Who we are
Annejan Mieras wins Gouden Griffel for best Children's Book
'The Little Universe' (Het kleine heelal), written by Annejan Mieras has been awarded with the Gouden Griffel, a Dutch prize for the best children's book of the year. The Gouden Penseel for the best illustrated children's book goes to Jeska Verstegen. She receives the award for her illustrations in 'The rope and the truth' (Het touw en de waarheid) written by Marco Kunst.
Marit Törnqvist receives Johannes Vermeer Award 2024
The Johannes Vermeer Award 2024 goes to illustrator and children's book writer Marit Törnqvist. The jury, chaired by Marise Voskens, unanimously nominated her. Törnqvist receives the award for her exceptional artistic ability to depict universal emotions in language and drawings, and to bring them close to the reader's world of experience. The Johannes Vermeer Award is awarded for the first time to an artist who primarily focuses on children and young adults.
Reopening of the Support Programme for Ukrainian Artists 2024
Today, the Support Programme for Ukrainian Artists 2024 reopens. In the fall of 2023, the government allocated additional budget to support artists who fled Russian aggression after 24 February 2022 and are currently residing in the Netherlands. This is a continuation of the Support Programme for Ukrainian Artists which was launched in 2022, and the following Support Programme for Ukrainian Artists 2024, which opened in January. Applications for the programme can be submitted via the Dutch Foundation for Literature through this website.
'The Empusium' wins European Literature Prize 2024
The 2024 European Literature Prize goes to 'The Empusium' by Olga Tokarczuk, translated into Dutch by Karol Lesman (De Geus Publishers). ‘A novel like a root system that branches and deepens, and becomes increasingly rich during reading and rereading,’ according to the jury.
Headstrong
Brankele Frank thought she could do it all. Combining a career as a neurobiologist with a job as a strategic consultant for McKinsey? Writing for newspapers and magazines? No problem, there was still enough time for a triathlon. But when her life comes to a screeching halt her first concern is recovery. After a while, Frank begins to search for answers.
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Pain — An Expedition Into Uncharted Territory
Pain causes a lot of suffering and comes with a huge price tag, yet it remains under-reported. Words often fail us. We try to measure it on a scale of 1 to 10, but have no idea what those numbers mean. Can we ever know what someone else’s pain feels like?
Helenka — A Pioneer Among Scientists and Freedom Fighters
When Anna van Suchtelen sees a picture of her grandmother Helena (Helenka) Drecke seated in a laboratory, it piques her curiosity and launches her on a quest. Helenka is wearing a dress, looking defiantly into the camera, and there is a sign behind her that reads ‘Danger: 4000 volts’.
Reflection Time
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, just as the world went into lockdown, Meredith Greer realized she was pregnant but couldn’t keep the baby. The experience of waiting for, undergoing, and recovering from an abortion was isolated and isolating, encapsulated as it was in a larger, collective act of waiting.