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The Dutch Foundation for Literature has the task of supporting writers and translators, and of promoting Dutch literature abroad. The foundation invests in the quality and diversity of literature through grants for writers, translators, publishers and festivals, and contributes to the production and distribution of Dutch and Frisian literature at home and abroad.

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The Curaçaoan author Roland Colastica will stay in the Amsterdam Writers’ Residency from 11 March to 8 April, at the invitation of the Dutch Foundation for Literature. Roland Colastica (Curaçao, 1960) is a writer, playwright, teacher and actor. He made his debut in the 1990s and has published several collections of stories and poems in Papiamentu, including Rueda di fe and Djis kant’i Bo (Heel dicht naast mij). He is also the author of several children’s books and has performed at book and theatre festivals worldwide. His monologue Ninga bon (Denial) has been staged successfully on many occasions and in six languages. Another of his one-man shows is Fo’i bo kuenta, a tragicomic blend of stories, poems, sketches, music and songs. Colastica has participated in international literature festivals such as Winternachten and Krusa Laman in The Hague, Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, as well as the Feria del Libro in Colombia, the Festival Iberoamericano de Cuentacuentos in Venezuela and the IDEA Conference in Hong Kong. In 2006 he received Curaçao’s highest cultural honour, the Cola Debrot Prize, for his work in theatre and playwriting. His Dutch-language YA novel Vuurwerk in mijn hoofd (Fireworks in My Head) was published in 2012, written under the guidance of his friend and fellow author Sjoerd Kuyper. During his residency in Amsterdam, supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature, Colastica will work on a new novel for adult readers in Dutch, with guidance from writer Nelleke Noordervliet.

1 April 2026, 8 PM at Theater De Vaillant, The Hague  Performance: Verlangen (in Dutch), tickets via <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://devaillant.nl/agenda/solovoorstelling-verlangen-door-roland-colastic-111637890?2154">the website</a>

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Roland Colastica will reside in the writers’ residency in Amsterdam from February 2nd to March 6th, at the invitation of the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Roland Colastica as writer in residence in Amsterdam

For almost forty years, Erdorf devoted his life to translation. “Translation is my life,” he once said, “I&#039;ve always had somewhat fragile health, and so I can hardly believe what a body of work I&#039;ve accumulated—I&#039;m actually incredibly grateful to life”. Since 1991, he worked as a full-time translator and built up an impressive oeuvre, comprising more than two hundred children’s books, alongside translations of fiction, non-fiction and graphic novels.Thanks to Erdorf, countless Dutch-language authors found their way to a German-speaking audience. Among others, he translated works by Ted van Lieshout, Jan de Leeuw, Gideon Samson, Sjoerd Kuyper, Marita de Sterck, Leo Timmers, Erna Sassen, Floortje Zwigtman, Dolf Verroen and Edward van de Vendel. His translations were praised for their precision, musicality and ability to preserve the author’s original voice.His work did not go unnoticed. In 2005, he received the Dutch Martinus Nijhoff Prijs for his entire oeuvre. He was also awarded the German Youth Literature Prize for his translations on several occasions, including in 2006 and 2016. More recently, in 2024, his entire body of work was honoured with the German Youth Literature Prize for Lifetime Achievement — an accolade that underscored his exceptional contribution to literature.Erdorf was a regular visitor to the <a href="https://www.letterenfonds.nl/en/discover/amsterdam-translators-house">Vertalershuis in Amsterdam</a>, where he worked on translations of works by Robbert Welagen and Tonke Dragt, among others. This place offered him the peace and inspiration that are so characteristic of his work.Alongside his prolific output and numerous awards, Erdorf always remained a passionate reader. He campaigned for forgotten books to be made available again — a sign of his enduring commitment to literature, even beyond his own work.With the passing of Rolf Erdorf, we have lost a translator who opened up whole worlds to new generations of readers. His legacy lives on in the many books that have been given a new lease of life thanks to him.

On March 22, 2026, Rolf Erdorf, one of the most important bridge-builders between Dutch and German-language children’s literature, passed away. With his passing, the literary world has lost an enthusiastic translator, a dedicated professional, and a tireless advocate for children’s books.

In Memoriam – Rolf Erdorf (1956–2026)

Lucy and Dark (Querido 5+) tells the story of a young girl called Lucy, that befriends the dark. When Lucy lays in bed in her room at night, she suddenly hears a voice. ‘It’s me, the dark,’ the voice says. Before she knows it, the dark takes her on an exciting journey. At night, with only the enchanting light of the moon, the world is full of new smells and sounds. Karst-Janneke Rogaar wrote and illustrated an atmospheric picture book, with crafted charcoal sketches.

The 2026 Special Bologna Ragazzi Awards category is dedicated to Fables &amp; Fairytales. A total of 4,120 candidate titles from 73 countries and regions around the world competed this year. Lucy and Dark received a special mention <a href="https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com/en/awards/bolognaragazzi-awards/braw-all-the-2026-winners/fiction-2026/10904.html">in the category fiction. </a> Do you want to discover more Dutch Children’s Books? You can find our 2025 selection <a href="https://www.letterenfonds.nl/en/dutch-childrens-books">here.</a> We will publish our curated 2026 selection very soon. The Dutch Foundation for Literature will also be present at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2026, to promote our latest Dutch Children’s Books.

Dutch Children’s Book 'Lucy and Dark', written and illustrated by Karst-Janneke Rogaar, received a special mention at the Italian Bologna Ragazzi Awards 2026. These awards are an international showcase for the world’s finest, most innovative picture books. Adjudicated by international juries made up of experts from the publishing world, the Awards acknowledge excellence of graphic design, innovation and ability to engage with young readers.

Lucy and Dark receives special mention at Bologna Ragazzi Awards

Nooteboom&#039;s oeuvre, which consists of novels, stories, travelogues, poems and essays, has been translated into more than thirty languages—from Argentina to South Korea—and has won numerous awards at home and abroad.He enjoyed great success with Rituelen (Rituals, 1980), his first book to be translated into English, for which he received the American Pegasus Prize. With Het volgende verhaal (The Following Story), he achieved a major international breakthrough in the early 1990s. In 2002, he received the prestigious German Goethe Prize, in 2024 the P.C. Hooft Prize, and in 2009 the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren for his entire oeuvre.He traveled abroad many times with the Dutch Foundation for Literature (such as to the Frankfurt Book Fair in 1993, where he helped the Netherlands and Flanders give a successful guest country presentation), always proving himself to be an erudite and diplomatic representative—also of the work of fellow authors. He had a lifelong fascination with European history and culture. He also had long friendships with foreign authors such as Rüdiger Safranski, Alberto Manguel and Mary McCarthy.He lived in Berlin, Amsterdam and on the Spanish island of Menorca, where he had a garden full of palm trees and spent his final years in relative seclusion, corresponding with friends and writing fiction. Cees Nooteboom passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 92. The Dutch Foundation for Literature wishes his family and friends strength in this time of loss.

The Dutch Foundation for Literature mourns the death of Cees Nooteboom (1933-2026). With his passing, the Netherlands has lost one of its most important and internationally acclaimed writers.

In Memoriam: Cees Nooteboom

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Discover our spring selection of Dutch Children's Books. This selection is made with the help of children’s book critics and booksellers and brings you the most striking titles.

Dutch Children's Books - Spring 2026

We are delighted to share our selection of the most striking new fiction titles from the Netherlands, books that have been included for their artistic and commercial success.

New Dutch Fiction - Spring 2026

We are very happy to present our new non-fiction titles. Most titles have been published recently and have done very well in terms of reviews, sales, awards or nominations.

Dutch Non-Fiction - Spring 2026

‘The Remembered Soldier’ by Anjet Daanje, translated by David McKay, has been mentioned as one of the most notable books of 2025 by the New York Times Book Review.