Background
When he was four years old, he and his family, of Berber background, migrated to The Netherlands and settled in Rotterdam, where his father worked as a butcher.
When he was four years old, he and his family, of Berber background, migrated to The Netherlands and settled in Rotterdam, where his father worked as a butcher.
He has been described as one of the Netherlands" leading writers. When he was twenty-one his debut novel Bruiloft aan zee (Wedding at the Sea) appeared and was a huge critical and commercial success. lieutenant was translated into many languages.
In addition to novels and plays, Benali has published essays and reviews in respected newspapers and magazines including De Volkskrant, Vrij Nederland, De Groene Amsterdammer, Esquire and Algemeen Dagblad.
He also wrote a book about his failed attempt to improve his best result, Marathonloper (Marathon Runner). Abdelkader Benali masters Dutch, and speaks Berber and English.