In the Netherlands he became particularly famous for his novels. In 1972, de Vries got national recognition when his novel Bartje was made into a television series by Willy van Hemert. Bartje subsequently became the symbol of the Dutch province Drenthe.
De Vries died, aged 60, in Zeist.
De Vries wrote regional novels, most famously the coming-of-age novel Bartje and Bartje Seeks Happiness. He also wrote, a children"s book about World World War II published in four volumes (first in 1951, last in 1958).
The books on Bartje can be considered Bildungsromans.