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Koning van Katoren (Katoren, #1)
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Koning van Katoren

(Katoren #1)

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4.12  ·  Rating details ·  8,141 ratings  ·  358 reviews
De vrolijke oude koning van het goede land Katoren is overleden zonder een opvolger te hebben. Zes zure ministers regeren het land en beweren al 17 jaar dat ze een nieuwe koning zoeken, maar er gebeurt niets. Dan komt de 17-jarige Stach de ministers vragen wat je moet doen om koning te worden. De ministers geven Stach zeven bijna onuitvoerbare opdrachten, waarop al velen v ...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published 1971 by Lemniscaat
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Annyke I found a list of translations. It includes the English and French translation: "How To Become King" (1971) and "Chevalier de l'impossible" (1975). I …moreI found a list of translations. It includes the English and French translation: "How To Become King" (1971) and "Chevalier de l'impossible" (1975). I don't know whether they are still available, but I hope you can find them. It is really worth reading!(less)
Peter You might try amazon or bol. Probably no-one here would help you to an illegally downloladed version.

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Average rating 4.12  · 
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Henk
Apr 14, 2018 rated it really liked it
A delightful classic children’s book, about adventure and doing good

An overconfident 17 year old is given 7 impossible tasks to become king of the Country of Katoren. I must say he is a bit cocky if I read this book again, but as Jan Terlouw says in the book, Stach is 17 so that’s to be expected.

First up are birds that make people deaf and prevent real listening and understanding between citizens.
It soon becomes clear that the real problem is that people are confident that no new perspectives an
...more
Chantal
Jan 26, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
A classic Dutch book with a great adventure story. Fantastic book for kids, but also for grown ups who want an easy read. A combination of a historic and an adventurous novel. When growing up, this book was a very famous. I can't remember if I read it as a child, I do think I have.

...more
Mariska
This book has been the topic of many arguments at our home, and they usually went like this:

Mother: 'Please pick another book, we've read this four times already. It must be boring by now. Pick another.'
Me, my brother and sister: 'NOOOOO! Read this! We want to hear about Stach!'

We usually won, of course, because my mum was grateful she'd found a book all three of us liked and we were still eager to hear about dragons, moving churches, screeching birds and a brave young boy who wanted to be king.
...more
Jan-Maat
Mar 04, 2020 added it  ·  review of another edition
Recommended to Jan-Maat by: Ilse
The King of Katoren is a prize winning Dutch children's book first published in 1971. The story is of the 17 (but eventually 18(view spoiler)) year old hero attempting to complete a series of tasks, not Herculean ones as they are generally less savage, in order to become King of the fictional kingdom of Katoren.

The hero is a relative of a typical archetypal hero who succeeds through being modest and kindly, he is not exactly true to this type - he is not
...more
Evi
Happy 50th birthday to this Dutch childrens classic!

I don't know why, but I've never read this book as a child. Which is weird, because the story is exactly my cup of tea. Definitely a story I hope children will still be reading in the generations that follow! Even as an adult it's still enjoyable. It's just a fun story with fun little adventures and that's about it. There is no real character development, Stach remains his cheeky self who is somehow able to solve the countries biggest problems
...more
ᗩᑎᗪᖇᗴᗯ☕
I read this book in 1978 or 1979 when I was 10 or 11 years old.

I don't recall anything about it, but over the last couple of decades it has become something of a "grail book" for me as I continue to search for an English language copy at a not stupid price.
...more
Hessel Hoekstra
Mar 30, 2020 rated it really liked it
On the day the old king of Katoren dies, Stach is born. His uncle believes this to be a sign that Stach should be the new king. One day, Stach informs the ministers of Katoren on how to become a king. They give him seven impossible tasks and Stach has to be cunning and brave to complete these.

A very imaginative story about friendship, bravery and values. It contains hidden messages about environment, democracy and religion, furthermore, a lot of the names of characters and towns are very smart p
...more
Aileen
May 01, 2011 rated it it was amazing
One of my very favorite books EVER. I just read it again after 30 years, and it completely holds up.
It's worth learning dutch for : )
...more
Cath Van
Sep 05, 2021 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: children
First published fifty years ago and still relevant. A young boy living in a country ruled by six ministers since the old king died wants to become king. The ministers give him one seemingly impossible task
to fulfil after the other. And yes of course Stach succeeds. The relevance is in the tasks which all have a background of worldly problems: pollution, power, religious fanatism, greed to name a few. I loved the irony and creativity of this timeless story and can't help thinking if only we would
...more
Melanie
Reread April 5, 2014. Still fun^^! A lot shorter than I remember though... but then, I was quite a bit younger when I last read it.

_______________________________

Original review:

One of my all-time favourite (Dutch) children's books!

The story follows Stach (not sure if this is his English name also), a smart and bold (sometimes just slightly short of insolent, but in a charming way) young man who sets out to complete seven impossible tasks in seven cities to prove that he is worthy of becomin
...more
Lousewies Laan
May 05, 2013 rated it it was amazing
The best kids book ever. It's got it all: a cheeky hero who takes on bureaucrats to make the world a better place, helped by the media and an equally cool girlfriend. Unleash your children's inner rebel and politician. ...more
Bertje
Nov 15, 2012 rated it it was amazing
A classic adventure for anyone, exciting and an interesting political comment too.
Gerard
Jun 15, 2013 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: jeugd
Fantastic book, especially for kids of about 12 years old. Gives a realistic insight in the canivings of politicians, just to hold on to power.
Mariah
Read this for school in the 7th grade.
Had fun with it.
Billy
May 30, 2021 rated it it was amazing
This is my favourite book of all time.


Edit after my second official re-read:
Ahhh this book is just so good 😭😭
Leci
Mar 24, 2020 rated it really liked it
This was absolutely delightful. A fun an fast read!
Juliette
Jun 10, 2021 rated it it was amazing
I cannot believe I never read this book when I was young. I would have absolutely adored it in fact I still did.
Little Leftie
Jan 01, 2021 rated it it was amazing
One of my absolute favorites as a child! My parents read this one to me and I have read it myself for a total of at least five times. I am fully aware that my appreciation for this book might also be cause by the sheer amount of nostalgic feelings I have, but still, I love it!

Also highly reccomend this to read for children. For adults it's very obvious that there is a second layer to this book, but at the same time it's just a really fun story for kids on the first level. Maybe that is why I sti
...more
rachelish
One of the best books of all time. Teenage boy decides to confront malicious bureaucracy, gets set increasingly desperate tasks in order to be got rid of, uses common sense and good nature to overcome all obstacles.
Grada (BoekenTrol)
Sep 27, 2008 rated it really liked it
Recommends it for: all Dutch children fo 10 years and older (and foreign, if there's a translation)
Recommended to Grada (BoekenTrol) by: my teacher in elementary school
It is a very nice book. A combination of a historic and an adventurous novel. Despite Stach is a kind of knight, he is not at all an arrogant person, he's just an avarage young man. He lives through many adventures, nearly loses his life, but finally becomes the king of Katoren. It is a nice book. ...more
Aree
Oct 05, 2008 rated it it was amazing
its been a long time since i read a kingdom-like fictional story but i really like reading it. the story never make you bored from chapter one to the next chapters. it always makes you anxious to read the next chapter.
Peggy
I want to reread some of my favourite childhood books, and this was one of them. I didn't remember a lot of it, except that I loved it as a child, and after rereading it I know why! Also, I now noticed things that I surely didn't notice when I was young, making it a fun read for adults too. ...more
Monica
Feb 20, 2016 rated it it was amazing
This was a classic of childrens' literature in my own youth, but for some reason I had never read it. Now, my daughter picked it to read together, so I got to read it after all. We both greatly enjoyed this wonderful book ...more
Fabrizio Palumbo
I've read this book when I was very young, and it was probably the first book read on my own. I've loved this book and after almost 20 years i remember alot of this book.
For me it can be a good start to introduce a young person in reading.
...more
Inger
Aug 01, 2010 rated it it was amazing
You can read this book over and over again and it never fails to entertain... especially when you read it to each other!
Bianca
Apr 19, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Every parent should read this to their children, it is absolutely amazing!
jessica
May 02, 2011 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Recommended to jessica by: My teacher
Stach is such a genius boy; even though he knows almost nothing. 200+ pages are fair enough.
Louise De
May 10, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Loved the book since I was in High School.
Erin
Aug 06, 2011 rated it liked it
I read it to my class and they liked it. Pretty old Dutch though
Cara
Aug 06, 2011 rated it liked it
I read it to my class and they liked it. Pretty old Dutch though
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Na de middelbare school studeerde Jan Terlouw wis- en natuurkunde in Utrecht en deed vervolgens 13 jaar onderzoek in de natuurkunde, in Nederland, de Verenigde Staten en Zweden. Daarna ging hij in de politiek. In 1971 kwam hij voor D'66 in de Tweede Kamer. Twee jaar later werd hij voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer-fractie. Onder zijn leiding kwam D'66 uit een diep dal, en behaalde het in 1981 een gro ...more

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