Biography

Rien Poortvliet was born on August 7, 1932 in Schiedam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was a writer and actor, known for The Gnomes' Great Adventure (1987), Adventures in the snow (1997) and David the Gnome (1985). He died on September 15, 1995 in Soest, Utrecht, Netherlands.

His books have been translated into English, French, German, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish, Italian and other languages.

Poortvliet found recognition when Prince Bernhard opened the Rien Poortvliet Museum in 1992. This museum stood in the old, historic Town Hall of Middelharnis, "Fortunately far away from the modern art gang in Amsterdam" as Poortvliet said in an interview..

Rien Poortvliet was a Dutch artist and illustrator, best known for his drawings of animals and for "Gnomes", a famous series of illustrated books with text by Wil Huygen.

The Rien Poortvliet Museum is on the island of Tiengemeten in The Netherlands.

He was also a passionate hunter, which led him to drawing various nature subjects.