Bette Adriaanse

Bette Adriaanse (born 1984, Amsterdam), also known as Bette A. is a Dutch writer and visual artist. She is known for her interdisciplinary approach to storytelling, often blending fiction, illustration and philosophy.

Early Life and Education

Adriaanse was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Oudorp, a town in the Netherlands. She studied Image and Language at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and later completed a Master in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.

Career

Adriaanse's debut novel, Rus Like Everyone Else (2015), tells the stories of the residents of a fictional neighborhood, as seen through the eyes of the postal worker. Themes addressed in the novel include urban alienation and the search for human connection. The book was later translated into Dutch as Post voor Rus Ordelman (2016) by Adriaanse.

Her second novel, Wat van mij is (Cossee, 2023), was originally written in both Dutch and English, developing into two separate books telling the same tale in different ways. The English language novel was published as What's Mine by Unnamed Press. Both versions explore ownership, justice, and inequality. The plot revolves around two men fighting over an apartment.

In 2025, Adriaanse co-authored What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory with musician and artist Brian Eno. It was published by Faber & Faber. The book examines the purpose and impact of art on individuals and society, and is described as "a kind of joyous manifesto."

Adriaanse's short stories and visual artworks have been published in various European magazines focused on literature, philosophy, and the arts, such as the magazine Structo. She taught creative writing at Gerrit Rietveld Academie. She is a co-founder of the TRQSE Foundation, promoting collaborations between artists and scientists around social topics. She is co-founder of the Heroines! movement, a global story-telling project around women role models.

Awards and Recognition

In 2020, Adriaanse was nominated for the Victoriefonds Cultuurprijs in the category Literature, recognizing her contributions to literature in the Alkmaar region.

Her debut novel, Rus Like Everyone Else, received critical acclaim:

Author Marti Leimbach described it as "the freshest, most unusual writing I'd come across in years."
Poet George Szirtes called it "elegant and tantalizing," likening it to "something between Rear Window and Under Milk Wood."
Structo Magazine wrote "I can’t neatly explain why, but I think you should read this book."

Her second novel, Wat van mij is, received critical acclaim:

Tzum wrote: "Wat van mij is has a surprising plot, ownership and asks good questions about property and heritage."
Nederlands Dagblad wrote: "Wat van mij is has a surprising plot, ownership and asks good questions about property and heritage."
Tzum described it as "a surprising, sometimes slightly absurdist novel" with "a filmic character" and a "layered commentary on ownership and justice."

The English version, What's Mine, received endorsements:

Brian Eno called it "a surprising and deep work with a persistent quiet momentum... totally engaging."
Author Caoilinn Hughes praised it as "a timeless book that deserves a wide readership," highlighting Adriaanse’s "distinctive voice."
Technology theorist Alan N. Shapiro termed it "a stellar achievement," especially in depicting "the pervasive violence of contemporary urban capitalism."

What Art Does: An Unfinished Theoryreceived critical acclaim :

David Shariatmadari of The Guardian called it "a kind of joyous manifesto."
Peter Murphy in The Irish Times commended it for "rendering sophisticated and sometimes slippery ideas in clear, accessible language," describing it as "a beautiful book."
Kirkus Reviews called it "a slim but idea-rich volume that is as visually engaging as it is intellectually stimulating."

Bibliography

Rus Like Everyone Else (2015)
Post voor Rus Ordelman (2016) – Dutch version of Rus Like Everyone Else
Wat van mij is (2023)
What's Mine (2023)
What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory (2025, co-authored with Brian Eno)

External links

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