Chris Keulemans
(Tunisia, 1960) is a writer, essayist, traveller and popular panel moderator. He has published fiction and non-fiction; was the director of the debating platform and venue De Balie; and was founder of the literary bookshop Perdu and the cultural centre De Tolhuistuin (all in Amsterdam). He performed with Enkidu Khaled in their jointly created documentary play Bagdad. Due to his curiosity about how artists recreate their cities after a crisis, he travelled to Sarajevo, Beirut, Tirana, Algiers, New York, Kiev, Jakarta and Qamishlo. At the invitation of PAX, he wrote Srebrenica & PAX 1995-2020, an overview of 25 years of support to the Association of Women of Srebrenica by the IKV and PAX in response to the genocide in Bosnia. In 2021 he published Gastvrijheid (Hospitality), in which he explores the art of hospitality through a mix of travel stories, observations, memories and imagery.
Past events
A Book to Call Home with Roanne van Voorst: 'Wintering' by Katherine May
Chris Keulemans interviewed Roanne van Voorst about the book that brought her home.
A Book to Call Home, with Sayonara Stutgard and Chris Keulemans
Sayonara Stutgard and Chris Keulemans interviewed each other about the books that brought them home.
A Book to Call Home with Agustina Bazterrica
Chris Keulemans interviewed Agustina Bazterrica about the book that brought her home.
A Book to Call Home with Müesser Yeniay
Chris Keulemans interviewed Müesser Yeniay about the book that brought her home.
A Book to Call Home with Aafke Romeijn
Chris Keulemans interviewed Aafke Romeijn about the book that brought her home.
Poetry Unlimited: Surinam and Aruba
Conversations with two poets about their work and how roots influence it - plus readings.
I Have No Other Country than this Country
Writing in Afrikaans and English: a conversation about South Africa, generational differences, and the future - plus poetry.
Indonesia: History is an Always-Broken Promise
Writers from Indonesia and The Netherlands look at the history and the way former colonizers are viewed now - plus readings.
Books Unlimited: Ayelet Gundar-Goshen & Gioconda Belli
Writers discuss their novels: Ayelet Gundar-Goschen (Israel) about Waking Lions and Gioconda Belli (Nicaragua) about The Land of the Women.
Burger King & Citizenship
Since the crisis there has been a lot of talk about consumer confidence. But what about ‘citizen confidence'? The 21st century citizen seems to be adrift. He feels powerless, unheard and misunderstood. The expressions of discontent, the analyses of the causes and the attempts at a solution are endless: From Occupy to the Tea Party. Tonight the citizens speak in the greenhouse in front of the theatre. You can watch and listen outside.
Wintercafé 4: Rules for Radicals 2.0
This evening we will look for a pragmatic manual for the creation of harmful literature, street noise and bombs under the canon. What are the new strategies used today by the internet-networking elite-intellectual populist-engaged artist of today?
Colonial history of the East and West
Frank Martinus Arion (Curaçao) presents his new novel and meets the young Indonesian writer Eka Kurniawan. On writing and colonial history. Chaired by Chris Keulemans. English spoken.
Candid Indonesian
Discussion on the candid style of writing of two young Indonesian authors. A.S. Laksana and Dinar Rayahu are interviewed by Chris Keulemans. English spoken.
