- Herman Heijermans was born on December 3, 1864 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was a writer, known for A Case of Arson (1913), Op hoop van zegen (1918) and Op hoop van zegen (1924). He died on November 22, 1924 in Zandvoort, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
- During the winter of 1891-92 Heijermans wrote his first play, using the theme of Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" and adding new characters and an authentic Dutch setting. "Dora Kremer" premiered on April 25, 1893, at the Groote Schouwburg in Rotterdam, and was met with general disapproval. Eager to avenge the humiliation, Heijermans plotted one of the most daring stratagems in modern Dutch literature.
- The Good Hope (1900), an indictment of the exploitation of sea fishermen in the Netherlands at the turn of the century, became Heijermans' most popular play and spread Heijermans' fame far beyond his homeland to countries all over the world. The continuing popularity of the play turned the attention of the public to conditions in the fishing industry, and a campaign was soon under way for a law requiring strict inspections of unseaworthy vessels. A Dutch merchant shipping act was passed a few years later, the 'Schepenwet' of 1909.
- He was the fifth of the 11 children of Herman and Matilda (Moses) Spiers. Painter Marie Heijermans was his sister.
- He is the only playwright from the Netherlands since Joost van den Vondel to have gained widespread recognition outside his own country.
- Herman Heijermans was a Dutch playwright, novelist and sketch story writer, who is considered to be the greatest Dutch dramatist of the modern era.
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