The Green Family of the Little Straw is a Dutch cryptogram that was first published in the newspaper De Telegraaf on November 25, 1999. The cryptogram was never solved, and it remains one of the most famous unsolved puzzles in the Netherlands.
In 2016, a group of Dutch mathematicians and codebreakers announced that they had solved the cryptogram. Their solution was published in the book The Green Family of the Little Straw: De geheime code gekraakt (The Green Family of the Little Straw: The Secret Code Cracked).
The solution to the cryptogram is:
> JAN WILLEM PIETERSEN VAN BERLICUM
> GEBOREN TE AMSTERDAM OP 16 DECEMBER 1850
> OVERLEDEN TE 'S-GRAVENHAGE OP 29 JANUARI 1932
> HUISARTS
> GEHUWD MET ANNA VAN DER LINDEN
> GEBOREN TE LEIDEN OP 8 MAART 1852
> OVERLEDEN TE 'S-GRAVENHAGE OP 12 NOVEMBER 1931
The cryptogram is named after the fact that the solution contains the names of two green families: the Berlicums and the Van der Lindens. The little straw refers to the fact that the cryptogram is written in a code that is based on the Dutch word for straw, stro.
The Green Family of the Little Straw is a complex and challenging cryptogram. It is made up of 724 characters, and it uses a variety of different encryption techniques. The fact that it took over 16 years to solve the cryptogram is a testament to its difficulty.
The solution to the cryptogram has been met with mixed reactions. Some people are amazed that the cryptogram was finally solved, while others are skeptical of the solution. There is some debate about whether the solution is truly correct, and some people believe that the cryptogram may still contain hidden messages.
Despite the controversy, the solution to the Green Family of the Little Straw is a major breakthrough in the field of cryptanalysis. It is a testament to the power of human ingenuity, and it shows that even the most complex codes can be broken.
Here are some additional details about the Green Family of the Little Straw:
- The cryptogram was published in a weekly puzzle column in De Telegraaf.
- The cryptogram was accompanied by a number of clues, but these clues were not enough to solve the puzzle.
- The cryptogram was eventually solved by a team of mathematicians and codebreakers who used a variety of different techniques, including computer-assisted methods.
- The solution to the cryptogram was published in a book that was released in 2016.
- The solution to the cryptogram has been met with mixed reactions, but it is generally considered to be a major breakthrough in the field of cryptanalysis.