Jacob van Maerlant, father of all "Dietsche" writers, was born around 1235 in the area around Bruges (Brugse Vrije).

On his walk of life, little is known with certainty.  He appeared to have settled first on Oost-Voorne (an island in Zeeland), where he worked as sacristan and, on instruction of nobles of Holland, wrote a large part of his oeuvre.  Fact is that Jacob van Maerlant came to Damme and became clerck to the magistrates.  In Damme, he continued writing and he wrote several masterpieces here.  He also died in Damme (round 1293) and was burried here.  Shortly after his death, his books were already translated into French and Latin, which shows the importance of his work.  In the 18th century, a lot of his books, were published again in printing.  

The oeuvre of van Maerlant is characterised by a great diversity in the kind of literature and by the fact that it was written in his own language, "Diets".  With this "Diets", he was the first to introduce a general language amongst all the dialects that were spoken in the area at that time.  At first, Jacob mainly wrote knightly novels, lateron also encyclopaedias with biologic subjects.  He also made historical works, poems, etc...

You can find out more on the life of this great writer in the Literary Museum in Huyze de Grote Sterre, where the Office for Tourism is also situated.  His statue stands centrally on the Market Square of Damme, a street also carries his name and one of the most known restaurants of Damme is named after him.