Background
Born in Leiden, Kossmann was the son of the erudite librarian F. H. Kossmann.
Born in Leiden, Kossmann was the son of the erudite librarian F. H. Kossmann.
Kossmann attended the Gymnasium Erasmianum in Rotterdam but never finished lieutenant
He had two brothers. The Kossmann family was partly of Jewish descent and they came from Germany before they settled in the Netherlands. Subsequently he worked for several years in bookshops and publishing houses. In the Second World War he was arrested.
Kossmann published in 1950 a novel, De nederlaag (The defeat), that was based on their experiences during the war.
After the war he worked mainly in publishing houses. As an experienced traveller he wrote some travel literature.
In 1972 Kossmann had a car accident that left him disabled. His novel Laatst ging ik spelevaren (Of late I went out boating) was based on these experiences.
After the accident he lived for several years in Greece.
He died in Amsterdam. Kossmann"s work is characterized by a sense of irony and detachment.