Hof der dingen - From caretaker to bestselling author: the story of Pieter Aspe

For years, Pierre Aspeslag hopped from one job to another: warehouse worker, salesman, seasonal worker with the maritime police, photographer, study supervisor — even caretaker and sexton of the Holy Blood Chapel in Bruges.
No one could have guessed then that he would later become one of Belgium’s most successful writers. Because Pierre Aspeslag, he’s better known under his pen name: Pieter Aspe.
Aspe made a name for himself with his detective novels featuring chief inspector Pieter Van In and prosecutor Hannelore Martens. Most stories were set in Bruges, later in Blankenberge, and followed Van In’s unruly lifestyle — always accompanied by his beloved Duvel beer (later replaced by an Omer).
His books flew off the shelves. So much so that VTM adapted them into a hit television series, spanning ten seasons.
Over two million copies of his novels were sold, with several translated into German, French, and Italian. You can even find Pieter Aspe’s books on shelves in South Africa.
In 2020, Aspe developed serious lung problems, which sadly proved fatal. He passed away on May 1st, 2021.
His legacy? Two Hercule Poirot Awards and one Humo Golden Bookmark — and a permanent place in the hearts of countless readers.