Hindericus Scheepstra
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Hindericus (Rieks) Scheepstra (Roden, March 17, 1859 – Groningen, May 8, 1913) was a Dutch teacher and children's book author. Scheepstra wrote stories about Ot en Sien.
Hindericus, known by his nickname Rieks, was born in Roden, Drenthe, as the son of shopkeeper Hindrik Scheepstra and Janna Roeters. He was the youngest in a family of six boys and two girls. As the youngest, he was allowed to continue his education after finishing primary school. The other five boys followed the family tradition and went into business. He attended the State Teacher Training College (Rijkskweekschool) in Groningen. To be admitted, he first had to take additional classes, which he followed in the nearby village of Peize. He walked there from Roden, and during these walks, he developed a love for nature.
After working for a few years as a teacher, he became head of a school in Dokkum. Scheepstra married Wilhelmina Klazina Houwen. He then became head of a school in Arnhem. In 1894, he returned to the Teacher Training College in Groningen, this time as a teacher of Dutch language and pedagogy. He also became director of the Rijksnormaallessen (state teacher training courses). In 1913, Scheepstra died suddenly in the city of Groningen at the age of 54.
