François Haverschmidt, also written asHaverSchmidt (14 February 1835 inLeeuwarden – 19 January 1894 inSchiedam), was a Dutchminister and writer, who wrote prose under his own name but remains best known for the poetry published under the pen name ofPiet Paaltjens. Following his wife's death, he suffered from depression. He committed suicide in 1894.
Haverschmidt studiedCalvinist theology atLeiden University, graduating in 1858. He successively became minister inFoudgum,Den Helder andSchiedam.
During his student days, he had some of his poetry published in student magazines under the pen name of Piet Paaltjens, around whom a playful but elaboratemystification was created as Haverschmidt kept his poetry separate from his "serious" prose and sermons, not unlikeNicolaas Beets.
He became a prime suspect for being theanonymous author of theOera Linda Book,[1] the inferred reason being apractical joke[2] (a parody of the Bible to lampoonfundamentalist Christians).[3] However, many of his contemporaries believed the book to be authentic. This would have prevented Haverschmidt and his collaborators (if they were indeed the authors of the supposedly millennia-old text) from unmasking their hoax, which consequently completely backfired.
Haverschmidt became progressively more depressed, especially after his wife's death in 1891, and ultimately committed suicide in 1894.
A section ofSnikken en grimlachjes has been translated into English byJacob Lowland asEverlastings (1850–1852) (Amsterdam: Aarts, 1982)
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