About Gerda Hartkamp

Gerda Hartkamp is the author of historical novels and children's books about the Dutch East Indies. Through her writing, she aims to tell the story of the war in the Dutch East Indies in an accessible way, hoping to make the Dutch more familiar with the history of the East Indies. Too few Dutch people are aware of this history, and that needs to change. She wants the third and fourth generations of Indo-Europeans to learn about their family history and believes they have a right to know the history of their ancestors.

Gerda Hartkamp comes from a warm family with three children and was born in Sneek. Her mother is from the Dutch East Indies and was born on Java. Her father is a Frisian who was sent to New Guinea as a marine. Indonesian customs were instilled in Gerda from an early age, often without her noticing. 

As a child, she could always be found in a corner with a book. Even if the world around her were falling apart, she would continue reading, completely unperturbed. Her love of adventure books dates back to this time. Her love of true stories came later.

She started dating Richard when she was fourteen and married him at twenty-three. As the mother of three wonderful children, she sadly became a widow at a young age.

It was only around the age of sixty that she found the time to pick up a pen and write a book, which led her to discover a new passion. She finds not only writing, but also researching facts from the past fascinating. She often feels like an investigative journalist who spends hours searching for events to describe, she says.

She made her debut with the children's book series "Lotje," named after her mother who grew up in the Dutch East Indies.

Her first historical novel is called ‘From Frisian Clay to Tropical Uniform' and is based on a true story. It is about the lives of her grandparents and their children, including her mother, on the beautiful island of Java and about the terrible period during and after the Second World War in the Dutch East Indies.

The second historical novel, ‘Torn Trust, deals with the same subject, but from three different perspectives. Much of this novel is based on true events. A Japanese commander, a white KNIL soldier, and a young Javanese man. Three cultures and ideals in conflict, blurring the boundaries between friendship and enmity. What dominates? Honor, conscience, or love?

Her third historical novel will be about a comfort woman. A subject that has been hushed up for years.

By writing these stories, she hopes to reach people who want to know more about these dark chapters of our history, because she has a desire to keep the history of the Dutch East Indies alive. For now and for later.