In Memoriam – Rolf Erdorf (1956–2026)
24 March 2026
On March 22, 2026, Rolf Erdorf, one of the most important bridge-builders between Dutch and German-language children’s literature, passed away. With his passing, the literary world has lost an enthusiastic translator, a dedicated professional, and a tireless advocate for children’s books.
For almost forty years, Erdorf devoted his life to translation. “Translation is my life,” he once said, “I've always had somewhat fragile health, and so I can hardly believe what a body of work I've accumulated—I'm actually incredibly grateful to life”. Since 1991, he worked as a full-time translator and built up an impressive oeuvre, comprising more than two hundred children’s books, alongside translations of fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels.
Thanks to Erdorf, countless Dutch-language authors found their way to a German-speaking audience. Among others, he translated works by Ted van Lieshout, Jan de Leeuw, Gideon Samson, Sjoerd Kuyper, Marita de Sterck, Leo Timmers, Erna Sassen, Floortje Zwigtman, Dolf Verroen and Edward van de Vendel. His translations were praised for their precision, musicality and ability to preserve the author’s original voice.
His work did not go unnoticed. In 2005, he received the Dutch Martinus Nijhoff Prijs for his entire oeuvre. He was also awarded the German Youth Literature Prize for his translations on several occasions, including in 2006 and 2016. More recently, in 2024, his entire body of work was honoured with the German Youth Literature Prize for Lifetime Achievement — an accolade that underscored his exceptional contribution to literature.
Erdorf was a regular visitor to the Vertalershuis in Amsterdam, where he worked on translations of works by Robbert Welagen and Tonke Dragt, among others. This place offered him the peace and inspiration that are so characteristic of his work.
Alongside his prolific output and numerous awards, Erdorf always remained a passionate reader. He campaigned for forgotten books to be made available again — a sign of his enduring commitment to literature, even beyond his own work.
With the passing of Rolf Erdorf, we have lost a translator who opened up whole worlds to new generations of readers. His legacy lives on in the many books that have been given a new lease of life thanks to him.