Ien
Van Laanen

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The Dutch cover of the first book by Ien Van Laanen makes prominent use of the iconic sport of Quidditch, with broom and golden Snitch to the fore. This edition first saw the light of day in August 1998, courtesy of publisher De Harmonie. Illustrator Van Laanen was wary about illustrating Harry because she felt that some children don’t like the main character depicted ‘because he or she never looks like the hero or heroine you see before you!’

She was drawn immediately to the flying that is prevalent in the books: ‘From part 1 onwards I tried to make something, someone, whatever fly through the air on all Dutch Harry Potter covers. I immediately loved that about Harry: FLYING!’ 

She drew the covers of the Dutch Harry Potter series for which Anne Lammers did the design. In  you can see how she works.   said in an interview that Ien’s covers were her favorites. For this she received the bronze owl of Apeldoorn in 2004. For the successful renewed series of  Griezelbus she made the covers and the logo. Caren Limpens did the interior and design.