Agnes Vogt leaves the Dutch Foundation for Literature after 22 years
31 August 2026
Agnes joined the Dutch Literary Production and Translation Fund in August 2004, as a specialist in children's and youth literature. In 2010, that organisation merged with the Fonds voor de Letteren to become the Dutch Foundation for Literature. There, too, she coordinated efforts to promote quality, diversity and awareness of children's books, and for seven years she was head of the International Department and a member of the Management Team.
Following an operation and a period of recovery last autumn, Agnes has decided to broaden her horizons. The foundation is delighted that she wishes to remain involved in specific projects in future.
Throughout her career, Agnes has been a valued sounding board for the foundation's successive directors, particularly on matters relating to developments in children's and youth literature and the promotion of reading.
Her greatest strength is undoubtedly her knowledge of the field of children’s and youth literature, both in the Dutch-language and international contexts, which she navigates with ease and charm.
Equally notable is her ability to build bridges, within the Foundation for Literature and beyond, nationally and internationally. She has represented the Foundation for Literature to great effect at numerous public events at home and abroad.
With vision and resourcefulness, Agnes has developed programmes and schemes that have raised the quality and profile of the genre. In collaboration with authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, agents, festivals, museums, other cultural funds and embassies, she has helped Dutch children's and youth literature to secure a strong position in the international market. This applies both to new territories, such as Latin America and China, and to established contacts that have been strengthened and renewed in countries such as Japan and Italy. The fact that Dutch children's and youth literature has become the most successful genre in translation abroad is due in no small part to her dedication, expertise and linguistic skills.
Agnes is creative in finding new ways to bring children's and YA books, and the importance of reading, to public attention. Her involvement in setting up the Dutch Children's Book Ambassador scheme, in bibliotherapy projects for children, and in collaboration with the Museum of the Mind on the Boekendubbelganger (Book Doppelgänger) programme are just a few examples. Agnes has also been a driving force behind various multidisciplinary international showcases of Dutch children's and youth culture, including recent events in France and Italy.
We thank Agnes for her dedication and wish her every success.