Translation grants

For whom		For what		Deadlines
Publishers		Translation costs		Continuous *

* There will be seven subsidy meetings in 2023. The deadlines for the applications are: February 4, March 18, April 29, June 17, September 2, October 21 and November 25. You will receive an answer about your application within three weeks after the deadline date.

List of Approved Translators

One of the aspects of particular concern to the Dutch Foundation for Literature is the quality of the translation. The Foundation can send the publisher upon request the List of Approved Translators. Should the Foundation be unfamiliar with the chosen translator, it will ask for a sample translation so that the quality of the work can be assessed. Only translations of a high standard can be granted subsidies.

Other conditions

There are a number of other conditions with which an application for a subsidy must comply if it is to be successful:

• The original, Dutch-language work by the Dutch author or illustrator must have been published by a recognized Dutch or Flemish publishing house.
• The translation must be published by a foreign publishing house that can ensure good distribution and promotion of the book in its own country.
• A contractual agreement must exist between the Dutch rights holder and the foreign publisher granting translation rights to the foreign publisher, unless the work is in the public domain.
• A contractual agreement must exist between the foreign publisher and the translator of the work.
• The work must be published within two years from the date of the letter of confirmation letter.

Subsidy

The amount granted depends on a number of factors:

1. The amount for which the subsidy is requested must be consistent with the fee to be paid to the translator as stated in the translation contract. In most cases the subsidy covers 70% of the amount for which a subsidy is requested, with the understanding that the remaining 30% will be paid to the translator by the publisher. In the case of books that we regard as Dutch classics, the subsidy covers 100% of the amount. The Dutch Foundation for Literature can subsidize a maximum of 3 titles per genre by the same author/illustrator.
2. The subsidy is based on the usual translation rate (eurocents per Dutch word) in the country concerned, with a limit per country or region. This limit relates to the subsidy granted by the Dutch Foundation for Literature, with the remaining sum above this amount to be paid by the publisher. This limit should not be understood as a recommended rate; the publisher is, of course, encouraged to pay a higher amount. This applies to both prose and poetry.
3. 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).
4. 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 € 2,800.
5. 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.
6. The maximum subsidy amount is € 10,000.

Application procedure

Application for a 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.

Payment

The sum granted will be paid to the foreign publishing house after receipt of the agreed number of complimentary copies, in which mention must be made of the support of the Dutch Foundation for Literature (including logo).

The Dutch Foundation for Literature also requests a copy of the publisher’s bank statement that proves the payment to the translator has been made as agreed upon in the contract between the publisher and the translator. The total amount of the grant will be reduced proportionally if the fee paid to the translator is less then stated in the contract.

Please let us know as soon as possible if the translation subsidy should be paid straight to the translator. In that case we need the translator’s bank details.

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.

Acknowledgement

In the work an acknowledgement has to be printed that publication has been made possible with the financial support from the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Examples:

English:

This book was published with the support of the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

French:

Ouvrage publié avec le concours de la Fondation néerlandaise des lettres.

German:

Die Übersetzung dieses Buches wurde von der niederländischen Stiftung für Literatur gefördert.

Spanish:

Este libro fue publicado con el apoyo de la Fundación neerlandesa de letras.

Italian:

Questo libro è stato pubblicato con il sostegno della Fondazione nederlandese per la letteratura.

Download logo

The logo of the Dutch Foundation for Literature is available in several formats, please visit our download page.

Finding, selecting and supporting translators

The Dutch Foundation for Literature extends subsidies to foreign publishers for translations of Dutch literature, provided the translator is on the Foundation’s List of Approved Translators. If that is not the case, the Foundation looks at whether it would be worthwhile inviting the translator to provide a sample translation, which will then be assessed by one or more experienced literary translators, on an anonymous basis. Such assessments take an average of four to six weeks. Read more

Application forms

To submit your application, please use this form:

Application form (regular)

If you are making an application for an anthology or a literary magazine, please use this form:

Application form (anthology or literary magazine)

Downloads

• Subsidy regulations (.pdf)
• Subsidieregeling (.pdf)