Architect, the Netherlands Willem Marinus Dudok, a city architect for Hilversum, the Netherlands, a small town southeast of Amsterdam, is well known for his distinctive contribution to the modernism of the early 20th century. His architecture provided a compositional strength and visual richness that transformed the otherwise traditional and conservative community of Hilversum into the modern age. Born in 1884 in Amsterdam to musician parents, Johannes Cornelis and Cornelia Bertha (née Holst), Dudok claimed that his architectural design was influenced more by the great composers than by the great architects. Much to the disappointment of his parents, though, rather than pursue music, Dudok chose a career in the army. He attended Alkmaar Cadet School and later Breda Military Academy, where he was trained in military engineering, with a focus on fortification planning. Over time, he taught himself architecture, and when he was promoted to lieutenant-engineer in the Royal Engineering Corp...