Pieter Kuhn

Pieter Joseph Kuhn, who signed as QN, received his lithographer's diploma in 1929, after which he went into advertising. It wasn't until 1945 that he produced his first and only comic series, 'De Avonturen van Kapitein Rob' ('The Adventures of Captain Rob'). This adventurous newspaper strip was, in Pieter Kuhn's own words, "a tale for boys, based on reality, in order to enlarge their maritime, geographic, and general knowledge." Kuhn wrote the first episode, 'Adventures of the Sail Vessel Freedom', completely by himself. Not entirely happy with the result, he started a collaboration with journalist Evert Werkman, who edited and adapted all of Kuhn's texts from then on.

One of the reasons the strip became so popular was because it was researched so well: whenever possible, Kuhn would always visit the places he was drawing. Later on the strip took a turn towards science-fiction with the introduction of mad scientist Lupardi. All of the 'Kapitein Rob' adventures were first published in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool, and later the stories were compiled in albums and booklets, all with great success.

'Kapitein Rob' has been translated into German and French. A note for the fans: there has even been made a musical about Kapitein Rob (by Evert Werkman) and although it has never been performed, it should be out there somewhere.