Writing a children’s book, the umpteenth chapter in the Eagles career of Bas Kuipers – Voetbal International

Go Ahead Eagles captain Bas Kuipers (29) wrote the children’s book with his mother The Magic Stadium about a fantasy world under De Adelaarshorst. Part of the proceeds go to the Brain Foundation, which Kuipers is only too happy to support after the death of his father. An interview about writing, reading, life outside the football bubble, familiar environments and a Romanian adventure.

In addition to being a footballer, you are now also a writer. Tell us about your book.

‘We started thinking about how we can reach young people who nowadays only sit behind their iPad, Xbox or PlayStation. How do we get them to read? How do we make a story that is interesting? The book is mainly about football and a fantasy world and this is reinforced by pictures, all kinds of little facts, QR codes and, for example, recipes. The book must be stimulating, otherwise you won’t make it and you won’t finish reading it. My mother and I like a bit of fantasy, like Harry Potter. In this book you have to imagine an intergalactic, underground football league, against other teams playing ‘below’ their own stadium. The main players play under the Adelaarshorst.’

Your mother, under the pseudonym Isa Maron, is normally a writer of thrillers. How did you divide the work for this book?

‘We see each other quite a lot and have often sat together to come up with storylines. My mother is the best at that. We talked a lot about what the characters should be in the book and together we came up with something. The writing was mainly for my mother, although she also asked me to make something every now and then.’

The football element certainly comes from you? Big names from the history of Go Ahead Eagles such as Leo Halle and Jan Jongbloed return in the book like ghosts.

‘Yes, that comes from me. Have you seen Harry Potter? There you had it Almost Decapitated Henk, a kind of ghost with half a head. That served as a bit of inspiration. I thought it would be fun to let former football players play a role as ghosts in the underground football world. Although I did need Wikipedia and the books about Eagles. I knew something about the club legends, but still.’