Francis Broekhuijsen
(The Netherlands, 1970) is a presenter, producer, actor and voice-over artist specializing in music, literature, arts and culture. After graduating as actor from the Toneelschool Amsterdam he was a member, among others, of the ensemble of the Nationale Toneel. He was a presenter at Amsterdam-based broadcaster AT5 and a radio producer with the KRO on national network NPO Radio 1. He narrates audio books, and was shortlisted for the Storytel Award 2019 for Best Audio Book with his reading of Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer's novel Grand Hotel Europa. Until last year, he presented on radio station Sublime the daily morning show Sublime Sunrise, the Instagram poetry programme Sublime Smooth and evening show The Sublime Experience. In 2025 he wrote and hosted the tv-series Kringlopen met Francis on regional Dutch broadcaster NH. Broekhuijsen works for Writers Unlimited as festival curator and presenter.
Go to the website of Francis Broekhuijsen
Instagram: @francisbroekhuijsen
Past events
Writers Unlimited Festival Cafe
Meet with drinks and snacks. The right atmosphere comes from host and DJ Francis Broekhuijsen. Bookstore De Vries Van Stockum offers a rich selection of books by festival authors.
Writers Unlimited Festival Cafe
Meet with drinks and snacks. The right atmosphere comes from host and DJ Francis Broekhuijsen. Bookstore De Vries Van Stockum offers a rich selection of books by festival authors.
Festival Cafe with Silent Disco with DJ The Soulslammer
The Soulslammer unleashed his best beats on your headphones and got you into a deliciously swinging groove. Dance along at the Silent Disco!
Festival Cafe with Silent Disco with DJ The Soulslammer
The Soulslammer unleashed the best beats on your headphones and got you into a deliciously swinging groove. Dance along at the Silent Disco!
Writers Unlimited Festival Cafe
Meet with drinks and snacks. The right atmosphere came from host and DJ Francis Broekhuijsen. The Hague poet Sjaak Kroes wrote poem especially for you. Poet Dorien Dijkhuis took you on a seven-minute journey with her poetic VR installation VER. Bookstore De Vries Van Stockum offered a rich selection of books by festival authors.
Writers Unlimited Festival Cafe
Meet with drinks and snacks. The right atmosphere came from host and DJ Francis Broekhuijsen. The Hague poet Sjaak Kroes wrote a poem especially for you. Poet Dorien Dijkhuis took you on a seven-minute journey with her poetic VR installation VER. Bookstore De Vries Van Stockum offered a rich selection of books by festival authors.
Writers Unlimited Festival Cafe and Silent Disco
DJ Socrates unleashed his beats on your headphones. Dance along at the Silent Disco! Or did you rather catch up over a drink?
Festival Cafe with Silent Disco
DJ Socrates unleashed his beats on your headphones and got you into a deliciously swinging groove. Dance along at the Silent Disco!
Writers Unlimited Festival Café
Talks & tunes by Francis Broekhuijsen, poetry on demand by Gerda Blees, bookshop and drinks. Only tonight: get a free haircut by barber and 'mattenkoning' Youri.
Writers Unlimited Festivalcafé
Talks & tunes with Francis Broekhuijsen, poetry on demand by Gerda Blees, bookshop, drinks and, late evening, a swinging Silent Disco featuring DJ Socrates.
Winternachten Club featuring Tabanka
Festive and very danceable live show by the Cape Verdean band from Rotterdam, preceded by DJ Socrates' beats.
Winternachten Club featuring KUENTA
Live show featuring Afro-caribbean dance music, preceded by DJ Socrates' beats.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Writers Unlimited festival, you encounter one another, or the authors for a chat and to sign their books. Festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen leads the way through the program. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop is open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
Meet the writers for a conversation or booksigning!
20.55-21.10 Angelina Enny and Goenawan Mohamad
21.10-21.30 Cynthia Mc Leod, Reggie Baay and Nelleke Noordervliet
22.05-22.25 Adriaan van Dis and Ellen Deckwitz
23.00-23.15 Soortkill
Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from Dalton Den Haag recite their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by poet and guest teacher Diann van Faassen. Appearing with them is poet Roberta Petzoldt, winner of the 2019 C. Buddingh Prize, as well as young student-poet Mirle Wittekoek, winner of the 2019 Young Campert Award.
Friday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Winternachten festival, you encounter one another, or the authors for a chat and to sign their books. Festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen leads you through the program. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop is open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
Meet the writers for a conversation or booksigning!
21.10-21.30 Antjie Krog and Simone Atangana Bekono
22.05-22.30 Akwasi
23.00-23.20 Mylo Freeman and Sunny Bergman
Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from Edith Stein College and de Vrije School Den Haag recite their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by poet and guest teacher Diann van Faassen. Appearing with them is poet Obe Alkema, a nominee for the 2019 C. Buddingh' Prize, as well as young student-poet Mirle Wittekoek, winner of the 2019 Young Campert Award.
Thinking about Holland FFWD
Seven young authors, poets and performers go fast forward and find inspiration for their future vision of The Netherlands by Marsman's poem from 1936.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Winternachten festival, you encountered one another, or the writers for booksigning. Your festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen showed the way through the programme. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop was open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
21:10-21.40 Ian Buruma, David Van Reybrouck & Jennifer Clement
21:55-22:25 Ayelet Gundar-Goshen & Gioconda Belli
22:10-22:40 Aafke Romeijn & Leni Zumas
23:05-23:45 Arshia Sattar, Jennifer Makumbi, Rodaan Al Galidi & Wytske Versteeg
Spot On Young Poets
High-school students of De Vrije School, ISW Hoogeland and Edith Stein College reciting their poetry, result of workshops given by the Hague Poets Guild. Also appearing poets Derek Otte, HemelBesem from South Africa, and Sumai Yahya.
Friday Night Wintercafé
Here, at the beating heart of the Winternachten festival, you encountered one another, or the writers for booksigning. Your festival guide and presenter Francis Broekhuijsen showed the way through the programme. The De Vries Van Stockum Bookshop was open all evening in the foyer, offering a special selection of titles by all festival authors.
Meet & Greet - time schedule
20.50-21.20 Damiaan Denys and Dimitri Verhulst
21.15-21.45 Joke Hermsen and Adam Zagajewski
21.55-22.25 Jennifer Clement
22.10-22.25 Hanna Bervoets and Mark O'Connell
Spot On Young Poets
High-school students from Dalton Den Haag, Edith Stein College and Chr. College De Populier recited their own poetry, the result of workshops and poetry lessons given at the schools by members of the Hague Poets Guild. Appearing with them are poets Radna Fabias and HemelBesem from South Africa, and the young student-poet Sumai Yahya.
Dancing into the Saturday Night
Hit the dance floor!
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point for both audience and writers. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and DJ Socrates supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop in the lobby.
Booksinging session at Van Stockum Bookshop:
20:30-21:00: David Van Reybrouck, Rodaan Al Galidi, Fatma Aydemir
21:00-21:30: Grazyna Plebanek, Mohsin Hamid, Ghayath Almadhoun en Anne Vegter
22:00-22:30: Nino Haratischwili, Alain Mabanckou
23:00-23:30: Peter van Dongen
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from The Hague reading their own poetry, result of workshops from the Hague Poets' Guild. Poets Sanam Sheriff and Charlotte Van den Broeck as well as high-school student-poet Paula Golunska accompany the up-and-comers.
Dancing into the Friday Night
Hit the dance floor!
Friday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point for audience and writers. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and DJ Socrates supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop in the lobby.
Booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop:
21:00-21:30: Louise O. Fresco, Luuk van Middelaar, Alain Mabanckou
22:00-22:30: Magda Cârneci, Mohsin Hamid, Nino Haratischwili
Friday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from The Hague reading their own poetry, result of workshops from the Hague Poets' Guild. Poets Sanam Sheriff and Joost Baars as well as student-poet Paula Golunska accompany the up-and-comers.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé brings together writers and the public. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and multi-instrumentalist Michalis Cholevas (ney, saz, yayli tanbur) supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, try the poetry-machine of Roos Laan, and stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop or visit the Cultural Press Centre.
Booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop:
21.00–21.30: Tommy Wieringa
21.45–22.15: Dorit Rabinyan & Bas Heijne
22.15–22.45: Olga Grjasnowa
23.00–23.30: Rodrigo Hasbún & Colson Whitehead
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
Students of The Hague's high schools read their own poetry, the result of workshops given by members of The Hague Poet's Guild. The poets Salena Godden and Maarten van der Graaff appear with them.
Friday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé brings together writers and the public. Host Francis Broekhuijsen and singer-songwriter Dieter van der Westen supply the enjoyable atmosphere. Drink, eat, try the poetry-machine of Roos Laan, and stop by the booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop or visit the Cultural Press Centre.
Booksigning sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop:
20.45-21.15: Ian Buruma
21.15–21.45: Mircea Cărtărescu, Tomas Sedlacek and Michel Faber
22.15–22.45: Michaïl Sjisjkin and Hassan Blasim
Friday Night Wintercafé: Spot on Young Poets
High-school students from the Hague region reading their own poetry, the result of workshops led by members of the Hague Poets' Guild. Professional poets Salena Godden and Marieke Rijneveld accompany the up-and-comers.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
Writers and the public meet and mingle in the Wintercafé. Master of ceremonies Francis Broekhuijsen and musician Dick van der Harst create a warm winter atmosphere. Snacks and drinks, the Van Stockum Bookshop, the Cultural News Agency, and the interactive quiz Mind of Moral by Sade Schönhage contribute to the fun. After midnight, DJ Socrates keeps everyone dancing.
Booksigning Sessions - Van Stockum Bookshop
20.45 -21.15 Adriaan van Dis and Rodaan Al Galidi
21.20 -21.50 Geert Mak and Susan Neiman
22.15 -22.45 Connie Palmen and György Dragomán
23.15 -23.45 Daan Heerma van Voss, José Eduardo Agualusa, Neel Mukherjee, Petina Gappah and Stine Jensen
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Storytelling
Listen to the most beautiful stories of the storytelling events that took place this afternoon in the Dakota Theatre and at the Institute of Social Studies. Poet Runa Svetlikova assists the storytellers, and Francis Broekhuijsen hosts this part-English event.
Friday Night Wintercafé: Spot On Young Poets
Francis Broekhuijsen presents the students of The Hague Montessori Lyceum, and the Johan de Witt College who read their own poetry, the result of workshops given by members of The Hague Poetry Guild. Young poets Jeroen van Rooij and Runa Svetlikova perform alongside.
Friday Night Wintercafé
Writers and the public meet and mingle in the Wintercafé. Master of ceremonies Francis Broekhuijsen and musician Dick van der Harst create a warm winter atmosphere. Snacks and drinks, the Van Stockum Bookshop, the Cultural News Agency, and the interactive quiz Mind of Moral by Sade Schönhage contribute to the fun. After midnight, DJ Socrates keeps everyone dancing.
Book signing sessions at Van Stockum Bookshop
20.45 -21.15 Jamal Ouariachi and Maud Vanhauwaert
21.15 -21.45 Adonis and Alaa al Aswani
21.50 -22.20 Slavenka Drakulić and Frank Westerman
22.00 -22.30 Kristien Hemmerechts and Inge Schilperoord
22.40 -23.10 Herman Koch and P.F. Thomése
23.00 -23.30 Andrej Koerkov and Alaa al Aswani
Dancing into the Night
After an evening full of words we go dancing into the night in the theater foyer.
Friday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point of the festival, where writers and the audience come together, welcomed by MC Francis Broekhuijsen. Also at the Wintercafé: refreshments, book sales and booksigning at the Paagman book stall, music by Ud-player Mohamed Ahaddaf and DJ Safri, and more.
Booksigning at the Paagman Book stall:
21:30 – 21:45
Karen Armstrong & Paul Scheffer
21:45 – 22:00
Milena Michiko Flašar & Tao Yue
22:20 – 22:35
David Grossman & Jennifer Clement
22:45 – 23:00
Niña Weijers & Cynthia McLeod
23:10 – 23:25
Toef Jaeger & David Van Reybrouck
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The Wintercafé is the meeting point of the festival, where writers and the audience come together, welcomed by MC Francis Broekhuijsen. Also at the Wintercafé: refreshments, book sales and booksigning at the Paagman book stall, music by DJ Socrates and Ud player Mohamed Ahaddaf, and more.
Booksigning sessions at the Paagman bookstall
21:00 – 21:20
Louise O. Fresco & Stefan Hertmans
21:30 – 21:45
Leela Corman & Dominique Goblet
22:00 – 22:20
Reggie Baay & Karen Armstrong
23:00 – 23:20
Bas Heijne & Ian Buruma
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Who's Afraid of Youth
During this first hour, MC Francis Broekhuijsen presents students from The Hague secondary schools reading their poems, the outcome of a series of school workshops. They perform with poet Maarten van der Graaff.
Friday Night Wintercafé: Who's Afraid of Youth
During this first hour, MC Francis Broekhuijsen presents students from the Hague secondary schools reading their poems, the outcome of a series of school workshops. They perform with poet Ineke Riem.
Friday Night Wintercafé: Who's Afraid of Youth
Pupils of the Johan de Witt College perform with poet Bernke Klein Zandvoort. MC Francis Broekhuijsen hosts. In Dutch.
Saturday Night Wintercafé
The meeting point for writers and audiences. MC Francis Broekhuijsen invites you to join the regulars' table. DJ mps PILOT plays his music.
Friday Night Wintercafé
In the foyer writers and audience meet. There are snacks, drinks, and the Paagman bookshop. Music by DJ Socrates.
Talking to the Writer: Theo van den Boogaard
Join the regulars' table with the strip cartoonist. We listen to his favourite music, and talk to him. Have your strip cartoons autographed! In Dutch.
Talking to the writer: Herman Koch
Join the writer! In Dutch.
Talking to the scientist: Jan van Hooff
The expert on primates joins the regulars' table. In Dutch.
Talking to the writers: Ian Buruma and Geling Yan
Join the regulars' table. We listen to their favourite music, and talk to them. Don't forget to have your books autographed. English and Dutch.
Talking to the writers: Anne Provoost and P.F. Thomése
Join the regulars' table. We listen to their favourite music, and talk to them. Don't forget to have your books autographed. In Dutch.
Talking to the writer: Aminatta Forna and Noreena Hertz
Join the regulars' table. Francis Broekhuijsen welcomes the writers. Meet, greet, and have your books signed. In English.
Talking to the anthologist: Arie Boomsma
Join the regulars' table. Host Francis Broekhuijsen welcomes Arie Boomsma, the editor of beautiful poetry anthologies. Don't forget to have your books of poetry signed. In Dutch.
Talking to the poets: Rodaan Al Galidi and Alfred Schaffer
Host Francis Broekhuijsen welcomes the poets. Meet, greet and have your books signed! In Dutch.
Talking to the writer: Saskia De Coster
Join the regulars' table of Francis Broekhuijsen. Don't forget to have your books autographed. In Dutch.
Saturday Night Wintercafé: Who's Afraid of Youth
Pupils of the Lyceum Ypenburg and Dalton Voorburg perform together with poet Kira Wuck and singer Faya. Francis Broekhuijsen presents.
Wintercafé
In between the dance workshops DJ Bertu plays his music while host Francis Broekhuijsen keeps us informed on what goes on in the various halls of the theatre and in the filmhuis. Meanwhile: snacks, drinks, and book selling and writers signing their books at Paagman's.
Dance the Zouk
Zoukcity and dance school Salsaventura teach us the Zouk in 45 minutes. Dance along!
Dance the Salsa
Bailalma and dance school Salsaventura teach us the salsa in 45 minutes. Dance along!
Dance the Merengue
Glen and Khristy of dance school Salsaventura teach you the Merengue in thirty minutes. Dance along!
Dance the Bachata
Glen and Khristy of dance school Salsaventura teach us the Bachata in thirty minutes. Dance along!
Wintercafé
DJ Socrates plays his music while host Francis Broekhuijsen keeps us informed on what goes on in the various halls in the theatre. Meanwhile: snacks, drinks, and book selling and writers signing their books at Paagman's.
Foyer Programme
Francis Broekhuijsen presents a festive programme in the foyer of the theatre. Cultural Press Agency 'The Dodo' reports live from the festival. Visitors can contribute with their smartphones via Twitter and a blog.
Wintercafe 1: Who's afraid of youth?
Pupils of two secondary schools in The Hague climb the stage to read poems they wrote themselves. With poet Delphine Lecompte. Host: Francis Broekhuijsen. In Dutch.
Wintercafe 1: Who's Afraid of Youth?
Pupils of two secondary schools - Dalton Voorburg and Nova College - climb the stage to read poems they wrote themselves. With poet Rodaan al Galidi. Host: Francis Broekhuijsen. Singer Faya will sing one of the poems. In Dutch.
