W. E. Johns Books in Dutch

The Dutch-speaking world represents one of the largest markets for the works of W. E. Johns. Although relatively late comers, with the first book published only in 1946, the 1960s and after saw an explosion of interest and by the 1990s, almost every Biggles title has been translated and published.

Nonetheless the coverage of Johns' works is relatively uneven. Many Biggles titles have been retranslated and republished several times. Some Steeley and Gimlet titles were translated in the 1950s and then dropped off the radar. These De Ster books are now very rare. The first Worrals was not translated until 2017 and to date only 2 have been translated. The other works of Johns are relatively untouched.

In most cases, the titles in Dutch are a close translation of the English or the title is such that it would be easy to identify the story. For example "Biggles op bekend terrein" (Biggles on familiar ground) is, of course, "Biggles Goes Home". But there are some significant pitfalls. "Biggles en de Interpol" is not "Biggles of the Interpol" but "Biggles' Combined Operation" (like in French translations). "Biggles' geheime opdracht" (Biggles' Secret Mis-sion) is not "Biggles and the Secret Mission" (the Red Fox edition of "Air Commodore") but "Biggles in the Baltic". "Biggles en de luchtpolitie" (Biggles and the Air Police" is not "Biggles of the Special Air Police" but "Biggles and the Black Mask". Note there are two different "Biggles speelt het klaar".

Books by W.E. Johns in Dutch

Title	Publisher	Year	Source and Remarks
Biggles tart het hakenkruis	De Telg Verba	1946 1997	Biggles Defies the Swastika
Biggles jaagt op groot wild	De Ster	1950	Biggles Hunts Big Game
Biggles vliegt naar Tibet	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1951, 1952 1963 1965 1984 1999	Biggles Hits the Trail. 2nd ed. of Born is titled "Biggles in Tibet"
Biggles in Afrika	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1951, 52 1961, 62 1964	Biggles in Africa
Biggles in Egypte	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1952 1961, 62 1964	Biggles Flies South
Biggles in de Zuidzee	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1952, 53 1961, 62 1964	Biggles in the South Seas
Biggles als geheim agent	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1952 1961, 62 1964, 73 1984 1994, 95	Biggles - Secret Agent
Biggles in het Verre Oosten	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1953 1961, 62 1964	Biggles - Air Commodore
Biggles staat zijn mannetje	De Ster	1953	Biggles Gets His Men
King in Siam	De Ster	1953	Gimlet's Oriental Quest
King drijft door	De Ster	1953	Gimlet Bores In
King in de rimboe	De Ster	1953	Gimlet Off the Map
Een ontstellend avontuur	De Ster	1953	Sky high
Steeley op speciaal onderzoek	De Ster	1953	The murder at Castle Deeping
Biggles in Canada	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1953 1961, 62 1964	Biggles Flies North
Biggles & Co	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1954 1961 1964	Biggles & Co. Title also Biggles en Co
Biggles in Spanje	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B V&L Verba	1954 1961, 62 1964 1984 1996	Biggles in Spain
Biggles particuliere piloot	Born	1954	Biggles - Charter Pilot
King helpt een handje	De Ster	1955	Gimlet Lends a Hand
Biggles gaat met verlof	De Ster	1955	Biggles Takes a Holiday
Biggles speelt het klaar	De Ster	1955	Biggles Delivers the Goods
Steeley begint opnieuw	De Ster	1955	Steeley flies again
Luchtpiraten	De Ster	1955	Murder by air
Biggles' nieuwe opdracht	De Ster	1955	Another Job for Biggles
Biggles in de Oriënt	De Ster	1955	Biggles in the Orient
Mijn laatste avontuur	De Ster	1955	Wings of romance
Biggles naar de Zuidpool	De Ster	1955	Biggles Breaks the Silence
Biggles' laatste troef	De Ster	1955	Biggles Sweeps the Desert
Biggles knapt het op	De Ster	1955	Unknown. The title translates as "Biggles Fixes It Up" which could be Biggles Sees It Through or Biggles Works It Out. Too early for Biggles Sorts It Out.
Biggles in de jungle	Born Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1955 1961, 62 1964 1984 1993	Biggles in the Jungle
Biggles koerst West	Born	1955	Biggles Flies West
Biggles als juwelendief	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1958, 62 1964, 77	Biggles on the Home Front
Met Biggles in vijandelijk gebied	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1958 1964	The Rescue Flight Spectrum B is "Biggles in vijandelijk gebied"
Biggles' geheime opdracht	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B Spectrum PJ2 W&L Verba	1959, 62 1964, 73 1984 1985 1993, 2005	Biggles in the Baltic
Biggles als spion	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B Spectrum PJ2	1959, 62 1964, 75 1985	Biggles Flies East
Biggles en zijn makkers	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B Spectrum PJ2	1959, 62 1964 1985	Spitfire Parade
Biggles lost het op	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1960, 62 1965	Biggles Presses On
Biggles begraaft de strijdbijl	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1960, 62 1965	Biggles Buries a Hatchet
Biggles en de Interpol	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1960, 62 1964, 73	Biggles' Combined Operation
Biggles en het geheime wapen	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1960, 62 1965	No Rest for Biggles
Biggles en de verborgen schat	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1960, 62 1965|Spectrum PJ 1984 1999	Biggles at World's End
Biggles op het mysterieuze eiland	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1961 1966 1985 1994, 2005	Biggles on Mystery Island
Biggles in Mexico	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1961, 62 1964	Biggles in Mexico
Biggles in de West	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B V&L Verba	1961, 62 1964 1984 1994, 95	Biggles Flies West
Biggles in de knoei	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1961, 62 1965	Biggles in the Blue
Biggles op bekend terrein	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1961, 62 1966	Biggles Goes Home
Biggles en de goudpiraten	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1965	Biggles Makes Ends Meet
Biggles en de kroonjuwelen	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1965	Biggles Takes Charge
Biggles in de kou	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1964	Biggles Sees It Through
Biggles in de woestijn	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1964	Biggles Sweeps the Desert
Biggles op Borneo	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1964	Biggles in Borneo
Biggles in de Oriënt	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1962 1964 1964 1993, 2005	Biggles in the Orient
Biggles er op af	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1964	Sergeant Bigglesworth C.I.D.
Biggles als detective	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1965, 74	Biggles Works It Out
Biggles en de piratenschat	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1965	Biggles and the Pirate Treasure
De detective club	Spectrum PJ2	1962	Adventures of the Junior Detective Club
Biggles bij Scotland Yard	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B W&L Verba	1963 1964 1984 1994	Biggles' Second Case
Biggles en het luipaardmysterie	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1962 1965	Biggles and the Leopards of Zinn
Biggles in Arabië	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1963 1965	Another Job for Biggles
Biggles en de miljonair	Spectrum PJ Spectrum B	1964 1967	Biggles and the Missing Millionaire
Biggles maakt korte metten	Spectrum B	1964, 74	Biggles Takes the Case
Biggles volgt het spoor	Spectrum B	1964	Biggles Follows On
Biggles en de veedieven	Spectrum B	1964	Biggles and the Black Raider
Biggles speelt het klaar	Spectrum B	1964	Biggles of the Interpol
Biggles en de kidnapper	Spectrum B	1964	Biggles and the Poor Rich Boy
Biggles en de atoomgeleerde	Spectrum B	1964	Orchids for Biggles
Biggles op patrouille	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles - Charter Pilot
Biggles als kwajongen	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Goes to School
Biggles leert vliegen	Spectrum B WL	1965 1983	Biggles Learns to Fly
Biggles komt te hulp	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles' Chinese Puzzle
Biggles in Australië	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles in Australia
Biggles in de vuurlinie	Spectrum B Spectrum PJ2	1965, 78 1985	Biggles Defies the Swastika
Biggles in China	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles in the Gobi
Biggles en de geheime basis	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Cuts It Fine
Biggles en de valsemunters	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Hunts Big Game
Biggles als goudzoeker	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Breaks the Silence
Biggles op z'n eentje	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Goes Alone
Biggles zet een val	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Sets a Trap
Biggles en het verlaten eiland	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles Takes It Rough
Biggles en de valse professor	Spectrum B	1965	Biggles' Special Case
Biggles in de vallei des doods	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Takes a Holiday
Biggles van het Camel-squadron	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles of the Camel Squadron
Biggles in gevaar	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Delivers the Goods
Biggles vermist	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Fails to Return
Biggles en de landverraders	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Goes to War
Biggles in een wespennest	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Foreign Legionnaire
Biggles als goudpiraat	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Forms a Syndicate
Biggles in Berlijn	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Takes a Hand
Biggles en het verdwenen vliegtuig	Spectrum B W&L Verba	1966 1984 1998	Biggles and the Plane That Disappeared
Biggles en de verdwenen goudstukken	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles and the Lost Sovereigns
Biggles en de luchtpolitie	Spectrum B W&L Verba	1966 1985 1994, 2000	Biggles and the Black Mask
Biggles kent geen vrees	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Investigates
Biggles als luchtheld	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles pioneer air fighter
Biggles van de speciale luchtpolitie	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles of the Special Air Police
Biggles vliegt er op uit	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles flies again
Biggles van het 266e	Spectrum B W&L	1966 1983	Biggles of 266
Biggles op de bres	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles flies to work
Biggles ontvoerd	Spectrum B W&L Verba	1966 1984 1997	The Black Peril
Biggles in Brazilië	Spectrum B	1966	The Cruise of the Condor
Biggles en de slaven van de Mongool	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Gets His Men
Biggles achter het IJzeren Gordijn	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles Looks Back
Biggles en het koningsgraf	Spectrum B	1966	Biggles and the Plot That Failed
Biggles krijgt een vreemde opdracht	Spectrum B	1967	Biggles Scores a Bull
Biggles in India	Spectrum B	1967	Biggles in the Terai
Biggles in Malakka	Spectrum B W&L Verba	1966 1983 1998	Biggles and the Blue Moon
Biggles in de onderwereld	Spectrum B	1970	Biggles in the Underworld
Biggles en het gestolen beeldje	Spectrum B	1970	Biggles and the Little Green God
Biggles en de wapensmokkelaars	Spectrum B W&L Verba	1970, 74 1984 1997	Biggles and the Gun Runners
Biggles op het ongelukseiland	Spectrum B	1970, 74	Biggles and the Deep Blue Sea
Biggles en de schijnheilige lord	Spectrum B	1970, 74	Biggles and the Noble Lord
Biggles in de Kalahari woestijn	Spectrum B	1970, 74	Biggles Sorts It Out
Biggles weet te veel	Spectrum B	1971, 75	Biggles Sees Too Much
Biggles en het spookvliegtuig	Spectrum B	1972, 77	Biggles and the Dark Intruder
Biggles en zjin vrienden	W&L Verba	1984 1996	Spitfire Parade
Biggles en zjin basis	Miklo	2001	The Boy Biggles
Biggles en de pechvogel	Miklo	2002	Biggles and the Penitent Thief
Biggles vlieger rechercheur	Miklo	2003	Biggles Air Detective
Biggles in Frankrijk	IBA	2009	Biggles in France
Biggles trekt ten strijde	IBA	2010	The Camels are Coming
Wapensbroeders	IBA	2011	Biggles in France
Gimlet van de commando's	IBA	2013	King of the Commandos
Biggles en de nieuwe rekruut	IBA	2016	Biggles Does Some Homework
Biggles en de verdwenen piloot	IBA	2016	Biggles Air Ace
Worrals van de WAAF	IBA	2017	Worrals of the W.A.A.F.
Worrals' oorlog	IBA	2020	Worrals Carries On
Mossyface	IBA	2021	Mossyface

Notes:

1. Publisher codes:

• De Telg: De Telg, Amsterdam
• De Ster: De Ster, Antwerpt.
• Born: Born NV, Assen/Amsterdam. 12 titles 1951-55.
• Spectrum: Het Spectrum, Utrecht
  • Spectrum PJ: Prisma Junior series. 38 titles 1958-1964.
  • Spectrum B: Spectrum Biggles Pocket series. The largest series. 91 titles 1964-1978.
  • Spectrum PJ2: Second Prisma Junior series.4 titles 1984-1985.
• W&L: Two imprints- W&L, Amsterdam and De Keyser, Aartselaar. 18 titles 1983-85.
• Verba: Verba, Hoevelaken. The name Ruitenberg sometimes seen--Verba is their imprint. Mostly reissues of W&L.
• Miklo: Miklo, Brussels. 3 titles from 2001.
• IBA: The International Biggles Association, Anna Paulowna. Still ongoing.

2. De Ster published 9 Biggles titles, 4 Gimlet and 5 Steeleys. Relatively little is known about them. Not all publication dates are known precisely but are believed to be in the 1950s. Where the date is not known, an arbitrary mid value of 1955 has been assigned.

3. From 2001, the International Biggles Association collaborated with Miklo to bring out the remaining Biggles titles which were not yet translated into Dutch. After the closure of Miklo, the IBA continued the translation work and published other titles inhouse. With the new titles by IBA, the Biggles series is more or less complete, and the effort has moved on to include titles such as Mossyface and Worrals.

Books in English

Dutch publishers also published Biggles books in English. These are generally targeted at the educational market and are sometimes abridged. They occasionally come with notes and list of vocabulary. There are generally quite rare and highly collectible.

• Biggles in the Baltic - Meulenhoff's English Library, Amsterdam, 1949, 1951. 170 p. with word list.
• Biggles and Company - various imprints, abridged
  • J. M. Meulenhoff, "My first collection" - 1956 - 1968
  • Meulenhoff Educatief - 1970, 1975
  • Oxford University Press, "Tales retold for easy reading" - printed in UK but targeted at the Dutch market.
• Biggles and the Dark Intruder - Stam Robijn (Educa Boek, Culemborg), 1974.
• Biggles Delivers the Goods - P. Noordhoff, Groningen/Jakarta. 1953. 154 p. with word list.

See also

• W. E. Johns in Translation - this table provides at a glance which titles have/have not been translated.