geert van istendael (born 29 march 1947) is the pseudonym of "geert maria mauritius julianus vanistendael", a belgian writer, poet and essayist. he studied sociology and philosophy at the katholieke universiteit leuven. from 1987 until 1993, he worked as a journalist for the belgian national television and since 1993 he became a full-time writer. he is a brother of frans vanistendael. he is a supporter of orangism.