Background
Dèr Mouw was born in Westervoort. His father Jacob Cornelis der Mouw (orig Dermauw) was for a short period insurance agent and bookseller. His mother Anna Elisabeth Zillinger was director of a school in Deventer.
literary historian philosopher teacher writer poet
Dèr Mouw was born in Westervoort. His father Jacob Cornelis der Mouw (orig Dermauw) was for a short period insurance agent and bookseller. His mother Anna Elisabeth Zillinger was director of a school in Deventer.
Dèr Mouw attended the Gymnasium (grammar school) in Deventer and studied at Leiden University from 1883 up to 1887, where he took up Greek, Latin, Sanskrit and philosophy.
During Dèr Mouw"s life only some of his poems were published in literary journals. After graduating, Dèr Mouw got a job as teacher at the Gymnasium in Doetinchem. In 1893 Dèr Mouw married Hendrika van Enst.
Their stepdaughter Teuntje Vink was later renamed Hetty der Mouw.
Dèr Mouw"s companionship with the son of the headmaster of the Gymnasium in Doetinchem led to a conflict. He was sued and convicted for insulting the headmaster.
(His attorney was Pieter Jelles Troelstra). In the course of the scandal Dèr Mouw tried to commit suicide.
Afterwards, Dèr Mouw moved to Rijswijk in 1904, and later to The Hague, where he supported his family by giving private tuition.
He devoted the rest of his life to writing poetry and studying philosophy. He published two books on philosophy, with special attention to Hegel. 15 sonnets.
He defended his doctoral dissertation (Quomodo Antiqui Naturam mirati sunt?) at Leiden University in 1890.