Jan Geurt Gaarlandt (born October 9, 1946) is a Dutch journalist, poet, translator, editor and novelist.

He is a grandson of Egbertus Gerrit Gaarlandt, a mayor of Gouda, and Hermina Johanna Maria de Kat.

An article on Van Geel, published in the journal Raam attracted attention, and he was invited by the de Volkskrant newspaper to write reviews for them.

[4] Gaarlandt's early career was as a reviewer of theological works for the de Volkskrant and the Vrij Nederland magazine between 1973-1979,[5] following which he was assigned more and more literary criticism.

Balans became established following the successful publication of Hillesum's books; another popular work was the newly translated Bible by Nico ter Linden.

The publishing house was also instrumental in establishing biography as a popular genre in the Netherlands, with the issue of a series of books on Queen Wilhelmina, Hendrikus Colijn, Henriette Roland Holst, and Herman Gorter.