Famous author and painter Jan Cremer passes away at 84

Writer and painter Jan Cremer passed away on Wednesday morning at 84 years of age, publisher De Bezige Bij reported. The author will be buried in a private ceremony attended only by his close circle of friends and family. "He wrote like how he painted, he painted like how he wrote," his wife, Babette Cremer, said.

With Cremer's passing, the Netherlands is losing an icon who "profoundly changed art and literature," said De Bezige Bij. "We are deeply saddened and deeply affected by his death."

Cremer was born in Enschede in 1940 and studied at art academies in Arnhem, The Hague, and Paris. Cremer made his debut in 1964 with his autobiographical book, Ik Jan Cremer, which caused controversy due to the explicit sexual scenes in the novel.

"The majority of the critics were shocked by the book. Parents banned their children from reading it. They did read it eventually and in large numbers," De Bezige Bij said about the book, which was translated into many languages and reprinted dozens of times.

A second and third sequel of Ik Jan Cremer was published later on. Other notable books written by the author are the three-part De Hunnen, De Venus van Montparnasse, and Made in USA.

His publicist confirmed that Cremer was working on a new novel. Whether the book will be published is unknown.

The author was also known for his visual art, which can be seen in places like the Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle.

In 2000, Cremer was honored with the position of Knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands, and in 2020 he received the City of Amsterdam's Frans Banninck Cocq medal. The distinction is awarded to those who have made distinct contributions to the capital during a period of at least twelve years.

Many people paid tribute to Cremer shortly after the author's death. Writer Özcan Akyol called him a "great man" and added that even 50 years after his books were published, they were able to change his life.

Comedian Theo Maassen told ANP that Cremer was a "one-of-a-kind figure that cannot be compared with anyone." Rein Wolfs, the director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, said that Cremer was a multitalented artist who was important for the country.

"He was so important because he shook the Dutch culture up so much, woke it up like only he could do. With that, he stood out in his field, and we will remember him for it."