The Only Officially Signed Dutch Harry Potter Book
In 2005, J.K. Rowling donated her own signed copy of the Dutch edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to support the Dutch MS Foundation. What followed was an extraordinary story involving a nationwide puzzle campaign, an unexpected winner and a unique book that remained hidden from public view for almost two decades.
The Reason
From the day she became wealthy through the success of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling donated vast sums to MS research. She served as a patron of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland for ten years before founding the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic in partnership with the University of Edinburgh.
Dorinda Roos, director of the Dutch MS Research Foundation and a board member of the International MS Association, met J.K. Rowling in London in 2005.
“For years she has supported both patient care in her own country and research worldwide, and she has always been extremely modest about it.” Dorinda Roos.
To generate additional publicity for the 25th anniversary of the Dutch MS Foundation, Roos asked Rowling whether she would be willing to donate a signed Harry Potter book. In response, she received a signed copy of the recently published Dutch translation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
J.K. Rowling had donated her own personal copy to an organisation that was especially close to her heart.
National Puzzle Campaign for the MS Foundation
Initially, the signed Harry Potter book was intended to be the main attraction of a fundraising auction organised by the MS Foundation, but the board decided otherwise.
At the end of 2005, De Telegraaf, the largest newspaper in the Netherlands, organised a nationwide puzzle campaign, with the proceeds benefiting the MS Foundation during its 25th anniversary celebrations. Instead of auctioning the book, the foundation decided to offer this unique Harry Potter volume as the grand prize. In this way, every Harry Potter fan in the Netherlands had an equal chance of winning this extraordinary book.
A Dutch-English Affair
Eighty-one-year-old Mrs Marjorie van der Vaart-Howell was a regular reader of De Telegraaf and an enthusiastic participant in the newspaper’s puzzles and competitions.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Marjorie moved to the Netherlands after meeting a Dutchman. It was a wonderful and completely unexpected surprise when she discovered that she had won this unique book, written by her famous former compatriot.
Winning the book meant a great deal to her, even though she was not an avid Harry Potter fan. The extensive newspaper coverage and the attention surrounding the award ceremony made her realise that she had received a truly valuable prize. She carefully placed the book, unread and barely opened, in her home safe.
Marjorie passed away in June 2022 at the age of 98. After having remained hidden in a safe for more than sixteen years, The Dutch Prince finally emerged into the public eye once again.
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