Residency for Writers in Amsterdam
Scholars, Translators, Authors
In 2006 the Amsterdam Writer’s Residency opened its doors. The project was initiated by the Dutch Foundation for Literature. The foundation made living space available for foreign writers in the heart of the old city. This means the writers in residence find lodgings not only in the historic and literary heart of Amsterdam, but also at 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.
Video portraits
Nir Baram
Applications
If you are a foreign author interested in the Amsterdam Residency Programme please read the conditions carefully. 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 boards of the foundations.
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.
Conditions
Preference is given to authors whose works have been translated into Dutch or will be shortly. Furthermore, authors who work in a wide range of literary genres will be given priority. Novelists, poets, essayists (of relevance to the current political debate in the Netherlands and beyond) or critics who can be linked to newspapers or magazines, 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. They have work in preparation that has a direct link with Dutch history or current cultural and political affairs.
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 guest lectures or readings for students and to write articles for newspapers or magazines. The residency period is expected to last around two to three months, with a minimum of six weeks. A committee consisting of University of Amsterdam professor Ieme van der Poel, Athenaeum Booksellers’ managing director Maarten Asscher and literary journalist Margot Dijkgraaf is responsible for the monitoring of the selection procedure.
Sponsors
As per january 2011 the Writer’s Residency has a second sponsor. The Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK) has decided to join the Dutch Foundation for Literature in their work to accommodate foreign guest writers in Amsterdam.
Apartments
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, multitalented 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.
Geldersekade
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.
Guest writers (current & expected)
2013
- Peter Terrin (Belgium)
- March 9 – April 5
- Kettly Mars (Haiti)
- April - June
- Jane Draycott (United Kingdom)*
- June 15 - July
- David Vann (United States)*
- August - September
- Davide Enia (Italy)*
- October
- Ece Temelkuran (Turkey)*
- November - December
*: Expected (with a proviso)
Guest writers (previous)
2013
- Mohamed Magani (Algeria)
- January
- Jevgenija Jarmisj (Russia)
- February 13-25
- Asmaa Azaizeh (Palestina)
- February 26 – March 8
2012
- Bernice Chauly (Malaysia)
- December - January 2012
- Etienne van Heerden (South Africa)
- February
- Yves Petry (Belgium)
- March / mid-April
- Ronelda S. Kamfer (South-Africa)
- mid-April / June
- Andrea Bajani (Italy)
- July / mid-August
- Antonio Muñoz Molina (Spain)
- mid-August-September
- Sevim Ak (Turkey)
- Oktober
- Nir Baram (Israel)
- November
- Florence Noiville (France)
- December
2011
- Victor LaValle (USA)
-
September - January 2011
resident in cooperation with Binger Filmlab - Charles Lewinsky (Switzerland)
- February
- Frank Adam (Belgium)
- March
- John Green (USA)
- April - June 15th
- Tim Parks (UK)
- June 15th - July 15th
- Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe)
- Mid July - August
- Mian Mian (China)
- August - October
- Su Tong (China)
- August - October
- Pola Oloixarac (Argentina)
- November
- Rita Raley (USA)
- December
- Bernice Chauly (Malaysia)
- December - January 2012
2010
- Ugur Ziya Simsek and Seray Sahiner (Turkey)
- January
- Dasa Drndic (Croatia)
- February
- Bart Koubaa (Belgium)
- March
- Jachym Topol (Czech Republic)
- April - May
- Ewa Lipska (Poland)
- June
- Davide Longo (Italy)
- July - August
- Susan Swan (Canada)
- July
- Victor LaValle (USA)
-
September - January 2011
resident in cooperation with Binger Filmlab - James Cowan (Australia)
- September - November
2009
- Florence Noiville (France)
- October 2008 - January 2009
- Eduardo Agualusa (Angola/Portugal)
- January - February
- Joseph O’Neill (Ireland/USA)
- March - April
- Henri Deluy (France)
- May - July
- María Fasce (Argentina)
- August
- Perihan Magden (Turkey)
- September
- Ramsey Nasr (The Netherlands)
- October
- Bernice Eisenstein (Canada)
- November - December
2008
- Wilhelm Genazino (Germany)
- cancelled
- Witi Ihimaera (New Zealand)
- September 1 - February 2008
- Marlene van Niekerk (South-Africa)
- November 2007 - March 2008
- Marlene van Niekerk (South-Africa)
- November 2007 - March 2008
- Petra Hulová (Czech Republic)
- January - April
- Pierre Assouline (France)
- April-May
- Hayden White (USA)
- May
- Roni Margulies (Great Britain & Turkey)
- June-July
- Jamal Mahjoub (Great Britain & Sudan)
- July-August
- Goce Smilevski (Macedonia)
- August - October
- Richard Mason (UK / South-Africa)
- September
- Ragip Zarakolu (Turkey)
- September
- Florence Noiville (France)
- October 2008 - January 2009
- Anne Provoost (Belgium)
- November
- E.K.M. Dido (South-Africa)
- December
- Bernice Eisenstein (Canada)
- April
2007
- Olga Tokarczuk (Poland)
- January 2007 - April
- Saskia De Coster (Belgium)
- April 15 - June 15
- Etienne van Heerden (South-Africa)
- August
- Lilian Faschinger (Austria)
- September 2007 - December
- Witi Ihimaera (New Zealand)
- September 1 - February 2008
- Sudeep Sen (India)
- September - mid October
- Marlene van Niekerk (South-Africa)
- November 2007 - March 2008
2006
- Frank Martinus Arion (Curaçao)
- October - December 2006
- David van Reybrouck (Belgium)
- October - December 2006
