ABOUT ME

My name is Daya L. Berendse and I am the owner of Berendse Translations. I am a commercial translator, literary translator, book translator, editor and writer.

I have always been interested in languages and reading. My best subject in primary and secondary school was English (partly because I mastered this language at an early age) and it was no surprise to my friends and family that I chose to study English Language and Culture (at the University of Amsterdam). It soon became clear to me that I wanted to become a translator, so I continued my studies by completing a master’s programme at Leiden University: Translation English-Dutch-English.

In secondary school, I started writing fiction. I grew up with the books of masters of horror Paul van Loon, R.L. Stine and Stephen King, and soon started reading a lot of fantasy as well. In 2015, I participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo; a writing challenge in which one has to write a novella of 50,000 words within 30 days) and wrote my first (self-)published detective novel: The Angel of Death Series Book 1: The Beginning. The novel was written in English and can be ordered here.

My interest in fiction doesn't stop with reading and writing: in 2017, I started my studies as a literary translator at the Vertalersvakschool (Vocational School for Literary Translation) in Amsterdam. In 2018-2019, I was following a programme focused on translation of fantasy novels that was specially designed for me. Apart from writing the second and third part of The Angel of Death Series, my goal is to eventually translate my own published novel into Dutch.

In 2017, I translated the book Kas di shon: Plantation Houses on Curaçao: Past and Present (Dutch title: Kas di shon: Plantagehuizen op Curaçao, vroeger en nu) from Dutch into English. The book can be ordered here.

In 2012, I started as a project manager, language specialist and translator at a translation agency, where I still act as a senior project manager on a part-time basis. That is where I gained my years of experience with translations (both from English and into English) and editing work.

While I was studying in Amsterdam, I also found another outlet for my love for language: I tutored secondary school pupils in English – helping them pass their (final) exams. A very rewarding and fun job!

After having lived in Amsterdam for five years, I went back to my roots in 2013: Rotterdam. I now live in one of architect Piet Blom’s famous cube houses with my husband and our two cats, Bob Dylan and Nessie Mittens.

Follow Berendse Translations via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or ProZ. My CV is available on request.