Bette Adriaanse
Bette Adriaanse, also known as Bette A., is a Dutch writer and visual artist.
Early life and education
Adriaanse was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Oudorp, in the Netherlands. She studied Image and Language at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and later completed a Master in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.Career
Adriaanse's debut novel, Rus Like Everyone Else, was published by US-based publisher Unnamed Press. It explores urban alienation and human connection through the eyes of a postal worker in a fictional neighborhood. It was translated into Dutch as Post voor Rus Ordelman and published by Uitgeverij Cossee. The novel received reviews in Structo magazine, where Adam Ley-Lange praised its nuanced portrayal of isolation and community, and The Gazette, where correspondent Laura Farmer described the novel as "beautiful, creative, whimsical and heartfelt".Her second novel, What's Mine, written in Dutch and English, examines ownership and justice through a conflict over an apartment. Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad highlighted its plot and thematic depth. Tzum magazine noted its layered narrative and filmic qualities.
In 2025, Adriaanse co-authored What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory with musician and artist Brian Eno. Published by Faber & Faber, the book examines the role of art in society and its impact on human experience. It discusses themes such as collective creativity, accessibility of artistic expression, and the relationship between art and emerging technologies. It received reviews from outlets including The Guardian, The Irish Times, Kirkus Reviews, and the Wall Street Journal.
Adriaanse has taught creative writing at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie. She is co-founder of the TRQSE Foundation, promoting collaborations between artists and scientists around social topics, and co-founder of the Heroines! movement, a global storytelling project focusing on women role models.