The winners of the 2025 Hague Literature Prizes received their awards accompanied by tributes. Lieke Marsman was awarded the Constantijn Huygens Prize for her oeuvre. Benzokarim received the Jan Campert Poetry Prize for Ons gaan allemaal. The F. Bordewijk Prose Prize went to Laura Broekhuysen for her novel Magnetisch middernacht. Jowi Schmitz received the Nienke van Hichtum Children's Book Prize for Kip op je kop.

Valérie Drost, director of the Literature Museum/Children's Book Museum, gave the welcome speech. The prizes were presented by The Hague alderwoman Saskia Bruines. The programme was moderated by Mirjam van Hengel.

The Hague's two Young City Poets 2025, Anu Soerjoesing (17) and Govert van de Velde (14), kicked off the awards ceremony with poetry readings. A Young City Poet writes poems about life and current events in the city. This inspires children and young people to engage with language and make their voices heard. The Young City Poet also gives performances in and for the city. The Young City Poet is an initiative from the City of The Hague, Bibliotheek Den Haag, Huis van Gedichten and Literatuurmuseum/Kinderboekenmuseum.

Lieke Marsman received a eulogy from writer Maartje Wortel and a surprise performance by illusionist Alfredo Lorenzo. Poet Laureate of the Netherlands Babs Gons paid tribute to Benzokarim. Theatre maker Moniek Merkx praised Jowi Schmitz and actor Elisa Beuger praised Laura Broekhuysen.

Musical intermezzi were performed by four members of The Hague-based Ciconia Consort, the internationally acclaimed string orchestra formed by 20 young top musicians led by Dick van Gasteren. The musicians (violin: Stephan Nieuwesteeg and Novilė Maceinaite; viola: Kardelen Buruk; cello: Beste Yildiz) played the Armenian traditional dance music Erzurumi Shoror and the movements Indi Mindi and Hirtentanz from Miniatures for string quartet on Georgian folk themes (1961) by Sulkhan Tsintsadze.

The Constantijn Huygens Prize, The Hague's literary prize for lifetime achievement, was awarded to Lieke Marsman. According to the jury, her work 'shows how literature can help us find a way to reflect on the unthinkable. With her work on topics such as climate and disease, in which she never loses sight of both the personal and the political-social, she is a leading figure in contemporary Dutch literature. She dares to experiment with form and knows how to appeal to a large, often strikingly young audience.'

Benzokarim received the Jan Campert Prize 2025, the annual prize for poetry, for Ons gaan allemaal (We Are All Going). According to the jury, Benzokarim's multilingual poetry is capable of uniting extremes: 'it is both streetwise and bookish, deeply felt and tightly thought out. This poet succeeds in speaking to many, but also in opening up new perspectives for Dutch-language poetry.'

The F. Bordewijk Prize – the annual prize for the best Dutch-language prose book – was awarded to Laura Broekhuysen this year. The jury is full of praise for the world Broekhuysen manages to create. 'You never know exactly where you are. Everywhere at once: in the snow, in an old story, in the dark. It is imagination that brings enlightenment in Magnetisch middernacht, a novel that is as sensory as it is adventurous.'

Jowi Schmitz received the Nienke van Hichtum Prize, the biennial prize for children's books, for Kip op je kop (Chicken on your head). The jury believes that 'in this book, Schmitz tells a story about saying goodbye that is both poignant and heart-warming. In rich, layered language that leaves room for the imagination, she shows how important it is to be there for each other.'

A sum of €12,000,- is attached to the Constantijn Huygens Prize. The other prizes amount to €6,000,-. This year's jury consisted of: Layla El-Dekmak, Rashif El Kaoui, Laurens Ham, Helma van Lierop, Aafje de Roest, Mathijs Sanders, Miriam Piters, Sarah Vankersschaever and Bertram Mourits (secretary).

Bookstore De Vries van Stockum was present in the foyer with a stand where books by the award-winning authors and other festival participants, among others, were available for purchase!

Uitreiking Haagse Literatuurprijzen was curated by Jet Steinz on behalf of the Literatuurmuseum and Writers Unlimited. All information on the laureates can be found at literatuurmuseum.nl.