Benno A. Zuiddam

Dr Benno Zuiddam is a journalist, theologian and classical scholar.

He comes from an old Dutch family, "Van Zuydams".

The freedom loving and seafaring character of this family is visible in its history. Some were involved in founding New York (Nieuw Amsterdam) in the 17th century. Others seemed to have perished as they braved the Seven Seas. A famous restaurant in South Africa has part of a shipwreck on display: the "Zuidam", which was wrecked on the shores of the Cape of Good Hope.

Benno has also lived in South Africa, but, true to the mythology of this region, as a good Dutchman he came flying and not by ship. Since the start of the 21st century he resides in Australia, where his only boat is a kayak.

Professor Zuiddam earned doctorates in Theology (DTh) and Greek (PhD). He is an associate of North West University in South Africa, Greenwich School of Theology in the UK, and the Centre for Patristic Research in the Netherlands. In 2014 professor Zuiddam was elected member of the South African Academy for Science and Art.