De dolinghe van Ulyss

work by Coornhert

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June 25, 2026

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De dolinghe van Ulyss is a 1561 Dutch translation of Homer's Odyssey by Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert. This work is considered the first great achievement of the Dutch early Renaissance. Coornhert, a Dutch poet, translator, playwright, and moralist, used this translation to showcase his powers of imagery and sensuous description. He was a key figure in establishing Humanist values in the vernacular, and his clear prose style influenced later Dutch writers. Coornhert's translation of The Odyssey reflects his broader literary and philosophical contributions, which emphasized a belief in a loving God and advocated for tolerance.1

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Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert
His translation of the Odyssey—De dolinghe van Ulyss (1561)—was the first great work of the Dutch early Renaissance. Here Coornhert’s powers of imagery and sensuous description are fully evident, while in his original poetry the religious–humanistic intent precludes any stress on figurative language.
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His translation of the Odyssey—De dolinghe van Ulyss (1561)—was the first great work of the Dutch early Renaissance. Here Coornhert’s powers of imagery and sensuous description are fully evident, while in his original poetry the religious–humanistic intent precludes any stress on figurative language.
Read More