Velde, Roger van de (1925-1970)

Velde, Roger van de

WRITER (BELGIUM)

BORN 13 Feb 1925, Boom, Antwerpen - DIED 30 May 1970, Antwerpen
CAUSE OF DEATH alcohol and drug overdose
GRAVE LOCATION Antwerpen: Schoonselhof, Sint-Bernardsesteenweg, Hoboken (perk R, rij 04, graf 26 (erekerkhof))

Son of a wine merchant. In 1947 he married Rosa Verboven and they had three children. He worked as a journalist and also wrote radio plays. Around 1960 he became addicted to the painkiller Palfium R 875 that he used because of stomach problems. This eventually resulted in being placed in psychiatric institutions and prison.

From prison he wrote his first autobiographic novel "Galgenaas". It was followed by "Recht op Antwoord". Supported by a protest from authors and journalists he was released on 3 Apr 1970. A few weeks later he was found dead at a terrace in Antwerp.

Images

The grave of Roger van de Velde at the Schoonselhof, Antwerpen.
Picture by Androom (27 Jul 2002)