Toon van Driel

Toon van Driel, born 16 February 1945 in Amsterdam, is a Dutch cartoonist, comics writer, and artist. He is best known for two long-running series: *F.C. Knudde*, a gag strip about a hopelessly inept football team, and *De Stamgasten*, which features anthropomorphic animals swapping groan-worthy jokes in a bar. Van Driel’s work is marked by a clean, expressive line and a sharp, often absurd sense of humor. He was the original writer for Eric Schreurs’ *Joop Klepzeiker* and collaborated extensively with André van Duin. His career in comics spans from 1975 to 2023, with credits on 95 issues across titles including *Kuifje*, *Eppo*, and *Metro*. In 1988, he received the Stripschapprijs, the Netherlands’ most prestigious comics award. Van Driel’s influence endures in Dutch humor comics, where his deadpan barroom gags and football farces remain beloved.