Career
In World World War II he was involved in the Dutch Resistance and assisted in the (illegal at the time) publication of Vrij Nederland. In 1953 he founded the literary magazine Maatstaf, which he edited until 1969. He (along with fellow publisher Geert van Oorschot) was described as a "living legend" in the Dutch publishing industry, having supported and published authors such as Adriaan Roland Holst, Martinus Nijhoff, Gerrit Achterberg, and Neeltje Maria Minister