Novels
Sandblasted – Publishing house Augustus · 2007
Sandblasted is set on the island where I was born, Curaçao. It analyses the question how identity is formed and what we can claim as our home. Sandblasted was nominated for a literary prize in the Netherlands for first-time novelists. It is only available in Dutch, but Sam Garrett has translated the first scenes, which you can read here.
The Consul General's Wife (Mede namens mijn vrouw) – Publishing house Augustus / Atlas Contact · 2010
Translated by Kate Brown and available in English on amazon.com and iTunes. In this interview I explain how the translation came about.
The sad and tragi-comic tale of an aging diplomat and his downfall, which reverberates through the lives of those around him, The Consul General’s Wife is an astute portrait of universal human foibles, set against the intriguingly unfamiliar backdrop of modern Embassy life.
– Emma Garman reviews book for NY Magazine and interviewed me for Words Without Borders.
The Consul General’s Wife is set in the rarified world of Dutch diplomats, but the expertly drawn characters who inhabit it represent a much broader spectrum of humanity. Urbane, worldly, world-weary, scheming: they seem ultimate creatures of our age. Then again, Aliefka’s Bijlsma’s rich novel calls to mind most of all the work of Graham Greene–which suggests that we are dealing with a category of human experience that is timeless.
– Russell Shorto, author and contributing writer for New York Times Magazine
Film & TV
Till Death Do Us Part – drama series – Netflix
Writers’ room
In development
Bon Futuro – dramaserie – Netflix
Idea & created by
Co-creator: Dorien Goertzen
In development
Omerta – drama series – Streamz
Writers’ room & pilot episode
Set up of drama series ‘Omerta’ created by show runner Tom Goris and producer Anthony van Biervliet. With Julie van Bovendaerde and Femke van de Steen.
In development · Launch: september 2025
Wild Territory’ (Woeste Grond) – (40 episodes) – AVROTROS/NPO 1
Format Creator
A 40 episode Telenovela helmed by show runner/director Johan Nijenhuis. Production company: JOCO Media.
First released Sept 2024
The F*ckulty – drama series – Videoland / NL Film
Writers’ room (2 episodes)
Drama series ‘The F*ckulty’ for commercial streamer Videoland. Lead writer: Dorien Goertzen, with Joe Esmeijer. Production company: NL Film.
Release: feb. 2025
Kain – feature film – WW Entertainment
Producer
Producing partner: Mildred Roethof / Human Nature Films. Coproducer: We Need Dreams. Writer: Ellen Barendregt. Director: Gabriel Bauer. Idea and lead actor: Daniël Gellvoet. Distributor: WW Entertainment.
Release: april 2026
And We Fly Through Days – television film – KRO-NCRV / CoBO
Screenplay & creative producer
Television film ‘And We Fly Through Days’ for Dutch broadcaster KRONCRV . Co-writer: Ellen Barendregt. Director: Janne Schmidt. Production company JOCO Media.
Released Feb. 2025.
Roseline’s Lovers – feature film – Ember Film Productions, South Africa
Co-producer
A Dutch South Africa co-production funded through Thuthuka of Dutch Filmfund. Lead producer is Lika Betning of Ember Productions. Writer: Richard de Nooy.
In development.
The Hustle – action comedy – Nijenhuis & Co
Screenplay & Co-producer
Co-writer Yan Ting Yuen. Director: Gonzalo Fernandez Carmona. Production company: Nijenhuis & Co. Distributor DFW.
Project development (Dutch Filmfund).
Liesje – documentary (3 episodes) – Videoland
Creative producer
Director/Producer Mildred Roethof.
Released on Videoland October 2021
Moroccan Wedding – feature – DFW / Nijenhuis & Co
Screenplay
Developed with and idea by Mina el Hannaoui. Producers Johan Nijenhuis & Ingmar Menning (Nijenhuis & Co)
Released in 2022
Babies Etc. – feature film – Nijenhuis & Co
Screenplay
Director Johan Nijenhuis, producer Ingmar Menning (Nijenhuis & Co).
Release Sept. 2021
Swanenburg – TV series – KRO-NCRV / KeyFilm & Stepping Stone
Writers’ room / through lines
Based on an idea by Edward Stelder and created by Dorien Goertzen & Simone van den Ende. Producers: Key Film & Stepping Stone.
Released July 2021
Benghazi International – TV series – NTR / NL Film
Dramaturgy
Created by Waldemar Torenstra, lead writer Tal Miller (Israel). Production company: NL Film. NTR.
In development
Atrocity – TV series – AVROTROS / Ekeby & Fiction Valley
Co-creator original format
TV series ‘Atrocity’, idea by Pieter Bart Korthuis and Alon Aranya. Producers: Ekeby & Fiction Valley.
In development
Driss – TV series – BNNVARA
Writer and producer
With Edward Stelder & Asis Aynan, in co-production with broadcaster BNNVARA.
In development
The Marriage Escape (De Beentjes van St. Hildegard) – feature film – Nijenhuis & Co
Head development
Feature film by Herman Finkers & director Johan Nijenhuis.
Release: 2020
When Mummy Went to War (Zomer Zonder Mama) – television film – KRO-NCRV / Nijenhuis & Co
Creative producer
Screenwriter Kate Brown, director Sanne Vogel, producers Johan Nijenhuis & Ingmar Menning (Nijenhuis & Co)
Uitgezonden: 2019
Amira’s Guitar (Goed voor Elkaar) – feature film – Nijenhuis & Co
Creative producer
Financed through Cinema Junior procedure of the Dutch Film fund. Screenwriter Kate Brown, director Sanne Vogel, producers Johan Nijenhuis & Ingmar Menning (Nijenhuis & Co).
Men from Mars (Mannen van Mars) – speelfilm – Nijenhuis & Co
Creative producer
Screenwriter Hans Somers, director Hans Somers, producers Johan Nijenhuis & Ingmar Menning (Nijenhuis & Co).
Theatrical release march 2018
Boys will be Boys (Onze Jongens) – feature film – Nijenhuis & Co
Dramaturgy
Screenwriter Annelou Verboon, director Johan Nijenhuis, producers Johan Nijenhuis & Ingmar Menning (Nijenhuis & Co).
Theatrical release 2017
Skirt Day (Rokjesdag) – feature film – Nijenhuis & Co
Head Development
Directed by Johan Nijenhuis, production company: Nijenhuis & Co.
Released 2016
Crazy Happy (Gek van Geluk) – feature film – Nijenhuis & Co
Head Development
Directed by Johan Nijenhuis, production company: Nijenhuis & Co.
Released 2017
Hong Kong Sister – speelfilm – Kaap Holland
Screenplay
Director Yan Ting Yuen, producer Maarten Swart (Kaap Holland)
In development
TV Formats & pitches – fiction
Concept development
I have developed and written many formats and pitches for TV series. Examples available per request.
The Lion Pit (De Leeuwenkuil) – children's TV series – TROS
Screenplay (10 episodes)
Together with screenwriter Sander de Regt. Director Diede in ‘t Veld, producers Johan Nijenhuis & Ingmar Menning, broadcaster Tros.
Broadcasted in 2013
Solo – speelfilm – Rinkel Film
Screenplay
Producer Reinier Selen (Rinkel Film). Solo was commissioned by the Dutch Film fund in 2007 and selected for the North by Northwest screenplay programme of the EU.
Plans are evolving to bring this screenplay back to life.
Het wetboek van Milo – TV series – VTM / Net5 / NL Film
Screenplay (1 episode)
Producer Alain de Levita (NL Film). Broadcaster VTM & Net5.
Broadcast in 2008
Tramp – mockumentary – Riba Filmproductions
Director, screenplay and camera
With Nestor Sanz. Producer Arry Voorsmit (Riba Filmproductions).
2007
Get in the Pit – music video – The Milwaukee Wildmen / Rocketta Film
Director, camera and editor
Producer: Erik Schut
2003
Adrenaline – feature film
Screenplay (co-author)
Together with director Roel Reiné.
Theatrical release 2003
Op-eds & magazines
Het Parool
Op-ed: Meer dan zwarte bladzijde
About how Dutch government should take responsibility over the Dutch slave history which lasted over 200 years.
July 1, 2013
NRC Handelsblad
Op-ed: 'The Netherlands has caused the mess in the Dutch Caribbean'
October 24, 2012
Seminars
For publishers about self-publishing when this was new for Holland, 2011/2012. Seminars to expats and international companies about Dutch Culture in collaboration with John Adams Institute and The American Book Center.
Flair
Column: Chillen zoals op de Antillen
How we can learn from the islanders of Curaçao.
2011, #30
Antilliaans Dagblad
Op-ed: De Meerwaarde van Curaçao’ (The Relevance of Curaçao)
December 3, 2010
NRC Handelsblad
Column: ‘Op zoek naar een school‘ (Finding the Right School)
May 17, 2010
Nieuw Wij
Column in online magazine Nieuw Wij
About finding a sense of self in this globalised world.
June, 2009
Opzij
Article in feminist magazine Opzij
About the sexually controversial (or liberating?) novel ‘Genade’ (Mercy) by Tina Weemoed
February, 2009
NRC Handelsblad / NRC Next
OP-ED in newspapers NRC Handelsblad and NRC Next
'Een pot verf is zo onschuldig niet’, (A Pot of Paint).
April 2009
De Beeldenaar
Story in magazine De Beeldenaar
‘Een Nederlandse Munt in Brazilië’ (A Dutch coin in Brazil)
September 2008