Dirk Leyman is a literary journalist, interviewer, author and essayist. He has worked for the newspaper De Morgen for twenty-five years, during which time he has contributed interviews with writers, features and reviews. He also writes for numerous other publications, primarily focusing on Dutch and French literature, travel writing, and the publishing world. He also writes about photography and exhibitions. His articles appear regularly in Het Parool.
In 2025, his long-awaited book Passage Paris was published to fine reviews and a warm reception. In the Footsteps of the Writers (Pelckmans), was published to fine reviews and a warm reception. This 720-page, richly illustrated volume focuses primarily on international and French authors and their relationship with Paris. Leyman has also compiled two literary city guides: Gent, de dubbelzinnige (2000, with Marco Daane) and Nice, muse van azuur (Bas Lubberhuizen, 2004). In 2015, his highly acclaimed Reading: A User's Guide: World Literature in Fifty Characters (with illustrations by Brecht Evens, Polis Publishers) was published. In 2016, he published Europe Express, a journey through time to the European tourist hotspots of yesteryear (Luster Publishers).
Leyman regularly sits on book judging panels and hosts public interviews. He was the driving force behind the acclaimed book blog De papieren man, which continues to this day on social media. He studied political science, literary studies, and theatre studies at Ghent University, and now lives in Antwerp. He visits Paris as often as possible. He regularly appears on stage as an interviewer and moderator for author interviews and also enjoys talking about his own work — and, of course, his recent book Passage Paris. He aims to do so in an impassioned and inspiring manner. Dirk Leyman lives and breathes literature, closely following the latest book news. He prefers travel literature steeped in lived experience and likes to describe himself as a city flâneur.
