Former Vrij Nederland editor-in-chief Rinus Ferdinandusse (90) passed away
NOS News••Amended
Former Vrij Nederland editor-in-chief and writer Rinus Ferdinandusse has died at the age of 90. His family reports this to the ANP news agency. Ferdinandusse headed the editorial board of Vrij Nederland from 1969 to 1991.
Ferdinandusse joined Vrij Nederland in 1959. His application on a misunderstanding, he said in an interview from 2010. He thought he was dividing on a position where he would have to cut pieces from published newspapers. But editor-in-chief Mathieu Smedts “thought I was applying to be an editor and asked, ‘Can you write?’ “He started right away.
Ten years later, he became editor-in-chief and more popular of the newspaper. The pinnacle of which was a circulation of nearly 120,000. “From roughly 1970 to 1985, the UN was the newspaper of the Netherlands,” he said. “During that period there was a unique conglomeration of talent.” The magazine contained long, controversial pieces about politics and culture. Renate Rubinstein and Hugo Brandt Corstius were two renowned columnists for VN, Bibeb the great interviewer.
Today Vrij Nederland shared the very first story of Ferdinandusse in that newspaper, from 1959:
“He was a man who was very difficult to grasp,” says journalist Gerard Mulder, who worked with Ferdinandusse at Vrij Nederland between 1976 and 1986. “Although he talked a lot, he remained closed and prevented and strained to himself.”
Among other things, the editor-in-chief devised the VN Detective & Thriller Guide. Mulder: “Free Netherlands was democratic at that time, there was no chief who said what had to be done. But in this way he left his mark on the editorial team.” In addition, he was also responsible for comic sections in VN.
He also wrote portraits of movie stars. According to Mulder, he was obsessed with movie stars. “He was particularly interested in their love life. He measured that widely.”
Decreasing circulation
The circulation of Vrij Nederland slowly began to decline. It has left up discussions on the editorial board and part of the permanent. At the time, editors who criticized the leadership received anonymous letters.
Mulder: “They were burned down in a clear way without it being clear who was behind it. In the meantime it has become clear that Ferdinandusse was behind it himself.” Mulder, who also left, called it “Ferdinandusse’s nonsensical way of directing events at the editorial office”.
After retiring as editor-in-chief in 1991, he remained active for Vrij Nederland. He continued to contribute to the Detective & Thriller guide. He also wrote thrillers himself. One of his books, Naked over the fence (1966), was filmed in 1973 by Frans Weisz. In 2001 was asked to write the book gift for the Month of the Exciting Book.
jury chairman
Since 2001 he was a member of the jury of the Film by the Sea film festival in Vlissingen. A year later he became jury chairman, which he remained until 2014.
Ferdinandusse also had a predilection for cabaret. He wrote for the satirical student magazine Propria Cures and was leader of the Haags Studentencabaret from 1954 to 1965. He became nationally known as a participant in the satirical VARA television program It just so happens once again which was on display between 1963 and 1966.
Mulder: “After that he was also a frequent speaker. He was able to give speeches at the anniversaries and when people left there. You could see his penchant for cabaret in marriage. And also at UN he initially used everything witty, such as witty columns and other witty pieces.”