Dutch Author Lieke Marsman Dies at 35 After Battle with Cancer

Lieke Marsman, a celebrated and award-winning Dutch author, has passed away at the age of 35 after a prolonged illness. Marsman, who served as the Dutch Poet Laureate, bravely confronted a rare form of cartilage cancer, a journey she chronicled in her work with unflinching honesty and profound philosophical insight.

Marsman's literary career began in 2010 with the poetry collection "Wat ik mezelf graag voorhoud" (What I Like to Tell Myself), which garnered significant acclaim and numerous awards. She followed this with "De eerste letter" (The First Letter) in 2014. Her creative output extended beyond poetry to include the hybrid novel "Het tegenovergestelde van een mens" (The Opposite of a Human), which masterfully combined essays and poems, showcasing her penchant for genre experimentation.

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Is it my death day? The air is still, like air on a calendar. Is it my death day? Forget ringing bells. The air is still, like air. Is it my death day? Forget angels and psalms. I want the vanilla of an old book. I want a cold bottle of beer and I want you, one more time. Forget singing birds. I want to hear my dog drink.

In 2018, Marsman received her diagnosis of an incurable form of cartilage cancer. The extensive treatments she underwent, which led to the loss of her right shoulder and arm, profoundly influenced her writing. Her 2018 poetry collection, "De volgende scan duurt vijf minuten" (The Next Scan Takes Five Minutes), delved into her illness while also addressing political themes, including healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry's influence.

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Who determines what is meaningless suffering, and what is not? What if it is very meaningful for me to undergo the heaviest treatments until the end, to participate in medical research, or even to take substances that have only been tested on mice? What if that is how I want to die – one way or another? Because my quality of life is not determined by the absence of suffering but by the presence of hope?

During her tenure as Poet Laureate in 2021 and 2022, Marsman continued to push boundaries. In 2025, she was honored with the Constantijn Huygens Prize for her entire body of work, recognized for its "leading role within contemporary Dutch literature." The jury noted her daring experimentation with form and her ability to connect with a large, often young, audience.

Her 2025 book, "Op een andere planeet kunnen ze me redden" (On Another Planet They Can Save Me), is a poignant blend of diary entries and philosophical reflections on impending death, religion, and spirituality. Marsman's approach to life was characterized by a refusal to accept resignation. "Who determines what is meaningless suffering, and what is not?" she questioned. "What if it is very meaningful for me to undergo the heaviest treatments until the end, to participate in medical research, or even to take substances that have only been tested on mice? What if that is how I want to die – one way or another? Because my quality of life is not determined by the absence of suffering but by the presence of hope?"

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I am a materialist, but I would rather be an idealist.

Marsman also explored phenomena beyond the scope of hard science, including UFOs and near-death experiences. She found the concept of a universal consciousness appealing, describing it as a "present absence" akin to God, which allows for all possibilities while respecting free will.

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The idea of a universal consciousness sounds appealing and there are moments when I believe in it. It aligns with the image I have of God, a present absence that is always and everywhere and makes everything possible, but grants everyone their free will.