Ever heard of the cookiecutter shark, the Christmas tree worm or the frogmouth? These are just a few of the fascinating but totally unknown animals that Matthijs Meeuwsen wants to make world-famous with his children's books. Matthijs can talk about them endlessly. Not in a boring lecture, but in an interactive show full of hilarious quiz questions and fascinating fantasy assignments.

On the occasion of the Writers Unlimited Festival, Matthijs brought his stories and video fragments about fascinating sea creatures to Laak. He gave three short, unique performances in a row at Bibliotheek Laakkwartier, Vadercentrum Adam and het Laaktheater. For children and other lovers of the most wonderful animals of the sea.

Admission was free on Thursday 23 January 2025:

11.30-12.00: Laakkwartier Library, Linnaeusstraat 2
13.15-13.45: Father centre ADAM, Jonckbloetplein 24
14.00-14.45: Laaktheater, Ferrandweg 4T

Most animal species in the ocean have not yet been discovered by scientists. And the ones we do know, we often try to forget as soon as possible. Because they are too slippery. Not cuddly enough. Ugly too often. That's probably why you have never heard of the clap cap, the Christmas tree worm or the biscuit cutter. Pity! You should know what these creatures are capable of....

In Een slijmzoen voor je oma: de tofste zeedieren die niemand kent (A slime kiss for your grandma: the coolest sea creatures no one knows about, 2023, 8+), Matthijs Meeuwsen, together with illustrator Paco Vink, portrays 37 unknown sea creatures that would deserve to become world-famous. His debut in children's book land won a Zilveren Griffel in 2024 and was the only non-fiction children's book to be among the six nominees for the Woutertje Pieterse Prize!

Matthijs, an award-winning travel journalist, published his second book Wij zijn de nacht: de tofste dieren van het donker (We are the night: the coolest animals of the dark) in 2024. In it, in his characteristic, humorous and informative style, Matthijs tells, again with illustrations by Paco Vink, about nocturnal animals that only come out of their nests when we are long asleep.