Jan van Haasteren was born on 24 February 1936 in Schiedam. He now lives in Bergen, North Holland, and is the father of two daughters. Outside of drawing, he is an avid tennis player.

From a young age, Jan discovered his passion for drawing, inspired by the cartoons and humorous illustrations of the time. His talent was quickly recognised by teachers and his surroundings, leading him to study at the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts, where he refined his skills. Although he explored many artistic styles and techniques, humour always remained the common thread in his work.

Career

After his studies, Jan started at an advertising agency, but soon switched to comics and illustrations. Eventually, he chose to become a freelancer, creating comics for magazines and posters for commercial clients.
In the 1980s, he began collaborating with puzzle producer Jumbo. At first, puzzles were made from existing advertising posters, but Jan soon started designing special puzzle illustrations full of chaotic, humorous scenes. The style immediately struck a chord with puzzlers at home and abroad. His work was awarded the Bulletje en Boonestaak Schaal (2006), and in 2013, he was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Studio Jan van Haasteren

To keep up with the growing demand, Jumbo established Studio Jan van Haasteren in 2013. Alongside Jan, four other artists now work there on new puzzles. In 2023, the Oldtimers puzzle line was launched, re-issuing classic Jan van Haasteren works as 1,000-piece puzzles.

Distinctive Style

Jan’s drawings are instantly recognisable for their wealth of detail, cheerful chaos, and signature recurring elements that continue to surprise puzzlers. The shark’s fin is the most famous, but other motifs – such as loose hands, Saint Nicholas, dentures, the octopus, the “I love Jane” post-it, and Jan himself – also reappear. For puzzlers, this makes it a game within the game: not only completing the puzzle, but also spotting all the hidden jokes.