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 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.

Latest video portrait

YouTube channel Nederlands Letterenfonds

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.

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)

2015

DBC Pierre (Australia) Nl / Eng: February - March
Michaïl Shishkin (Russia) Nl / Eng: March - April
Eleanor Catton (New Zealand) Nl / Eng: May - June
Rachel Kushner (United States) Nl / Eng: July
Andrea Bajani (Italy): August
Nir Baram (Isr): Sept-Okt
Andy Fierens (Belgium): Okt -Nov

Guest writers (previous)

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

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.

Programs