Bilderdijk, Willem (1756–1831)

Dutch poet, dramatist, and essayist. Skilful at rhetoric, he was, however, unable to control his emotions, so that his writing often shows an absurd blend of Romantic content and classical or rococo form.

His works include Dichtwerken/Poetical Works (16 volumes) 1856–59, Geschiedenis des vaderlands/History of the Fatherland (13 volumes) 1832–53, and an unfinished epic De ondergang der eerste wareld/The Decline of the First World 1820.

Bilderdijk was born in Amsterdam and studied law at Leiden. He was exiled 1795 when, as a barrister, he refused to take the oath of allegiance to Napoleon. He spent some time in England and returned to Holland as Louis Bonaparte's tutor, became poet laureate and, under William I, a lecturer at Leiden. His undoubted talent was mistaken for genius by himself and his followers.