Harry Rijnen

Language has always been fundamental to the life of Harry Rijnen (Breda, The Netherlands, 1956). Currently, Harry gives dramatized talks and presentations to teenagers and adults on a range of subjects such as the novel ‘Moby Dick’, the personality of Erasmus of Rotterdam and the Saint Nicholas Festivity. Interaction with his public is always an essential part of his performances.

During his long professional career, Harry was a press correspondent, text writer and consultant, working in Madrid, London, New York and The Hague. He is fluent in Dutch, Spanish, English and German. Harry is an avid reader of the press and books, ranging from classical novels to works of non-fiction regarding the human essence as well as essays on history, politics and economics.

Harry currently lives in the Sierra Norte in Madrid. In addition to reading, writing and acting, he enjoys doing Pilates, walking in the mountains, bird watching, listening to the silence of nature, gardening, dancing, travelling, solving cryptic crosswords and drinking a good glass of wine. Since 2018, he has participated regularly in the Community Theater and Improvisation Theater programs offered by the cultural association P.L.A.Y. in the Sierra Norte.

In his younger years, Harry graduated with honors in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam and ran the Madrid marathon in less than three hours. He is a member of SEO Birdlife, Greenpeace and Amnesty International, in addition to several cultural associations in the Sierra Norte.

Talks

Talk on Saint Nicholas

Talk on Saint Nicholas

In many cultures and countries, there is one day in the year when children receive special presents. In most regions of Spain, Epiphany (January 6th) is traditionally that day. In Germany, Britain and the U.S., the important days are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...

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Agenda

Dramatized talk “Moby Dick”

Dramatized talk “Moby Dick”

The novel ‘Moby Dick’ is an almost infinite source of inspiration for study and debate. In his masterpiece from 1851, Herman Melville not only describes the bloody and dangerous reality of sperm whale hunting, he also broaches many other passionate subjects that are still hotly debated today: the mechanisms of social and political control used by dictators; the origins and characteristics of madness; the relationship between the white western world and other civilizations; the place of religion and organized churches in personal and social life.

Harry Rijnen and Elena Troyano lead their public through the major themes of the book and the personality of its author, giving life to various characters, starting with Herman Melville himself.

Location: Biblioteca pública ‘Ramón Fenàndez Jurado’, sala ‘Margarida Xirgu’, Castelldefels (Barcelona), calle Bisbe Urquinaona 19-21 (Plaça de la Cultura), 08860-Castelldefels.

Date: Monday April 27, 2026

Time: 18.00 hours

Organizer: Ayuntamiento de Castelldefels.

Entry: free

Language: Spanish.

 

Café Literario: “Hans Fallada (1893-1947): Fail with grandeur. The tragic life of a German author in a country caught up in a permanent crisis.”

Café Literario: “Hans Fallada (1893-1947): Fail with grandeur. The tragic life of a German author in a country caught up in a permanent crisis.”

As a child, only just survive a horse-kick. As a youngster, kill a friend in a suicide attempt. As a young adult, get trapped in drug addiction: morphine, alcohol, tabaco. Move continuously through health resorts, mental health institutions and prisons. Distance yourself from your parents. Have impossible love-affairs and make yourself impossible in love-affairs. Become the best-selling author in Germany with ‘Little man, what now’, just before the Nazi’s come to power in 1933. Stay in Germany during the whole Nazi-period. In 1946, write a devastating, 700-pages anti-Nazi novel, ‘Alone in Berlin’, in just 10 weeks. Die two months later. This, in short, is the life of Hans Fallada.

Language: Spanish.

Location: Navalafuente Library, calle Iglesia 13, 28729-Navalafuente, Madrid, Spain

Date: Friday March 13, 2026

Time: 19.00 hours

Organizer: Harry Rijnen, in cooperation with the municipality of Navalafuente.

Entry: free

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What do they say about Harry?

María José Calvo González, teacher of Dutch as a foreign language in the ‘Facultad de Filología’ of the ‘Universidad Complutense de Madrid’

"For more than five years, Harry has given conferences to my students about topics related to the past and present of The Netherlands and Belgium, from the history of Antwerp to the image of the Dutch in foreign caricatures. We love his talks, because Harry knows how to transmit his profound knowledge and invites us to reflect and debate. Moreover, Harry’s stories are always entertaining!"

Máximo Aláez Fernández, member of the "Asociación Cultural Chozas de la Sierra" (ACCS) in Soto del Real (Madrid)

"Would you like to take a deep dive into the world of ‘Moby Dick’, like a sperm whale into the ocean? Do it with Harry as your guide! In his dramatized talk on this masterpiece and its writer, Herman Melville, the great themes of the book acquire their full tragic force: destiny, power, the obsession with vengeance and the struggle between reason and madness. That was our wonderful experience during Harry’s presentation in Soto del Real.

Pedro Almagro. Actor. Teacher at the ‘Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático’ of Castilla y León.

"A Renaissance man who surprises us right in the 21st century. That is the best way to define Harry. His vast historic knowledge and his analytical insights are impressive. That said, his best qualities are his charisma and the friendliness he displays. I have experienced this during many meals and after-dinner conversations we have shared. I hope to share many more!"

París Uki. Head of the School of Social Theater Theater for Inclusion. Community Psychologist.

"Harry has participated in my classes of community theatre and improvisation theatre since 2018. He has been a good companion with a positive attitude. In these years of training, he has developed very good skills as an actor and improviser. His ‘lack of embarrassment’ allows him to explore different forms of acting. When Harry is on stage, he is really present. What I like most about him is his drive to create new projects and to use his training as an actor to develop new social activities."

Sandra Movilla Gomato. Teacher of Spanish Language and Literature in the CEIPSO “Peñalta” (State School of Secondary Education) in Buitrago del Lozoya (Madrid)

"Harry and I both go to the same Theater of Improvisation classes. In this context, I got to know Harry as a creative person, who knows how to play different roles. This quality allows him to transmit agility and humor in his talks. That’s why I was eager to ask him to come to my school to give his talk on Saint Nicholas. My pupils had a great time, because Harry was very friendly, told them stories and anecdotes they didn’t know, let them participate and took their thoughts very seriously. That’s the right attitude!"