Mijn moeder, de kleine reus (My Mother, the Little Giant) tells the loving story of Eus and his family. He covers everything: from everyday inconveniences with an overzealous mother to small and poignant descriptions of human shortcomings. He describes reality with sharpness and humour. His versatile mind never stops asking questions and constantly stimulates the reader to think. Özcan is one of the most important voices in the Netherlands, and his unique view of the world leaves the reader with a smile and a renewed zest for life.

Özcan Akyol, also known as Eus, is a writer, columnist, and TV host. His semi-autobiographical and critically acclaimed novel Eus (2012) tells about a Turkish teenager from the east of The Netherlands who tries to escape his fate as a marginal figure. He also wrote the novels Turis (2016) and Afslag 23 (2023), and recently the short story collection Mijn moeder, de kleine reus (2025): all his book became bestsellers that appealed to both young and older audiences.

Eus is also a columnist for various newspapers and magazines, and a television presenter with successful programmes such as De Neven van Eus, Sterren op het Doek, De Geknipte Gast, Home of Eus, and Eus’ Boekenclub. He will be performing his theater show De Klassenmigrant until mid-2026. In addition to being a personal retrospective, it is also a plea for equal opportunities and cultural development.

Naomi Kok Luís is a programme maker and interviewer who, with her curious mind and open style, creates space for conversations that touch and surprise. At The School of Life in Amsterdam, she develops and presents programmes featuring insights from philosophy, psychology and art. She has interviewed leading thinkers and writers such as Gabor Maté, Glenn Helberg and Roxane van Iperen. With a master's degree in Intercultural Communication, she examines topics from multiple perspectives in order to arrive at new insights.


From 22 to 25 January 2026, Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival The Hague was to be found in theatres, libraries and schools throughout the city: from Theater aan het Spui, Filmhuis Den Haag, GR8 to Theater Dakota, Curaçaohuis, the Laakkwartier, Nieuw Waldeck, Schilderswijk and Ypenburg libraries, the Institute of Social Studies and De Haagse Hogeschool. With over 100 writers, poets, spoken-word artists and musicians from the Netherlands and abroad. With readings, prose, poetry, storytelling, spoken word, author interviews, topical talks, films and music.