Otto de Kat is the pseudonym of Jan Geurt Gaarlandt (Rotterdam, 1946). He studied theology, with a minor in Dutch, at the University of Leiden. After his studies he became a literary critic for de Volkskrant and Vrij Nederland, and made literary radio documentaries. In 1975 he published the collection of poems Het ironisch charter with Uitgeverij Van Oorschot. At the end of 1977 he became publisher of Uitgeverij De Haan (part of Unieboek) and in 1986 he founded Uitgeverij Balans.