after various editorial jobs, he became a reporter for the socialist newspaper "het volk" (the people). later on he worked for the same paper as a drama critic. he also wrote short columns about daily life in the hague, which he called "kleinigheden" (trifles). in 1939 simon married tiny de goey. a year later she gave birth to a daughter, marianne. in the same year the first collection of kleinigheden was published, named "vijftig dwaasheden" (fifty follies).