Residency for Writers in Amsterdam

Authors

In 2006 the Amsterdam Writer’s Residency opened its doors. The project was initiated by the Dutch Foundation for Literature. The foundation provides foreign writers with a residency in the historic and literary heart of Amsterdam, and in its academic centre, with access to the University of Amsterdam library and everything that is on offer at Athenaeum Bookshop, the downstairs neighbour.

Video introduction

To learn more about the programme, watch this introduction video.

Applications

If you are a foreign author interested in the Amsterdam Residency Programme please read the conditions carefully. Please also note that applications have to be made well in advance, the residency calendar below offers room for 2018 and beyond; 2017 has been fully booked already. If you think you meet the programme’s requirements, write us an e-mail with a short biography and explain us what project you would like to work on while in Amsterdam. We would also like to know if there is a specific reason why you want to come to the Netherlands. And don’t forget to mention the Dutch publishing house that has published your work. If we think you are a suitable candidate we will respond to your e-mail and encourage you to apply formally. This means that participation in the programme is only at the invitation of the board of the foundation.

If you do not meet the basic requirements to apply, you will not receive a response or rejection letter. Due to the continuous and large-scale interest in the residency we unfortunately can not answer every email. We apologize in advance.

If you represent a (foreign) organisation (e.g. publishing house or cultural institute) it is also possible to recommend an author to our programme. Please write us an e-mail explaining why you think the author is a suitable candidate and we will respond in due time. Please note that authors that have not found a Dutch publisher yet, do not meet our requirements.

On the YouTube-channel of the Nederlands Letterenfonds (Dutch Foundation for Literature) you will find many short videos with previous writers in residence.

Conditions

Only authors whose work has been translated into Dutch can apply. Both novelists, poets, children book writers and essayists (of relevance to the current political debate in the Netherlands and beyond) are, in principle, eligible for the programme. The final selection is influenced by the ways in which the writer-in-residence might play his part in Amsterdam or the Netherlands. Most guest writers come not only to write or to do research, but also to promote the translation of one of their books or to attend a literary festival.

Even though the programme is mainly intended for European authors, this does not necessarily exclude authors from outside Europe. And finally it is good to know that most writers participating in the programme have a very specific reason for coming to Amsterdam.

The residency period is expected to last around six weeks. The guest writers use their time in Amsterdam for their own work and research, but they are also involved in the city’s literary and cultural life. All candidates may be asked to give public performances, guest lectures or readings for students and to write articles for newspapers or magazines.

Apartment

Spui

Amsterdam Residency for Writers Spui

The writers’ residence is located in the heart of Amsterdam. The square on which the apartment looks out is called ‘het Spui’. The apartment is decorated with Dutch Design. Many young Dutch designers and interior decorators have supported the residence project with furniture, lamps and decorative elements. The apartment is also decorated with paintings by the late, multi-talented Dutch author Henk van Woerden. Athenaeum Booksellers will see to a well-stocked library of Dutch literature in translation, as well as foreign studies dealing with Dutch and European history and contemporary issues.

Design for the apartment has been provided by Droog Design, Eikelenboom, Moooi, Linteloo, Pol’s Potten, Scorlewald and Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum, and by the designers Jacob de Baan, Hil Driessen, Trine Kornum, Sara Kramer, Reny van der Kamp and Ineke van der Struijs.

Guest writers (current & expected)

Current

Atiq Rahimi (France) Nl / Eng: September - medio October 2017

Expected

Olivier Rolin (France) Nl / Eng: medio October - November 2017
Nell Zink (V.S. / Germany) Nl / Eng: December 2017 - 15 January 2018

Expected in 2018 (with a proviso)

Fatma Aydemir (Germany): 15 January - February 2018
Sara Baume (Ireland): March - April 2018
Francesca Melandri (Italy): May - June 2018
Jeroen Olyslagers (Belgium): October - November 2018
Valeria Luiselli (Mexico): December - 15 January 2019

Guest writers (previous)

2017

Julia Deck (France) Nl / Eng: August 2017
Maud Vanhauwaert (Belgium) Nl / Eng: May - June 2017
Aura Xilonen (Mexico) Nl / Eng: March - April 2017
Elisa Albert Nl / Eng: Jan 9 – Febr 28, 2017

^{Aura Xilonen on the diary of Anne Frank (Spanish spoken).}

2016

In 2016, leading up to the Frankfurter Buchmesse where the Netherlands and Flanders were guest of honour, the Dutch Foundation invited German writers-in-residence only.

Kristine Bilkau (Germany) Nl / Eng: Nov 1 – Dec 16
Frank Witzel (Germany) Nl / Eng: September – October
Tom Struyf (Belgium) Nl / Eng: The Dutch Foundation and Passa Porta yearly exchange a Dutch and a Flemish resident; this year our Flemish guest was Tom Struyf; May 16 – June 10
Mirna Funk (Berlin & Tel Aviv) Nl / Eng: April 4 – May 13
Karen Köhler (Hamburg) Nl / Eng: Febr 15 -March 31
Per Leo (Berlin) Nl / Eng: Jan 12 - Febr 12

^{Recommendations on Dutch Literature by the German writers in residence.}

2015

Maintenance / closed for the holidays: December
Andy Fierens (Belgium) Nl / Eng: November
Nir Baram (Isr) Nl / Eng: Sept-Oct
Andrea Bajani (Italy) Nl / Eng: July
Eleanor Catton (New Zealand) Nl / Eng: May - June
Michaïl Shishkin (Russia) Nl / Eng: March - April
DBC Pierre (Australia) Nl / Eng: February - March

^{WiR Nir Baram on his novel The World is a Rumor (Wereldschaduw in Dutch translation by Sylvie Hoyinck for Bezige Bij Publishers).}

2014

Katharina Teutsch (Germany) Nl / Eng: November - December
Roderik Six (Belgium) Nl / Eng: September - November
Philipp Blom (Germany) Nl / Eng: August - September
Jesús Carrasco (Spain) Eng / Nl: June - July
Hila Blum (Israel) Eng / Nl: April - May
Olga Grjasnowa (Azerbaijan/Germany) Eng / Nl: March - April
Dato Turashvili (Georgia) Eng / Nl: February - March
Nihad Siries (Syria) Eng / Nl: January - February

2013

Ece Temelkuran (Turkey) Eng / Nl: November - December
Davide Enia (Italy) Eng / Blog / Nl: September 25 - October 28
David Vann (United States) Eng / Nl: August 5 - September 20
Jane Draycott (United Kingdom): June 15 - July 31
Kettly Mars (Haiti): April 16 - June 16
Peter Terrin (Belgium): March 9 – April 5
Asmaa Azaizeh (Palestina): February 26 – March 8
Jevgenija Jarmisj (Russia): February 13-25
Mohamed Magani (Algeria): January

^{Ece Temelkuran on her novel Banana Sounds (Het geluid van bananen in Dutch translation by Margreet Dorleijn for Van Gennep Publishers).}

2012

Florence Noiville (France): December
Nir Baram (Israel): November
Sevim Ak (Turkey): Oktober
Antonio Muñoz Molina (Spain): mid-August-September
Andrea Bajani (Italy): July / mid-August
Ronelda S. Kamfer (South-Africa): mid-April / June
Yves Petry (Belgium): March / mid-April
Etienne van Heerden (South Africa): February
Bernice Chauly (Malaysia): December - January 2012

2011

Bernice Chauly (Malaysia): December - January 2012
Rita Raley (USA): December
Pola Oloixarac (Argentina): November
Su Tong (China): August - October
Mian Mian (China): August - October
Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe): Mid July - August
Tim Parks (UK): June 15th - July 15th
John Green (USA): April - June 15th
Frank Adam (Belgium): March
Charles Lewinsky (Switzerland): February
Victor LaValle (USA): September - January 2011
resident in cooperation with Binger Filmlab

2010

Victor LaValle (USA): September - January 2011
resident in cooperation with Binger Filmlab
James Cowan (Australia): September - November
Davide Longo (Italy): July - August
Susan Swan (Canada): July
Ewa Lipska (Poland): June
Jachym Topol (Czech Republic): April - May
Bart Koubaa (Belgium): March
Dasa Drndic (Croatia): February
Ugur Ziya Simsek (Turkey)and Seray Sahiner (Turkey): January

2009

Bernice Eisenstein (Canada): November - December
Ramsey Nasr (The Netherlands): October
Perihan Magden (Turkey): September
María Fasce (Argentina): August
Henri Deluy (France): May - July
Joseph O’Neill (Ireland/USA): March - April
Eduardo Agualusa (Angola/Portugal): January - February
Florence Noiville (France): October 2008 - January 2009

UvA-appartment

Since 2009 the Geldersekade apartment is no longer a location we can use all year round. Only on special request and in consultation with the University of Amsterdam a writer can make use of it.

Latest video portrait:

More video’s on the YouTube channel Nederlands Letterenfonds and on whyilovethisbook

Programs