Jan Wolkers, one of the major Dutch writers of the post-war period, died Friday aged 81, media reported.
Wolkers is best known for his graphic description of sex in his 1960s novels which caused scandal at the time. Some Dutch schools banned his books because of the unabashed attention to sex, decay and death and his wry humour.
His best known novel is "Turkish Delight" which was translated into more than 10 languages including French, German, Spanish and Japanese.
When it came out in 1969, one Dutch cleric recommended it should not be read by unmarried people.
"Turkish Delight" tells the story of the intense affair between a sculptor and a young woman, Olga. They separate but keep being drawn to each other.
Finally Olga falls ill and the sculptor, modelled on Wolkers, is one of the few people who visit her in hospital. The title refers to the turkish delight sweets he brings to Olga because it’s the only food she will eat on her sickbed.
Although the graphic sex scenes might have something to do with the book's initial popularity many critics now agree that "Turkish Delight" is one of the best love stories written by a Dutch author.
Wolkers took the scandal about his books in his stride and was awarded several of the Netherlands' highest literary honours in the 1980s. He refused to accept the prestigious awards because he felt official recognition for his work came too late.
From the 1990s onwards Wolkers focussed more on his painting and his sculpting than on his writing, publishing only collections of essays and stories.
His best known work as a sculptor is the Auschwitz monument in Amsterdam, built up of broken mirrors under a glass plate.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2007