Mariska Hammerstein (47) is a children's book writer. She studied among others at the School for Journalism in Utrecht (1971-1974) and completed a professional training in Publishing (1978). From 1976 she has worked as journalist, critic, editor, and translator – mostly in the field of children's books. She has also worked as free-lancejournalist with several newspapers, magazines, and professional journals, writing mostly about books, book sellers and publishers and publishing. From 1987 on she has been writing short stories and books for children. She frequently visits elementary schools to read from her own work. Three years ago she started an education to become a shiatsu therapist.

Summary of her 12xHolland activities:

• creating a historic picture book, which will describe the arrival of the first Dutch people in Hirado.
• workshops ‘Picture This’: children in several school will paint or draw scenes from this picture book.
• street performance.
• lectures about the picturebook, including an exhibition of the drawings/paintings by Japanese children.
• will take shodo lessons (Japanese calligraphy) in Hirado.