Het Logboek -> The Journal

© Curtin University

In 2014 ASTRON commissioned Het logboek, a youth novel by Anke den Duyn. Het Logboek intertwines adventures around the Dwingeloo telescope with Dutch radio astronomy history, science and even a bit of engineering and links to the SKA sites in South Africa and Western Australia.

Prof. Peter Hall from Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, recognized the potential of Het logboek for Australian kids and commissioned a translation of the book into English. In its translation the title changes to The Journal. An Australian of Dutch descent, Kim van Lent, and Anke had a great time converting the Dutch story into Australian-English.

The release of The Journal coincided, not accidentally, with the state visit of Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, to Australia in November. This was a great opportunity to present the Royal couple with three copies of the book, one for each of the Dutch princesses Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. A chance for them to enjoy exciting adventures around the Dwingeloo telescope and to catch up with the role their great-grandmother Queen Juliana played in ASTRONs glorious past.

Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deborah Terry presented the books to the Royal couple.

p.s. The Australian-English Journal is a good read but of course a copy of the Dutch Logboek was included in the package...