On 25 June 1890, Prins Frederik collided with Marpessa in the Bay of Biscay, and sank within minutes.

When they returned to Java, 18 months later, she started to write De gouden kris (1908) written from the perspective[1] of La Bello, a Buginese boy from a noble family, who is being raised by an uncle who has subjugated to the Dutch rule.

[2]: 3 In 1910, she wrote De Hollandsche vrouw, a critical novel about the way the colony was being ruled, however she still stressed the necessity to civilise the population.

[1] In the book she described that cheap opium was being distributed to the native population by the government with the intend of raising prices later on.

In 1913, van Zeggelen organised the Dutch East Indies entry for De Vrouw 1813–1913, a feminist exhibition in Amsterdam.

[1] Back in the Netherlands, van Zeggelen became editor of De Hollandsche Lelie [nl], a magazine for girls.

[1] In 1928, the publishing house van Holkema & Warendorf organized a competition for children's books.

Van Zeggelen submitted Averij, an adventure story, which won the prize for best book for boys.

[2]: 5 In 1936, van Zeggelen wrote Een liefde in Kennemerland, a historical novel set in Haarlem which was well received.