Geert van Istendael (born 29 March 1947) is the pseudonym of Geert Maria Mauritius Julianus Vanistendael, a Belgian writer, poet and essayist.

He studied sociology and philosophy at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

From 1987 until 1993, he worked as a journalist for the Belgian National Television and since 1993 he became a full-time writer.

He is a brother of Frans Vanistendael.

This article about a Belgian writer or poet is a stub.