multatuli
'I have endured a lot of suffering'. The words of Dutch writer, Multatuli, hold a significant meaning. However, most Dutch people now only think of his novel, ‘Max Havelaar’, when they throw a bag of coffee into a shopping cart. Slavery and corruption. You don't want to think about how that coffee bean got to your kitchen while you scroll on your phone and drink your freshly brewed macchiato. Eduard Douwes Dekker (a.k.a Multatuli) thought otherwise, and through the character of Max, he brought the reality of the Netherlands’ actions overseas to light. And with his other book, ‘Woutertje Pieterse’, he let us dream of a better world.