Václav Havel
![](/Images/godic/202501/17/Vaclav_Havel_cropped4041.jpg")
![Václav Havel and Karol Sidon (left), his friend and later chief Czech rabbi](/Images/godic/202501/17/Karol_sidon4041.jpg")
![Flag of the President of the Czech Republic. The national motto](/Images/godic/202501/17/Flag_of_the_president_of_the_Czech_Republic.svg4041.png")
![In his post-presidency Havel focused on European affairs.](/Images/godic/202501/17/Jiri_Jiroutek_Havel_Vaclav,_Praha_20064041.jpg")
Václav Havel (Czech pronunciation:[ˈvaːt͡slav ˈɦavɛl]; 5 October 1936 –18 December 2011) was a Czech writer, philosopher, dissident, and statesman. From 1989 to 1992, he served as the last president of Czechoslovakia. He then served as the first president of the Czech Republic (1993–2003) after the Czech–Slovak split. Within Czech literature, he is known for his plays, essays, and memoirs.