reported that Brands suffered from depression and that it eventually resulted into him taking his own life.
Programs
Programs
• Boeken • De Avonden • Boeken op reis • Brands met denkers: Grote Woorden • Marathoninterviews • Brands met boeken • Boeken op bezoek
Identity
Identity
Wim Brands is recorded with the occupation television presenter. Recorded with the occupation radio personality. Recorded with the occupation journalist. Recorded with the occupation writer. Recorded with the occupation poet. Recorded as radio personality, poet, journalist, writer and presenter.

Wim Brands at "Week of Poetry" event
Vera de Kok
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1959
Wim Brands was born on 29 March 1959.
2016
Wim Brands died on 4 April 2016.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Brummen.
Birth place
Amsterdam.
Death place
Philosophy
Next to literature, philosophy played an important role in his life. He worked for Human (Dutch humanistic broadcast company) and interviewed multiple Dutch philosophers for his radio program.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Wim Brands”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1879372: Wim Brands
General reference · Wikidata
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Wim Brands, revision 1371713666 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
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 18 August 2026.
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