Zywa

Voskuil, Han



Zywa Inside view Describing the world as I understand it perhaps as I wish it to be Observing myself, the world and the people who hold their own among themselves, so intently that I remember it and can pass it on as if the readers are getting a view into them, into me, and into themselves seeing how little it means the work, the achievements, and even less so the erudition of the show-offs and the self-importance of the managers and society

Poem 5877
Amsterdam, 2026-02-10
From July 1st, 1957, Han Voskuil worked at "The Office", and he made extensive notes about it in his diaries
Keywords: World(view), Self-knowledge (acquire)



Just let me die, then

I'll stay with you, and you will --

know that I am there.



Laat me maar doodgaan,
dan blijf ik bij jou, en jij --	bleibe ich bei dir, und du --
weet dat ik er ben.	weißt, dass ich da bin.

Poem H3750
Amsterdam, 2023-03-04
The Office - And melancholy, too (Han Voskuil) - 1999
Novel "Het Bureau - En ook weemoedigheid"
Page 351, Maarten Koning (1980)
Keyword: Depression (gloom)



Zywa Department Head With the new director I choose the offensive prepared to sacrifice myself and, like Samson let my enemies perish with me I haven't glossed over the nonsense of our paperwork nor praised ourselves for the perseverance with which we built the archive. It's precisely we, who averse to prestige we, the vulnerable, the misfits, who can do it - with healthy reluctance Don't touch us don't shave our hair: the temple will collapse!

Poem 5853
Amsterdam, 2026-02-05
Interview
Jaap van Marle talks about his introduction to Han Voskuil (interview in Vrij Nederland, November 23rd, 1996)
Keywords: Together: labour / work / office, Bible



Zywa We know Don't touch us, we know how far we can go at work, we know what it's like to live with each other, with a lost butterfly, with stray cats and outsiders, here and outside the office, we know what's wrong with promotions and pastimes, and what's missing in community spirit, we know that you shouldn't ask us to build a career or get the accolades with humorous lectures We know that only thorough work is sufficient - work without juiciness and premature conclusions

Poem 5856
Amsterdam, 2026-02-06
Interview
This poem belongs to poem 5853. Department Head
Jan Veldhuijzen (1938) gives in Vrij Nederland (23 November 1996) his opinion upon the character Jan Boerakker in the novel "Het Bureau" ("The Office", 7 parts, 1996-2000, Han Voskuil)
Keyword: Together: labour / work / office



Publishing quickly

becomes vanity, a waste --

of ink and paper.



Publiceren is
al gauw ijdelheid, zonde --	leicht zur Eitelkeit, schade --
van inkt en papier.	auch um das Papier.

Poem S3074
Amsterdam, 2026-02-05
Interview - 1996
Interview with Ton Dekker in Vrij Nederland (November 23rd, 1996), in which he talks about the work in the Department of Folklife Studies in "The Office"
Keyword: Prestige: conceit



You may recognise

yourself in a novel as --

in a clear mirror.



Soms herken je je-
zelf beter in een roman --	sich in einem Roman mehr --
dan in een spiegel.	als in dem Spiegel.

Poem H6095
Amsterdam, 2026-02-06
Interview - 1996
Rob Rentenaar (1938-2016) gives in Vrij Nederland (23 November 1996) his opinion upon the character Koos Rentjes in the novel "Het Bureau" ("The Office", 7 parts, 1996-2000, Han Voskuil)
Keyword: Self-knowledge (acquire)

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