Wim Bijmoer

Wim Bijmoer was meant to have a career in economics, but he displayed such a creative talent as a boy that he was allowed to go to Art school instead. He got his first assignments in theater, designing sets. Shortly after the war, he was employed by the newspaper Het Parool, where he started illustrating the children's poetry of Annie M. G. Schmidt, the famous writer of children's books. Their collaboration proved a fruitful one: over the years, Bijmoer provided the artwork for hundreds of her stories.

Between 1947 and 1950, they published 'Het Schaap Veronica' in the Het Parool, and between 1953 and 1954, they produced 'Hendrik Haarklover', and later on 'Pippeloentje'. A whole generation that grew up with Schmidt's colorful characters will forever remember his depiction of her stories.

Wim Bijmoer also did freelance illustration work, for instance on the advertising publication 'Kabouter Puntmuts', a story written by T. bij de Ley for a biscuit factory.

In 1990, Bijmoer lost his sight in a failed eye operation. He died on September 29, 2000, at the age of 86.