Frequently Asked Questions

Application for Translation grants should be made by the foreign publisher, by means of the application form. The requested documentation should be attached to your reply to the confirmation e-mail that you’ll receive after filling in the online form. The foundation aims to ensure that its decision is made known to the applicant within twelve weeks.

The subsidy is based on the standard translation rate (in eurocents per Dutch word) in the relevant country, with a specified limit per country or region. This limit corresponds to the subsidy granted by the Dutch Foundation for Literature. Any amount exceeding this limit is the responsibility of the publisher.

The Dutch Foundation for Literature may offer financial support to a publisher for a maximum of four titles per genre by the same author or illustrator. If the author or illustrator switches to a different publishing house, previously published titles do not count toward this limit. The number of titles by the author/illustrator that may be eligible for support remains four per genre per publisher. In exceptional circumstances, financial support may be provided to a single publisher for more than the usual limit of four titles per genre by an author/illustrator. If you have any queries, please contact us before submitting your application.

In the case of poetry, the subsidy is based on a maximum fee of € 3,- per line (including titles, and with a € 50,- per poem minimum).

For illustrated children’s literature, graphic novels of exceptional quality, and poetry, an additional production subsidy may be granted. The maximum for poetry is €1,400, and for illustrated literature, it is €2,800.

Publishers are requested to mention explicitly in their application any other organizations they have approached for a subsidy, including, if possible, the sum requested or granted, and for what costs the subsidy is granted. Should translation costs already be covered by another subsidy, the amount granted by the Dutch Foundation for Literature will be adjusted.

The granted sum will be paid to the foreign publishing house upon book publication and the receipt of agreed complimentary copies. The Dutch Foundation for Literature requires the publisher’s bank statement confirming the translator's payment as per the contract. Direct payments to the translator are allowed only for urgent reasons, requiring a written statement with the initial application. Note that the beneficiary cannot be changed post-subsidy approval.

Make sure that all public communications related to the subsidized literary project include the name and logo of the Dutch Foundation for Literature. You can find the logo in the downloads.

An experienced translator living in the Netherlands can apply for a supplementary payment in addition to the fee from the foreign publisher, up to a maximum of 7 euro cent per word. This additional fee is dependent upon the quality of the translation.