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Derek Otte

Derek Otte - foto Khalid Amakran
Derek Otte - foto Khalid Amakran

(Netherlands, 1988) is known for his poetic skills, verses, stories, metaphors and spoken word. He writes "wrap-ups" on demand, writing live at events to bring them to a close in rhyme. Otte has published two collections of poetry: Regelgeving (Regulations, 2015) and TOFLOF (2017). He teaches spoken word at the Rotterdam art school (which he himself left prematurely), was the 2017-18 poet laureate of Rotterdam, and founded the Rorschach publishing house for young and controversial talent. His work is characterized by a combination of accessibility and layering. Major themes are love that doesn't quite work out and the ins and outs of the big city. Incisiveness, openness and humor alternate at high tempo.

(WN 2019)

Archive available for: Derek Otte

  • Winternachten 2022 – Thursday Night Unlimited

    WWZ x Winternachten Festival 2022

    Yippee, WWZ was back at Winternachten! We ordered a drink and got carried away by today's top spoken-word artists and poets.

    WWZ is a popular platform for authors, spoken-word artists and musicians that has, with energy and a deep love of language, staged the most beautiful performances and loveliest music for sold-out venues for many years. During Winternachten we joined forces with WWZ and PAARD. Besides Dutch poets and spoken-word artists, international festival authors let their voices be heard at WWZ x Winternachten Festival 2022 in an extra-long, high-profile program. Good vibes guaranteed!

    Line-up
    During this event you saw and heard performers such as: WWZ-founder and spoken-word artist Elten Kiene, writer and musician Aafke Romeijn, poet Derek Otte, spoken-word artists Kelvin Allison and Amara van der Elst, poet (and former Amsterdam poet laureate) Gershwin Bonevacia, poet Ellen Deckwitz, and Iranian-Swedish poet Athena Farrokhzad.

  • Winternachten 2019 – Saturday Night Unlimited

    Book of My Life: Derek Otte

    Writers told us about their favourite book: the book that inspires or touches them, that set their artistic, moral or intellectual compass. In short, the book they would recommend to everyone.

  • Winternachten 2019 – Saturday Night Unlimited

    Thinking about Holland FFWD

    "Thinking of Holland / I see broad rivers / winding slowly through endless lowlands" is perhaps the best-known Dutch opening verse. In Memory of Holland written in 1936, Hendrik Marsman describes the lanscape and the struggle against water. Seven young authors went fast forward to today, allowing the poem to inspire their future vision of the Netherlands. Poets Asha Karami and Derek Otte, singer-songwriters Lounar and Raj Mohan, performer and visual artist Roberta Petzoldt, and writers Simone van Saarloos and Vamba Sherif presented their new versions. Programmer and host Francis Broekhuijsen opened the programme by reading Marsmans classic poem.

  • Winternachten 2019 – Saturday Night Unlimited

    Spot On Young Poets

    The literary future performed for you! Francis Broekhuijsen presented the students of De Vrije School, ISW Hoogeland and Edith Stein College reciting their own poetry, the result of the Spot on Young Poets workshops given at the schools by members of the Hague Poets Guild. Appearing with them were poet Derek Otte, singer-songwriter Lounar, and rapper, spoken-word artist and writer HemelBesem from South Africa. Sumai Yahya, a participant from last year and winner of the 2018 Young Campert Prize, also performsed. DJ Socrates took care of the sounds and beats.
    One or two finalists for the 2019 Young Campert Prize were selected during the Spot on Young Poets on Friday and Saturday. The finalists recited their poems once more on Sunday during the Writers Fest. One of them will be chosen by the public and will immediately afterwards received the award of being the best Hague student poet.