Jenny Mijnhijmer was born in Surinam but moved to Europe when she was one year old. She grew up in the Dutch culture but always treasured her Surinamese roots. She started writing short stories and plays at the age of five.

She went to college and studied English Literature and Theatrical Science. As a student Jenny was actively involved with LEST, the Leiden English Speaking Theatre. She acted in numerous plays. During this time she auditioned for American director Rufus Collins (The Living Theatre) who had settled in Amsterdam. He cast her in numerous plays and also gave her the opportunity to write her first commissioned play. Since then she has become one of the most productive screenwriters in the Netherlands. She has worked extensively in the theatre and in television. She was head-writer on several sitcoms and story liner on the Dutch version of Ugly Betty. Her work has been critically acclaimed and she has won international prizes with her short film You 2.

Jenny has always had a keen interest in art and policy. She was a committee member at the Raad voor Cultuur for six years and has been an advisor for disciplines in the performing arts in The Hague (Commissie Culturele Activiteiten) and Amsterdam (AFK). She was an advisor at the Mediafonds where she evaluated plans for television drama and documentaries and is currently in the pool of advisors at the new NPOfonds. She was vice-president of the Netwerk Scenarioschrijvers, the Dutch screenwriter’s guild and is a core member of the werkgroep Culturele Diversiteit in the media.

Jenny is currently teaching screenplay at the Dutch Schrijversvakschool and the HKU. Last summer her play De Meisjes van de Kapsalon was a box office success at the Parade (renowned Dutch traveling theatre festival). Jenny is currently developing a television drama and two plays.