LEVI VAN LEEUWEN
Author Of Novels,
Literary Stories,
Relationship Dramas,
Detective Tales,
Family Histories & Childrem’s books
I write novels, literary stories, and narratives that capture life in all its facets — from profound relationship dramas and gripping detective stories to moving family histories and authentic biographies.
My books appeal to readers of all ages: from imaginative children’s books and tender bedtime tales to immersive novels and reflective works that inspire thought and self-discovery.
With a deep love for language, I combine humor, poetry, and emotional depth to bring experiences and feelings to life. Each story is an invitation to see the world through different eyes — and to journey through a landscape of emotion, tension, and humanity.
THREE LANGUAGES, ONE STORY – NOW AVAILABLE IN GERMAN, DUTCH, AND ENGLISH
I have Dutch roots, but my native language is German. That’s why my earlier books were published in German — the language in which I feel, think, and write. I’m especially proud that one of my works is now also available in Dutch, bridging heritage and language. And now, having spent so much time in English-speaking countries, I’m thrilled to share this story in English as well — a small piece of home, now in three languages.
I simply decided to give it a try: translating this book myself — with love and my own hand — somewhere among the dunes of Bergen aan Zee. And to be honest: if it resonates with readers, who knows… maybe I’ll translate a few more before I start writing something new again. That’s sometimes how it goes.
LEVI VAN LEEUWEN
Amsterdam Without Curtains
A literary novel about identity, memory, and the invisible self.
Amsterdam Without Curtains is a poetic, introspective novel that transforms the city of Amsterdam into a labyrinth of memories, reflections, and silent encounters.
At the heart of this mystical story stands Frits — a man searching for himself between past and future, between reality and imagination, between getting lost and waking up.
The novel takes the reader on a journey through a changing Amsterdam: misty canals, deserted cafés, enigmatic paintings, and a woman who knows more than she reveals.
Everything in this city seems to hold meaning — like layers in a painting that slowly unveils itself.
This is not a traditional city novel, but a deeply literary work about seeing and not daring to see, about forgetting and remembering, about the need to disappear in order to find oneself again.
For readers who love layered literature, philosophical reflection, and language rich in atmosphere and quiet tension.
In the literary novel Amsterdam Without Curtains, Levi van Leeuwen plunges into the glittering, unseen Amsterdam of the 1920s.
He becomes entangled between truth and deception, love and self-loss.
He reflects on visibility and concealment, on fate, and on the question of whether we ever truly know who we are.
Publication: October 19, 2025 (1st edition)
Paperback: 179 pages (ISBN 979-8270587871)
Translated with love from German in Bergen aan Zee, North Holland
What Levi says about it:
Amsterdam Without Curtains is more than a story about a young man stepping into a new world — it is an attempt to capture the essence of openness, vulnerability, and the human drive for authenticity.
In a city where nothing remains hidden and everything is on display, the question constantly arises: what do we truly show the world — and what do we keep in the shadows, out of fear of revealing too much of ourselves?
The characters in this novel — especially the young man and the artist — embody the struggle between self-protection and the desire for truth. They remind us that there are no simple answers, and that life often conceals as much as it reveals. Perhaps what we see is never the whole story — perhaps it is precisely what is left unseen that ultimately defines us.
I warmly invite you to join this journey — through the winding streets of Amsterdam, through the tangled thoughts of my characters, and through the subtle chaos that pulses between the lines. It is a journey full of surprises — just like life itself. And perhaps along the way, a curtain will fall in your own life too, allowing you to see more of the world — and more of yourself.
What remains hidden from us — and what do we dare to show?
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The Man Behind The Words
Levi van Leeuwen was born in 1977 as Bram Isaac Levi van Leeuwen in Willemstad. His parents were a Jewish-German-American cellist and a Dutch shipowner, who was also nominated for the Dutch Olympic hockey team in 1956. Levi grew up in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Hamburg. He first studied in Sydney, and later in Berlin, St. Gallen, and Maastricht, where he pursued literature, economics, and architecture.
For two years, Levi played electric guitar in an Australian punk band, but his greatest passion lies in painting. He creates expressionist works to the rhythms of Uruguayan ska-punk rock, plays cricket in the Indian Premier League, and conducts research into Dutch history. Levi is a member of the Vroedschap and is actively involved in local political and social initiatives.
He lives with his partner, a Dutch actress and designer, in North Holland and on the coast of New South Wales.
