(Bonaire, 1942) in 2003 made a convincing debut with De Engelenbron (The Angel Well), a novel that takes place in the colourful old district of Otrabanda on Curaçao. Zielinski is the son of a German father and a Curaçaon mother and grew up on Curaçao. After studying in the Netherlands Zielinski returned to the Netherlands Antilles, working as a teacher. On Curaçao he finished his law studies and became a lawyer. He was founder and editor of the critical magazine Vitó , which, in the 1960s campaigned against the Netherlands Antillean establishment. In the earky 1970s he was for a short while chief editor of the former daily paper Beurs- en Nieuwsberichten.

(Pretoria, South Africa, 1957) lives in Johannesburg where he works as a writer, journalist and editor. He has been awarded various prizes for his literary work, which includes amongst others his collection of short stories Missing Persons (1989) and his novel The Folly (1993) His most recent and well received book The Restless Supermarket (2001), is a slightly surrealistic story about a conservative, retired proofreader who has dedicated his life to reading phonebooks. The Dutch translation of this book (De rusteloze supermarkt) will be presented during the Winternachten festival.
WIN2005

The band Boi Akih represents a musical movement in which diverse styles from such places as India, Africa, Europe and the Moluccan Islands blend with jazz. Singer Monica Akihari and composer guitarist Niels Brouwer characterise the essence of Boi Akih with an ensemble of song and composition. In search of their musical boundaries, they challenge and at the same time complement one another. Akihari sings not only in English but also in her native language: the language of the Moluccan island Haruku. On their latest CD Yalelol, the group uses a duet-form, and in addition to jazz, their are also Indonesian, Indian, European, West African and Arab influences. On the third album Uwa i (2004), Boi Akih was inspried by music from Bangalore, India. The first self-titled CD of Boi Akih appeared in 1997 and the second one, Above the Clouds, Among the Roots, in 2000. De Volkskrant wrote: "Boi Akih is a world-class band. Daring, adventurous and lyrical are the keywords."

(Marken, 1958-2009) was a poet, a writer and a commentator, with a regular column on the Forum page and the book pages of the Volkskrant. Zeeman was the editor of the arts section of the Volkskrant and from 2006-2007 its Rome correspondent. In 2006 he and the writer Abdelkader Benali published an exchange of letters, exchanging ideas on politics, life, love and literature. In 2002 Zeeman received the Gouden Ganzenveer (Golden Goose Quill) for his merits for Dutch literature. Zeeman became well-known in the 1990s as the host of his monthly book programme 'Late at night after a short walk', later to be renamed 'Zeeman with books'. In 1991 he published his first volume of poetry, Beeldenstorm (Iconoclasm), winning him the C. Buddingh Prize. His second volume Verhoudingen (Relationships) appeared in 1995. In the same year he published short stories entitled De Verduistering (The Darkening). He died in 2009.

(The Hague, NL 1952) is a jack-of-all-trades. Apart from writing prose and poetry for children and adults, she illustrates and performs. In 2008 and 2009 she was city poet of Antwerp, Belgium. Her illustrated novel Alles Nieuw (Everything New) made it to the shortlist of the 2009 Ako Literature Prize. Van Leeuwen's children's books have been awarded many times with the Zilveren Griffel (Silver Pencil), Gouden Uil (Golden Owl) and the Woutertje Pieterse Prize. Especially her children's book Deesje was translated in many languages and awarded abroad. The power in her work is that she enriches her texts with beautiful illustrations. Van Leeuwen's main characters often walk through life with a gaze of wonderment while at the same time they seem locked by everyday routine. Van Leeuwen’s career began in 1978 when she won the Camaretten (cabaret) festival and published her first children's book. Since then she hes been performing in smaller and bigger productions, combining cabaret, literature and image.

(Cape Town, South Africa, 1959) is a Muslim-theologian, presently attached to the Xavier University in Ohio where he holds an Endowed Chair in Ethics, Religion and Society. He grew up in South Africa in great poverty in a Muslim single parent family, an experience that has had great influence on his vision of the world. He received a grant to study at a madrassa in Karachi in Pakistan, took his doctoral degree in Birmingham and followed a
postdoctoral program in Germany. Esack lectured at the University of the Western Cape, Hamburg and at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In 1997 he was appointed by Nelson Mandela as Commissioner for Gender Equality. Esack is the author of Qur’an, Liberation & Pluralism (1996), On Being a Muslim: Finding a Religious Path in the World Today (1999) and An Introduction to the Qur’an (2002).
WIN2005

(1939) belongs to the last generation of writers that grew up in the Dutch-Indies during and after the war. A childhood in troubled times, however one can conclude from his stories that it does not necessarily mean an unhappy childhood. In 1953 together with his parents he was forced to leave for the Netherlands. A fourteen year old exile, a victim of the colonial circumstances. Homesickness set in. He finished school and began work as an opinion-poll researcher. Later becoming a publisher of magazines such as Vrij Nederland and Opzij. At the same time he wrote collections of stories (such as Geluk is voor de dommen - Happiness is for the idiots) and novels (such as Zwarte rijst - Black rice). In 1974 together with his Indonesian wife he returned for the first time to their country of birth, and wrote the travel story Vanonder de Koperen Ploert - Under the burning sun), which ensured him a place in Rob Nieuwenhuys’ Oost-Indische Spiegel (Mirror of the East Indies). His most recent publication is entitled Kind van de Oost (Child of the East) a collection autobiographical childhood stories (sold out and will be reprinted in May 2005)
HV 2005

(Netherlands, 1958) has produced and presented the VPRO radio programme OVT since 2002, a two-hour show about the historical roots of current events as well as newly released historical books, films, commemorations, and anything else related to history. The show features live interviews, reportage, columns and a weekly documentary during the last half hour. He was already linked to OVT since 1992 as a programmer and previously freelanced for other national Dutch broadcasters such as VARA and IKON.

is a journalist and since 1980 writes for the newspaper NRC Handelsblad about her great passion: film. Since 1995 she is chief art editor of the same newspaper. In the popular feature 'Aan de wandel ' (Rambling) she describes trekking in the Netherlands and the rest of the world. Roodnat also writes literature. Her first novel 't Is zo weer nacht (It will soon be night again) was awarded the Geertjan Lubberhuizen prize and the Debutant prize in 2002. In 1995 she published De bergrede in het licht van de vedantaleer (The sermon on the mount seen from out the vedanta principles), about the most important Hinduistic beliefs and philosophy. This year her second novel was published, entitled Sterrenschot, which is loosely based on historical fragments of the family of her husband Erik van Zuylen.

(Westernieland, 1944) became widely known in the seventies with the cabaret duo Neerlands Hoop (Dutch hope), that he formed together with Bram Vermeulen. After the breaking up of Neerlands Hoop in 1979, Freek de Jonge continued with a solo career. His first solo project, in 1980, was the theatre show De Komiek (The comedian). Over the years Freek de Jonge has grown to become one of the most famous cabaret artists in the Netherlands. Alongside his theatre shows De Jonge writes books and two films have been made under his name. In 1993 he played the jester in the play King Lear by Het Nationale Toneel (National Theatre). In 1997 he had a national hit with his song Leven na de Dood (Life after death). Freek de Jonge's most recent show is De Vergrijzing (The ageing), 2004. His most recent novel Door de knieën (Submitting) was published in the same year.

(Amsterdam, NL 1953) is an evolutionary biologist and a writer. In his essays he presents himself as the missing link between the arts and the sciences. Again and again he places science in a broader cultural framework. In his collections of essays Vis in Bad (Fish in the Bath, 2014) and Kloten van de engel (Angels' Balls; 2007) he shows that culture is often much more natural than we think. In september 2016 a collection of his essays, The Other Left Side will be published by Seven Stories Press in New York. After graduation Goldschmidt left for Tanzania for five years to study cichlids (Percidae) in Lake Victoria. That study resulted in a Ph.D. thesis and a book combining his scientific findings with personal experiences: Darwin's Dreampond (1994). This debut was translated in English, French, German, Japanese and Chinese, among others. In 1993 Goldschmidt decided to give up his academic career to become a fulltime writer. In 2007 he delivered the Huizinga Lecture in Leiden entitled Pretending to pretend. Since 2009, Tijs Goldschmidt is advisor to the State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam.

(Leidschendam, 1973) is a poet, translator and lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. He made his debut in 2000 with the poetry collection Zijn opkomst in de voorstad (His Rise in the Suburb). Over the years, his poetry collections were often awarded or nominated for several important prizes, and translations appeared in English, Afrikaans, French, Chinese, Indonesian, Swedish and other languages. For the collection Kooi he received the Jan Campert Prize and the Ida Gerhardt Poetry Prize in 2008. His work is sometimes humorous, sometimes matter-of-fact and at the same time full of absurd inventions. In 2014, he published his, again critically acclaimed collection Mens Dier Ding. In 2021, he published the personal collection Wie was ik?, for which he received the Herman De Coninck Prize. That same year, Alfred Schaffer was awarded the P.C. Hooft Prize, the largest annual oeuvre prize in Dutch literature.

(Amsterdam, 1951) writes poems, prose, plays, reviews and essays. The Constantijn Huygens Prize for his entire oeuvre is only one of many awards for his work, which, in translation, has reached readers in Italy, France, Germany and Sweden. Otten knows how to touch upon socially sensitive issues, like pornography in his essay Denken is een lust (Thinking is a lust, 1985), euthanasia in the novel Ons mankeert niets, (We're all right, 1994) and catholicism in his pamphlet Het wonder van de losse olifanten (The miracle of the loose elephants, 1999). He made his poetic debut with Een zwaluw vol zaagsel (A swallow stuffed with sawdust, 1973), which won him the Reina Prinsen Geerligs Prize. For the collection Ik zoek het hier (I seek it here, 1980) he received the Herman Gorter Award, for Paviljoenen (Pavillions, 1992) the Jan Campert Award, while the collection Eindaugustuswind (End of August wind, 1998) earned him a nomination for the VSB Poetry Award. He was again nominated for that prize with his eleventh anthology, Gerichte gedichten (Targeted Poems) as it raises issues such as 'loss, emptiness and inescapable existential questions'.

(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1969) is writer, poet and translator. He studied political science and Islamic philosophy at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Asian Arts and archeology at the University of London. Khoo is very interested in the traditional Malaysian culture. He is the founder and director of Kala, a publishing house that specialises in foreign literature translated into Malaysian. Alongside this he is also founder and director of Pusaka, a study and documentation centre for Malaysian theatre, a traditional art form that is in danger of disappearing from North East Malaysia, since it has been banned by the Islamic party of Malaysia.
WIN2005

(Brummen, NL, 1959 - Amsterdam, 2016) was a poet, journalist, and media presenter. At a young age he debuted as a poet in the Dutch literary magazine Hollands Maandblad. Since then he has published books of poetry quite regularly, such as Neem me mee zei de hond (Take Me With You Said the Dog, 2010). After the publication of his first collection Inslag (Impact, 1985), he began working as an interviewer for the VPRO broadcasting company. Later he became head producer of the Radio 6 programme "De Avonden." Since 2005  he talked to writers on VPRO's book programme "Boeken" on both TV and radio. He put together Briefgeheimen (Postcard Secrets, 2007), a colourful compilation of postcards linked to a website where people can divulge their deepest secrets. Overkomst dringend gewenst (Return Voyage Urgently Requested), his anthology of the work of poet Jan Emmens, was published in 2012, and his most recent poetry collection, 's Middags zwem ik in de Noordzee (In the Afternoons I Swim in the North Sea) in 2014. Brands was one of the "Lonely Departure" poets who compose and present a final poetic tribute to people who pass away without friends or family.

(Rengat, Indonesia, 1941) is a poet and editor. In the early seventies Bachri shook the Indonesian literary world by publishing poems in which the words - according to his own creed - were freed from their original meaning and the appearance and aura of the words became important. This has made him one of the leading figures in the modern Indonesian literary world. Bachri has performed in places such as the Netherlands, Iraq and Colombia an has been awarded many literary prizes. Alongside poems and articles he also writes essays and short stories.
WIN2004

(Biak, Indonesia, 1937) is the writer of the book Ik ben een Papoea (I am a Papuan) (1969). This book gives a full account of the corruption, terror and murder which followed the handing over of Dutch New Guinea to Indonesia up until the definitive handing over in 1969. Sawor was one of the first five Papuan boys to be sent to the Netherlands in 1955 on the occasion of the 100 year anniversary of the Missionary. He studied at the National School for Tropical Agriculture in Deventer and afterwards, in September 1962, returned to West Irian. He was soon arrested for illegal political activities and imprisoned until 1966. In 1967 he fled to the Netherlands. Up until 1995 he was chief editor of the West Papuan Courier.
WIN 2005

(Baarn, 1962) is a goal keeper, poet, translater, editor and a lot more besides. He studied English and general Literary Theory at the VU university of Amsterdam. Kosters has published essays and translations in magazines such as Raster , De Gids and Bzzletin. His poems appeared in such publications as De Brakke Hond , Mens en Gevoelens, Poëziekrant and De Revisor. His debut collection of poems Callahan en andere gedaanten (Callahan and other figures) appeared in 2004.

(France, 1949) is an authority on the Islam. In his latest book De globalisering van de islam (The globalisation of the Islam) Olivier Roy researches the consequences for the Islam of globalisation. His work is supported by a vast amount of factual material. From The Twin Towers to the French suburbs and from the trainings camps in Afganistan to the Dutch integration policies; in a convincing manner Roy manages to place the Islamic world in a new perspective. Olivier Roy is one of the most outstanding authorities on the Islam at this moment. He is attached to the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Centre of Scientific Research). Other titles written by him are: Islam and Resistance in Afghanistan; The Failure of Political Islam; The New Central Asia: The Creation of Nations, en Vers un islam européen (Towards an European Islam).
WIN2005

(Nijmegen, NL, 1960) writes essays, short stories and plays, and is a columnist with the daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad. He published the novels Laatste woorden (Last words) and Suez and received the Henriëtte Roland Holst Prize in 2005. In 2011's Moeten wij van elkaar houden, het populisme ontleed (Do We Have to Love One Another? Populism Dissected) Heijne shows how globalisation and individualism pave the way for populism. Angst en schoonheid (Fear and Beauty) was published in 2013, an essay about Dutch writer Louis Couperus, whom Heijne admires. In the same year his documentary about Couperus was broadcast. In 2015 he hosted the five-part documentary De volmaakte mens (The Perfect Human). In 2016 his essay Onbehagen – nieuw licht op de beschaafde mens (Discontent - new light on civilized man) was published. In 2017 Heijne received the P.C. Hooft Award for his essayistic works.

(Leeuwarden, 1962) in 2010 published Bernhard, a reconstruction of the hitherto unknown German background of Prince Bernhard. With this book she obtained her doctorate in history at the University of Amsterdam. The four books which Van der Zijl published have been best-sellers and three of them were adapted for the screen. In 1998 she made her debut with Jagtlust, about a villa in Het Gooi, the meeting-place of artists and poets. Four years later it was followed by Anna, her much-praised biography of Annie M.G. Schmidt. In 2004 Sonny Boy appeared, about the love affair of a Surinamese student and a married Dutch woman, against the backdrop of WWII. The film attracted an audience of 400,000 and was selected the Dutch entry for the Oscars. Van der Zijl grew up in Friesland, studied art history and mass communication in Amsterdam and journalism in London. She worked for HP/De Tijd before deciding in 1999 to become a fulltime writer. Right now Van der Zijl is working on a story set in the US between 1875 and 1950.

(Eindhoven, 1952) attended a theatre director in Amsterdam and after that worked ten years for various theatre companies as a director. During that decade she wrote her first short stories. In 1985 she made her debut with the collection of stories Het limonadegevoel en andere verhalen (The lemonade feeling and other stories). She was awarded the Geertjan Lubberhuizen prize for this. Van der Meer became well known through her novel-in-stories Eilandgasten (Island guests). Her books have been translated in, among others, French, German and Spanish. Next to writing, she teaches at the Ritcs (film and television academy) in Brussels, Belgium. Since her writers' debut she is a PEN Nederland member and is a board member since 2016. She recently succeeded Manon Uphoff as PEN Nederland President.

(Tunisia, 1960) is a writer, essayist, traveller and popular panel moderator. He has published fiction and non-fiction; was the director of the debating platform and venue De Balie; and was founder of the literary bookshop Perdu and the cultural centre De Tolhuistuin (all in Amsterdam). He performed with Enkidu Khaled in their jointly created documentary play Bagdad. Due to his curiosity about how artists recreate their cities after a crisis, he travelled to Sarajevo, Beirut, Tirana, Algiers, New York, Kiev, Jakarta and Qamishlo. At the invitation of PAX, he wrote Srebrenica & PAX 1995-2020, an overview of 25 years of support to the Association of Women of Srebrenica by the IKV and PAX in response to the genocide in Bosnia. In 2021 he published Gastvrijheid (Hospitality), in which he explores the art of hospitality through a mix of travel stories, observations, memories and imagery.

(Curaçao, 1951) is a poet, playwright and essayist. He published three Dutch-language poetry collections: Met lege handen ging ik slapen, met een gedicht werd ik wakker (I went to sleep with empty hands and woke up with a poem, 2002, reprint 2018), Sierlijke golven krullen van plezier (Graceful Waves Curl with Pleasure, 2009) and Een serenade  voor mijn Shéhérazade (A Serenade for My Sheherezade, 2014). In 2019 he published the essay Het sluipend gif van de islamofobie (The Creeping Venom of Islamophobia). He regularly performs with Tipiko Den Haag. In A Free Mind, Caribbean Style! he plays music of the Palm family and he will lift the veil in a poetic way from the music of his ancestors.

(Amsterdam, 1969) while still at school became fascinated by the upcoming hiphop movement and in 1986, together with friends, formed his first rap group Funky Fresh Force. He 1989 he started the first Dutch-speaking hiphop band Osdorp Posse. The band made its breakthrough with the album Afslag Osdorp (Exit road Osdorp). In 1998 Osdorp Posse decided to set up its own label: Ramp Records. Under this label Def P also released two solo albums. Alongside music Def P is involved with theatre, dj- work and drawing and writing projects. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in various galleries. Def P's real name is Pascal Griffioen.

(Emmen, NL, 1964) studied tropical agricultural engineering and was a correspondent for the Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad newspapers in Belgrade and Moskow. He wrote about his time there in 1994's De Brug over de Tara (The Bridge over the River Tara). Together with journalist Bart Rijs he wrote 1997's  Srebrenica, Het zwartste scenario (Srebrenica, the Blackest Scenario). Ingenieurs van de ziel (Engineers of the Soul) was published in 2002, an inquiry into the foundations of the Soviet system and the role of writers. De Graanrepubliek (The Grain Republic), about the struggle between rich gentlemen farmers and communist workers in Groningen, was published earlier. Westerman's novel El Negro en ik (El Negro and Me), inspired by a preserved South African in a Spanish museum, was published in 2004 and won the Gouden Uil prize. His revised and augmented 2015 edition of De Slag om Srebrenica (The Battle for Srebrenica) won the Prinsjes Book Prize for best political book. Een woord een woord (One Word One Word) appeared in 2016, in which he tests the strength of free speech under the pressure of terrorist threats. As a child, he experienced the Molukkan train hijacking at close quarters; as a correspondent, he witnessed Chechen terror in Russia. Drawing on these gripping experiences, he describes a series of hostage dramas. In Zeven dieren bijten terug (Seven Animals Bite Back), Frank Westerman encounters seven magnificent creatures in the wake of Willem Barentsz. Along the way, the reader becomes captivated by the wondrous tale of seven polar animals and what they have to tell us at our latitude.

(Amsterdam, 1945) studied piano and psychology. Up until the year 2000 she worked as a psychoanalyst. In 1991 she made her debut with her collection of poems Soldatenliederen (Soldier’s Songs) for which she was awarded the C. Buddingh’ Prize. Her second collection, Jachtscènes (Hunting Scenes) appeared in 1992 and it earned her the Lucy B. en C.W. van der Hoogt award. Her first novel Het meesterstuk (The Masterpiece) (1994) sold 70.000 copies within two years. This novel was awarded the Debutant prize. Her second novel Het geheim (The secret) was published in January 1997 and it won the Trouw Publieksprijs (Trouw public award). In the spring of 1999 Enquists first collection of stories De kwetsuur (The injury) appeared. Her most recent publications are the novel De Sprong (The jump) (2003) and the collection of poems Tussentijd (Between time) (2004). Anna Enquist regularly publishes poems and short stories in the literary football magazine Hard Gras.
WN2005

(Curacao, 1946), born to Surinamese parents, was an editor/newsreader on Dutch TV (1985-2009) and the Dutch World Service (1983-2008). She had roles in theatre productions such as Ajax, Hemel boven Berlijn (Sky Above Berlin), Medea, The Vagina Monologues and De Afscheidsmonologen (The Farewell Monologues) as well as writing plays herself. In addition, she regularly hosts debates and writes columns. In 2009 she received the Cosmic Award for her advocacy for more diversity in Dutch media. A memoir of her youth in Curaçao, De Antillen en ik (The Antilles and Me), was chronicled by John Leerdam. In 2018 she played the role of storyteller in The Passion.

(Velp) studied political and social science. From 1968 to 1990 he worked for the Haagse Post, the last five years as editor in chief. Nowadays Jansen van Galen until 2015 was one of the regular presenters of a NOS current affairs radio programme. In 1970 he came to Surinam for the first time to work as a radio journalist and he soon became acknowledged as the Netherlands' expert on Surinam. In 2000 his book Hetenachtsdroom (Hotnight's dream) was published. This is about the influence of Surinam's nationalism. In 2004 his book De toekomst van het koninkrijk (The future of the Kingdom) appeared, about the decolonisation of the Dutch Antilles and Aruba. Jansen van Galen also writes books about hiking. In 2016 his book De gouden jaren van het linkse levensgevoel: Het verhaal van Vrij Nederland, a history of the left wing weekly Vrij Nederland.

(Istanbul 1951) came to the Netherlands in 1975, found a job as a bridgeman for the NS (National railways) and during a period of seven years developed into a writer. Since then he has written various stories, plays, literary detectives and novels, which have been published in Turkish - the language in which he writes - as well as in Dutch. For instance : De roos van Amsterdam (The rose of Amsterdam) , De amulet (The amulet), De vierde ster (The fourth star), Muhabbet Evi (2006) and Durum 429 (2007) appeared in Turkish.

(Haarlem, 1972) went to Turkey at the age of seven. After completing elementary and secondary school he studied architecture at the METU (Middel East Technical University in Ankara). After his studies he returned to the Netherlands. At present he works for an architecture and engineering office in Haarlem. During his stay in Turkey he occasionally wrote lovepoems. Back in the Netherlands he started to write short stories. A few of his stories have been published in Turkish magazines. In 2002 at the Turkish-Netherlands Troya Poetry Festival he was awarded the incentive prize for short stories.
WIN2005

Grupo BonSon is a musical group with Cuban Afro-Latin Caribbean influences. Bon Son means "the good Son". Son is music with a Cuban rhythm, but its roots are from West Africa and Spain. The Antillean brothers Leo and Reno Martin are the founders of BonSon, a group existing of eight musicians, all of them with a extensive musical career.
WIN2005

(Pinetown, South Africa, 1965) grew up on a vineyard in the Cape. Blacklaws has studied literature and after that worked as an English teacher. At present he lives in Germany where he is an English teacher at the International school in Frankfurt. In 2004 he made his debut with Karoo Boy. The Dutch translation will appear in in 2005.
WIN2004

(Paramaribo, 1953) came from Surinam to the Netherlands when she was eighteen years old. She studied physical education and law and is a economics lecturer. In 1987 she made her debut with the autobiographical novel Droomhuid (Dream skin), introducing the subject of female homosexuality for the first time in Surinam's literature. In her following novels other cultural differences between the Netherlands and Surinam were touched upon, for instance the handling of unwanted pregnancy and old age. In 2002 her fifth novel appeared entitled Schaamteloze warmte (Shameless warmth).
WIN2005

(Nieuw-Nickerie, Suriname, 1947)went to the Netherlands in 1970 to study German and Dutch at the School for Language and Literature in The Hague and at the Vrije Leergangen (an open teaching methodology) in Amsterdam. On completing his studies he began a career in the field of education. In 1979 he returned to Surinam, first working as a journalist and later for the government. During his work for the government he followed a course for journalism, and at the same time studied communication theory at the Academy for Fine Arts and Cultural education, and also studied Law at the Anton de Kom University. At present he is director at the Ministry of Defence. His poems have appeared in various anthologies, such as de Spiegel van de Surinaamse poëzie (Mirror of Surinam Poetry) (1995) en Mama Sranan (1999). In 2003 he published on his own the collection of poems Als de tijd stilstaat (When time stands still).

(France, 1971) is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller. She has published 21 books, 13 of which are novels and her books have been translated into 58 languages. The Island of Missing Trees was a finalist for the Costa Award, British Book Awards and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize; and was Blackwell’s Book of the Year. The Forty Rules of Love was chosen by BBC among the 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. The Architect’s Apprentice was chosen for The Queen’s Reading Room. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She also holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bard College. Shafak is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature and has been chosen among BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women. An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of expression, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice TED Global speaker. She contributes to major publications around the world and she was awarded the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2024, Shafak was awarded the British Academy President's Medal for "her excellent body of work which demonstrates an incredible intercultural range". Her website can be found at www.elifshafak.com and her Substack is called "Unmapped Storylands".

(Beverwijk, NL 1966) made his debut in 1997 with the collection of poems 's Zomers stinken alle steden (In the Summer all Cities Smell). The tone which this 'dandy of disillusion' set in his debut was worked out in his later work. Poems going back to historical heroes and literary giants, in contrast to everyday banalities like department stores and hamburger joints. In the poems the influence of music on the work of this former punk rocker becomes visible: metric structure, strong rhythm and ample rhyme. His debut was followed by Zwart als kaviaar: (Black like Caviar), recipient of the Jan Campert Award, and Dit is mijn dag (This is My Day) and De wereld bij avond, (The world at Night). In 2009 he published a selection of his poetry in De droefenis van copyrettes (The Sadness of Copy Marts). In 2010 his book of essays appeared: Red ons van de dichters (Deliver Us from the Poets). In January 2012, the month in which Wigman became Amsterdam's 'city poet' Mijn naam is Legioen, (My Name Is Legion) appeared, which was nominated for the prestigious VSB Poetry Award.

(Scheveningen, 1951) is a poet and translator. He studied Russian, Italian and Romanian, although he never completed these studies. Instead Rawie decided to make his hobby his profession and become a poet. He made his debut in 1976 and since then has had a great number of succesful poetry collections published. In 1989 he received for his oevre the Wessel Gansfort award of the province of Groningen. His most recent poetry collection is Wij volgen één voor één hetzelfde pad: de mooiste rouwgedichten (One by one we follow the same road: the best poems for mourning) (2003). Rawie is known for the fixed form of his poetry, and thus is very easy to read. Rawie himself says: ‘Easy reading is hard writing’. Rawie lives and works in Groningen.
WIN2005

(Dinxperlo, 1941) after moving to Surinam in 1971, specialised in Caribbean literature. He taught Dutch in Surinam and later on Aruba. Following that he worked for the University of Aruba up until his pension. In 1984 he published the Caribbean children's books from Miep Diekman and was co-compiler of Cosecha Arubiano; un antologia. In 1987 his book Dubbeltje Lezen – Stuivertje Schrijven (Ten cents reading and five cents writing), about Dutch Caribbean literature, was published His most important work is the book Beneden en boven de wind. Literatuur van de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba (The windward islands. Literature from the Dutch Antilles and Aruba) (1996). In 1996 he compiled Zingende eilanden. Verhalen van de Caraïben (Singing islands. Stories from the Carribean). He writes reviews for the Antillean daily paper Amigoe di Curaçao and publishes and reviews about Surinam and Antillean literature in various magazines. During Winternachten the book Noordoostpassanten (North East transients), which he wrote together with Michiel van Kempen, will be presented: a survey of 400 years of Dutch storytelling about Surinam, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
WIN 2005

(Curaçao, 1937) from 1994-2007 served as the Antillean representative on the Dutch Council of State. A chemical engineer, he held various top positions with Shell, but became particularly known for his dedication towards Antillean interests in the Netherlands and as an advisor to the Antillean government. He occupied a host of additional offices, including that of chair of the National Bureau to Combat Racial Discrimination and membership of the recommending committee for a national monument to commemorate slavery.

(Amsterdam, 1972) was already known as a poet-performer before a syllable letter of hers had been published. In 1997 she became well-known nationally through her performances at big literary festivals. Her debut Genoeg gedicht over de liefde vandaag (Done enough love poetry for today) followed only two years later and was nominated instantly for the NPS-Cultuurprijs. Her second collection of poems, Koffers Zeelucht (Trunks full of sea air; 2003) was awarded twice. By the end of 2008 Loper van Licht (Light walker) appeared. Peeters aspires to give poetry a bigger role in society. Early 2009 she participated in the election of Dutch Poet Laureate. Her new collection of poems Wasdom (Growth) was published in 2011. In 2016 her first novel was published, 'Malva'. It tells the story of the daughter of poet and Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda.

Murat Ay is one of the most outstanding Oriental musicians to be found in the Netherlands and founder of the group Otentik. During the Winternachten festival he will perform together with clarinettist Ekrem Sahin. They will play Turkish folk and classical music, including percussion, song and clarinet. Promoting Turkish culture with his music is not Ay's only activity. He is also editor of the Turkish magazine Yeni Ekspres, which is made in the Netherlands; his contribution to the cultural section of this magazine includes articles on Turkish music and culture.
WIN2004

(1968, Istanbul, Turkey) studied philosophy at the University of Istanbul and specialized in the works of Wittgenstein. In 1991 she moved to the Netherlands. Here Baycili wrote the theatre triptych Reductio ad absurdum. The first part, Doek (Curtain), has been performed as a public reading project by Maatschappij Discordia. Baycili made her debut as a novellist with the novel De Markov-keten (The Markov chain).And also her internet column Kip en ei zonder kop (Chicken and egg without a head) appeared for the magazine Intermediair. In 1999 the satire De nachtmerrie van de allochtoon (The nightmare of the immigrant) appeared, in which she describes in an amusing way how native and non-native Dutch get along with one another.
WIN2002

(Surinam, 1967) is an MP for the Dutch socialist party. She used to work as a project manager for the NOS (public broadcasting station) and as a presenter and programme maker for MTNL (Multicultural Television Nederland) and OHM (Dutch Hindu channel). She studied law at the Free University in Amsterdam. In 2002 she received the diversity prize of the city of Amsterdam for her radio programme highlighting the positive aspects of the multicultural society. In 2003 she was recipient of the prize awarded by the public at the Hollandse Nieuwe writers' festival.

(Amsterdam, 1928 - 2009) as a result of an internet poll was choosen in 2004 as the second Poet Laureate of the Netherlands. In 1951 Vinkenoog was the compiler of the controversial anthology Atonaal (Atonal). This anthology was the beginning of the Vijftigers, a group of avant garde poets that opposed the literary traditions. In 1966 he was the driving force behind Poëzie in Carré, the first extensive poetry festival in the Netherlands that attracted an audience of about two thousand people. His later work includedVreugdevuur (Bonfire) (1998), a collection of his poems published for the occasion of his seventieth birthday, and De ware Adam, gedichten rond de eeuwwisseling (The true Adam, poems around the change of the century) (2000). Vinkenoog was an enthousiastic promotor of poetry in general and was especially enthousiastic about reciting poetry. His experiences of recitals formed the base of his collection of stories entitled Goede raad is vuur (Good advice is like fire) (2004).

(Java, 1962) writes poetry, short novels and essays. He studied Indonesian Language and Literature at Bandung and finished his postgraduate program in 2002. Sarjono works as a lecturer at the Faculty of Theatre at Bandung’s Art College. He is editor of the literary journal Horison and the Program Director of The Jakarta Arts Council for the periode of 2002-2006. His work has been published in several media, including the literary journals Horison and Dewan Sastera, as well as the newspapers Jawa Pos and Kompas. His poems have also been included in several anthologies. His work consists out of the collections of poems Kenduri airmata (1994) and A Story from the Country of the Wind (English edition 2001), his essays Bahasa dan Bonafiditas Hantu and Sastra dalam Empat Orba (both 2001)and his drama Atas Nama Cinta (2004).Sarjono has performed at Winternachten 1999, and at literary manifestations in Indonesia, Malaysia and Germany.
WN 2005

(Paramaribo, 1961) moved to The Netherlands when he was 17. He studied at medical school and worked for several years at the AMC Hospital in Amsterdam . After that, he studied to be a beautician in Amsterdam and left to live in Vienna for six years. He built a successful career as a make-up artist in several countries and his creations can be seen in magazines such as Elle, Marie-Claire and Elegance. In 1999 he made his debut with the historical novel De koningin van Paramaribo (The queen of Paramaribo) and participated for the first time in the Winternachten festival. In 2001 a musical was made of this succesful book.Clark Accord writes columns for amongst others Man and News Magazine. His second novel Tussen Apoera & Oreala (Between Apoera & Oreala) was published in January 2005.
WN 2005

Kimbiza comes form the Latin-American Salsa metropole Caracas in Venezuela. The band combines Afro-Caribbean tradition, Venezuelan folk music and Latin jazz. Filipe “Mandingo” Rengifo and Renis Mendosa founded the band Kimbiza in 1986. After a European tour in 1987, both musicians chose to stay in Essen, Germany, where they studied at the Folkwang Academy and now both of them teach there. Since 1990 the Venezuelan singer and cellist Yma América joined Kimbiza. Yma América’s voice became known for the Baccardi-tune “Juégalo”, composed and sung by her.
WIN2004

Tahir Aydogdu Ensemble is a musical ensemble formed around the string virtuose Tahir Aydogdu. Aydogdu (1959) is able to create a cascade of notes with his kanun (Turkish zither). With his ensemble he brings to life jewels of classical Turkish music. The music they play is extremely varied: from pure classical music, Sufi music, folk music to jazz. Aydogdu has worked for eight years with the Modern Folk Üçlüsü and they have performed in places such as Italy, Pakistan, Malaysia, Russia, China and the United States. Alongside his work as a musician Aydogdu loves to write about music in general and especially about the kanun . He also teaches and since 1997 is head of the Turkish Classical music department of the radio station Ankara State Radio.
WIN2005

Baraná is Turkish for 'coming together, playing together'. Baraná was created by Behsat Üvez and Steven Kamperman. Singer and multi instrumentalist Behsat Üvez manifests himself as a flexible improvisator and a virtuose instrumentalist in many innovatory projects. Composer/clarinettist Steven Kamperman is rooted in the Western improvised music, but is also inspired by Mediterranean music.They complement one another in a breathtakingly tight musical combination which does their name proud. In the Baraná trio they are supported by the virtuose accordeon player Bart Lelivelt.

(1954) worked as a correspondent in Paris and Warsaw before becoming a research assistant at the Wiardi Beckman Foundation. Since 1978 he has written about 200 essays for NRC Handelsblad and Volkskrant newspapers and De Groene Amsterdammer magazine, gaining particular notice in 2000 for The Multicultural Fiasco. In 2007 he published Het land van aankomst (Immigrant Nations), a book that seeks out what really goes on under the surface of multiculturalism. He held the position of Professor of Metropolitan Issues at the University of Amsterdam from 2003 to 2011. Since 2011 he has been professor of European Studies at the Universities of Tilburg and Amsterdam. In 2013 he published Alles doet mee aan de werkelijkheid. Herman de Wolf (1893-1942), his grandfather's biography followed by the essay De grens van de vrijheid (The border's freedom, 2016) in which he states that an open society can only exist by a certain spatial demarcation.

Pierre Lauffer (1920-1981) was generally considered to be the greatest 20th century Papiamento poet of Curaçao. Alongside his writing of poetry he also pioneered the stimulation and writing of songs in Papiamento. Pierre Lauffer jr. once promised to put his father's verses to music and make an album of it. Now, almost twentyfive years after his father's death, he is about to fulfill his promise. He will be accompanied by the crème de la crème of Antillean musicians that are working in the Netherlands.

(1949) is not only a writer, he is also a producer for the VPRO radio and television. He presents the cultural programmes De droomhandel (The dream trade) en De Avonden (The evenings) and in 2002 has made, together with Hans Keller, a film about the life and work of his father, the actor Han Bentz van den Berg. He is also the author of the series ‘Zapdansen’ ('Zapdancing') in the NRC Handelsblad newspaper. Earlier his collections of narrative essays appeared, entitled De luchtgitaar (The air guitar) (1994) and De overdaad (The excess) (1999). In 2004 his novel Dagen van vertrek (Days of departure) appeared.

(Switserland, 1962) was put forward by Time Magazine tobe included on a list of 100 people that were judged to become important innovators for the 21th century. Ramadan has written more than twenty books, the most recent ones being To be a European Muslim and Western Muslims and the Future of Islam. Ramadan is controversial. Some people look upon him as a bridge builder between East and West, but others see him as a dangerous preacher who incites young muslims form the French suburbs to embrace fundamentalism. He denies these allegations vehemently. However, the fact that his grandfather was the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood and that he does not categorically condemn the stoning of women, but merely pleads for a moratorium does not help his cause. Recently he was refused a visa for the United States.
WIN2005

(Curaçao, 1956) For years was the face of the Antillean community in the Netherlands. He came to the country in 1989 to study and wanted to return afterwards. However, he stayed because of his young family and found a new mission: taking care of the interests of Arubans and Antilleans in the Netherlands. With the Splika foundation he dedicated himself to the promotion of Papiamentu, the language that he also teaches. Subsequently he chaired MAAPP (Movimentu Antiano i Arubano pa Partisipashon Politiko), the platform for the social participation of Antilleans and Arubans in the Netherlands. When he resigned on 1 March 2009 he received the MAAPP award Mi ta yuda, a new medal which will be awarded on Severina's birthday to people who have dedicated themselves to the Antillean and Aruban communities. For some time Severina served on the town council for the Dutch Labour Party in the town of Zoetermeer and now chairs HAAB (The Hague Antillean Aruban Board).

Victor Kaisiëpo is born in 1948 in Korido, West Papua. In October 1962 the family of Victor Kaisiëpo came to live in the Netherlands as a result of the New York Agreement in August 1962 and the resistence of his father, Markus Kaisiëpo, against the Indonesian takeover. Victor Kaisiëpo continues his father’s work, for the right of self-determination of his people. Since 1984 he does that on a fulltime basis. In July 2000 he was one of the speakers during the already historical Second Papua People’s Conference in Jayapura where he was appointed as the representative in Europe of the Presidium Dewan Papua. He participates in various Dutch, European and international networks and conducts dialogue with various governments.
WIN 2005

Ronald Snijders (Paramaribo, 1951) is the most swinging flautist in the Netherlands at present. Snijders started to play the flute at the age of seven, inspired by his father who was a professional musician. Despite studying civil technology in Delft in 1970, five years later Snijders became a professional musician. Over the years Snijders has produced twenty cd's and records with his own innovative compositions, varying in style from North American jazz and fusion to new African Caribbean jazz. Snijders is the creator of the Afro Surinam kawina-jazz. As a musician Snijders is in great demand and is very succesful with his Ronald Snijders Extended band, which has toured and played throughout the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Surinam, the United States, Cuba and Curaçao.
WIN2004

(Holwerd, 1969) made her debut in 1995 with a collection of poems Gearslach, written in Friesian. Her first collection of poems in Dutch is entitled De hengstenvrouw (The stallion woman) (1997), this is a translation and adaption of the collections Gearslach and De twirre vn de tijd (1997). Being multilingual is an importan theme in her poetry. Another important theme in her work is landscape, such as the Frisian mud flats where she grew up, but her travels in Spain, Ireland, Scotland and Morocco also play a part. Music and her own drawings and paintings influence her writing as well. Recent works are the collections De dieptering (2001) and Het nachtland/De knotwilg (2003). Besides writing poetry Albertina Soepboer writes prose and plays and works as an editor and teacher.
WIN 2005

(Oirschot, 1957) from 1983 to 1987 he worked in Surinam. Van Kempen is the compiler of two extensive anthologies: Spiegel van de Surinaamse poëzie (Mirror of the Surinamese Poetry) (1995) and Mama Sranan. 200 jaar Surinaamse verhaalkunst (Mama Sranan, 200 Years of Surinamese Storytelling) (1999). In 1997 his first novel, Plantage Lankmoedigheid (Plantation Patience) appeared. He also published: Het Nirwana is een lege trein (Nirvana is an Empty Train) (2000) and Pakistaanse nacht (Pakistani Night) (2002). In 2002 he obtained his doctorate with his thesis Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur (A history of Surinamese literature). His anthology Noordoostpassanten (Northeast Transients), which he compiled together with Wim Rutgers, was presented at the Winternachten festival in 2005. In 2006 he published the novel Escape Routes.

(Bloemendaal, NL, 1971) is an editor with the daily NRC Handelsblad newspaper. Her book Koning eenoog, en migrantenverhaal (King One-Eye: An immigrant story) about Henk van Woerden was presented during the 2015 festival; the story of ever-seeking immigrant Van Woerden (1947-2005), who was a writer as well as a visal artist. He wrote a trilogy abut South Africa that received national and international attention, and which, in its rootlessness, forever changed Dutch literature about South Africa. In 2014 Het Boekenparadijs. De opkomst en ondergang van de grootste boekhandelsketen in Nederland (Book Paradise: The rise and fall of the biggest bookstore chain in the Netherlands) was published, which he co-wrote with NRC Handelsblad editor Hanneke Chin-A-Fo. It is a revealing and incisive reconstruction of the recent demise of the Polare chain.

In the fifty years that he has worked as a professional musician Daniel Owina Misiani has made hundreds of recordings, which resulted in Kenya in several number one hits. On first hearing the pop music of Shirati Jazz, with its strumming guitars and straightforward basedrum beat, one is reminded of a Kenyan variety of Congo-jazz and soukous from Zaïre. In reality Misiani developed his own style, based on benga-music, since the sixties the dominant dance music of the Luo population around Lake Victoria. In the eighties the first albums of D.O. Misiani and Shirati Jazz appeared in the United States and England. Since then this East African pop band has become world famous.
Source: RASA 2004

(Java, Indonesia, 1941) isn't only is a famous poet, he's also a journalist, essayist, editor and columnist. Mohamad contributed to the creation of the Indonesian language, Bahasa Indonesia. He took part in the struggle against Suharto's regime in many ways. He founded the succesful critical literary magazine Tempo, which was banned twice by the government. In 1995 Mohamad initiated the Institute for the Study of Free Information Flow. After Suharto's resignation in 1998, Tempo started publishing again. Mohamad has received various international awards for his readiness to resist. Several of his poetry collections were republished around his 70th birthday. His most recent collections are Don Quixote (2011) and 70 Puisi (70 Poems). In 1995, Mohamad was one of the participants of the first Winternachten festival, and has since returned to The Hague several times for the same purpose.

(Amsterdam, 1944) is an actress, director and writer. She studied history and for a short while law and then went to theatre school. In 1982 she acted in the film De stilte rond Christine M., (The silence around Christine M.), a film from Marleen Gorris. From 1971 to 1986 she lived and worked in East Berlin. During that period she was involved with (Brecht) theatre at the Deutsches Theater. From 1986 to 1996 Habbema was director of the Amsterdam Theater. Presently, alongside her work for the Federation of Artists Associations, she gives lectures and presentations. Up until the end of 2003 Cox Habbema worked as Cultural Manager in Almere. In October and November 2004 she went on tour with her monologue Een vrouw in Berlijn (A woman in Berlin), based on a anonymous diary of a young woman in Berlin at the end of the second world war.
WIN2005

(1947-2005) was a painter and writer. He lived in South Africa since he was nine and after his studies in the arts remigrated to Europe. In 2001 Henk van Woerden made an international breakthrough. In that year he received for his book Een mond vol glas (A mouthful of glass) (1998) the prestigious Sunday Times Fiction/ Alan Paton Award, the award for the best book in South Africa. Een mond vol glas, a chronicle about Tsafendas, the murderder of prime minister Verwoerd, is the last section of a triptych about South Africa. His prose debut Moenie kyk nie (Don't look) (1993), which was crowned with the Geertjan Lubberhuizen award, was the first section. The second section was the novel Tikoes (1996). By the end of 2002 Notities van een luchtfietser (Notes from an air cyclist) appeared, in which van Woerden writes about both his imaginary and his real travels. In February 2003 Henk van Woerden received the Frank Kellendonk award. In October 2005 his last novel was published, Ultramarijn. It was awarded the Flemish literary prize the Gouden Uil in 2006.

(Nijmegen, 1952) studied Dutch at the Catholic University Nijmegen and was, together with like-minded spirits, present at the birth of the popular literary magazine De Schans. He has published amongst other things 'De Feestavond' (The gala night)(1981), 'Nijlpaard in bad' (Hippopotamus in the bath) (1988), 'De man bij een meer' (The man at the lake) (1992) en 'Onze dagen' (Our days) (2001). Verbogt is a permanent member of staff of VPRO'S radio programme De Avonden. He is also a columnist for the magazine HP/De Tijd and the daily newspaper De Gelderlander, writes about literature for the newspaper Het Parool and publishes regularly in the magazine Hollands Maandblad. Alongside all this he is kept busy as a playwright.
Source: VPRO 2004

(The Netherlands, 1962) is a Dutch writer, screenwriter and visual artist. She made her debut in 1995 with the collection of short stories Begeerte (Desire), which was nominated for the AKO Literature Prize, the Anton Wachter Prize and the ECI Prize. The title story was awarded the Rabobank Spring Prize for Literature. Her first novel Gemis (1997) was nominated for the Libris Literature Prize. Her most recent book, Vallen is als vliegen (Falling is Like Flying, 2019), was shortlisted for both the 2019 Bookspot Literature Prize and the 2020 Libris Literature Prize. The novel was named the best Dutch-language novel of 2019 by NRC Handelsblad and Humo. Uphoff was editor of the literary magazine De Revisor and board member and president of PEN Netherlands. As a screenwriter, she wrote the feature film screenplay Een Groot Geweld (Topkapi Films).

(Worcester, South-Africa, 1953) is a writer, poet and activist for marginalised African women. She works at the University of West Cape, where she also participates in a Women's Studies course. Ferrus is a member of WEAVE (Women’s Education & Artistic Voice Expression), an artist's collective in Capetown. She became well known with her poem Tribute to Sarah Baartman. The poem was translated and included in the French governmental documents that were necessary for the transportation of the remains of Sarah Baartman - in nineteen century Europe known as the Hottentot Venus. The remains left Paris and eventually arrived in South Africa in 2002 where they were buried. Ferrus published her first collection of poetry in the Afrikaans language called 'Ons Komvandaan' ('We come from') in 2006 and was the co-editor for a book about fathers and daughters called, Slaan vir my 'n masker, Vader (Forge Me a Mask, Father). She recently released a cd of poetry with music by the band Mamela, called "Never again", "Nooit weer nie".

(Dokkum, the Netherlands, 1967) who used to call himself The Man of Language, is a performing poet, anthologist and host. His poetry has taken him from stages all over Holland to the far corners of Europe - Albania, among others. His voice is unique within Dutch poetry, combining clarity and wit with metaphysical aspirations. His work is available in the collection Aan het eind van het begin (At the End of the Beginning, 2001) and Zoekmachines (Search Engines, 2002). In January 2006, his collection Klein Oera Linda (Oera Linda Minor) appeared, a collection in experimental lay-out reflecting contemporary society and culture.
Van Gogh has been very active the last couple of years, all over the world: in 2003 he contributed to the Taipei International Poetry Festival in Taiwan, Dichter aan Huis in The Hague and the Stockholms Poesifestival. 2004 saw him performing in Milan and Biddinghuizen (Lowlands Festival). He presented at the Rotterdam Poetry International and performed in Germany. For Yo! Opera Festival he wrote two libretti for so-called ‘Bus Opera’s’, as well as an ode to water..

(The Netherlands, 1946) grew up in a family with a past in the Dutch East Indies. He draws on these experiences in several of his works such as My Father's War (1995), Repatriated (2002) and in Naar zachtheid en een warm omhelzen (2023). Van Dis became well known via his literary television programme Here is... Adriaan van Dis (1983-1992). In addition to novels he has written novellas, travelogues, essays and plays. He presented TV documentary series and his podcast Van Dis Ongefilterd. He has received the Constantijn Huygens Award for his entire body of work. Recent publications are the collection Vijf vrolijke verhalen (2021), the novel KliFi, woede in de republiek Nederland (2022) and the essay De kolonie mept terug: over witte arrogantie en voortschrijdend inzicht: een denkoefening en leesreis (2024). During the Writers Unlimited Festival 2026, Van Dis will be the main interview guest on Saturday afternoon, 24 January, following the publication of his new book Alles voor de reis (Everything for the Journey), and on Sunday morning, 25 January, he and interviewer Simon Dikker Hupkes will record a new episode of his podcast series Van Dis Ongefilterd (Van Dis Unfiltered) live with an audience.

Go to website of Adriaan van Dis

Cor Witjes is the founder and leader of several music groups: Trio Cor Witjes, Cor Witjes en de Dopegezinde Gemeente and the Trio 2000. During the time when an artist like the Zangeres Zonder Naam (The singer without a name) enjoyed a reputation by so-called camp and kitsch lovers, Pierre van Duyl started his Trio Cor Witjes. This was in the early eighties. Originally Van Duyl comes from the world of rock&roll, and before that made uncompromising 'noise-music'. His love for the sentimental ballad is genuine. Alongside the pure Dutch work he also plays Eastern European music, chanson's, tango, calypso and especially klezmer (Yiddish music). Witjes is the leader of the band De Dopegezinde Gemeente; at the Winternachten festival he will perform with bassist Peter Wassenaar and drummer Bob Langenberg as Trio 2000.
WIN2004

In her tight red dress this firefly mingles amongst the guests. With her mysterious appearance she seduces the public into consuming cocktails that make the blood run faster. This butterfly of the night flutters around, briefly chatting, leaving your company in a trail of light.

was born in Germany in 1957 and moved to Groningen to study jazz saxophone at the conservatory. Soon he was invited to perform as guest musician in various bands. After finishing his study he has performed in more than sixteen different countries. Since 1995 he has been involved with the poetry and musical group 'Dichters uit Epibreren' (Poets from Epibreren). Not only does he play saxophone, but also flute, theremin and the self-invented pataphone. He transforms his music into 'soundscapes' by means of electronic effects and computer generated music. Next to being a musician
and composer, Klug is also a media artist.
WIN2004

(Morocco, 1958) in 2013 won  the Prix Goncourt de la Nouvelle for his collection of short stories The Curious Case of Dassoukine's Trousers. Since his debut in 1996 humor has been his weapon against intolerance, both in his novels and in his other work. In his fiction, such as the collection of short stories Poldermarokkanen (2010), the novels Une année chez les Français (2011) and La femme la plus riche de Yorkshire (2011), Laroui describes time and again the collision between North African culture and Western culture. Laroui grew up in Casablanca and studied econometry, mathematics, physics and architecture in Paris. He lectures French literature and Arab culture at the University of Amsterdam.

(1946) is a German-Turkish writer. She attended the theatre school in Istanbul and following that joined the Volkbühne (popular theatre) in East Berlin. She has performed in Paris, played in films and developed as an author. In 1991 she received for her literary work the Ingeborg Bachmann Preis. Publising house De Geus published three of her books: Het leven is een karavanserai (Life is a caravan)(1995), Moedertong (Mother tongue)(1996) en De brug van de Gouden hoorn (The bridge of the golden horn) (1998). In November 2004 she was awarded the prestigious Heinrich von Kleist prize. Her novels Seltsame Sterne starren zu Ende en Der Hof im Spiegel have not yet been published in the Netherlands.
WIN 2005

(Istanbul, 1967) studied computer science and physics at the university of Bogazici. Up until 1992 she worked as a physicist at the European Nuclear Research Centre (CERN). She has also taught English for two years in South America, writes for the magazine Atlas and from 1998 to 2000 had a weekly column in the newspaper Radikal. In 1994 Erdogan made her debut with the novel Kabuk Adam. After that her collection of stories Mucizevi Mandarin (1996) and her very succesful second novel Kirmizi Pelerinli Kent ( City in a red cape) (1998) were published. This stifling novel is situated in Rio de Janeiro. In 1990 Erdogan was awarded the Deutsche Welle Preis for one of her unpublished short stories. The main themes in her works are: violence against women, the situation in prisons and Kurdish rights.

(Noordwijk, 1941) in her latest book, the volume of essays Als een hond zijn blinde baas (Like a Dog Its Blind Boss; 2007), how she began her writing career. 'Let's see if I can write a story,' she thought one Monday morning. And writing she could. Her first volume of short stories, Op de rug gezien (Seen From the Back; 1988) won her a Gouden Ezelsoor (golden donkey-ear) and her novel debut Eerst grijs dan wit dan blauw (First Grey Then White Then Blue; 1991) won her the AKO Literature Prize. That opened the way to international fame. The book has been published in more than ten languages. Chance and its dramatic consequences and the 'mystery of the Other' play an important role in De Moor's work. History is also an important theme. She devoted a book to the haps and mishaps of the gypsies in 15th century Europe, De hertog van Egypte (The Duke of Egypt) and De Verdonkene (Drowned) deals with the great flood of 1953 in the Netherlands. De Moor studied piano, singing, art history and archeology and made videofilms before she started writing.

(The Netherlands, 1960) is a literary critic, writer, curator, interviewer, debate leader and "ambassador between France and the Netherlands in the field of literature", as a French ambassador once said. She has been writing about literature for some 30 years, mainly for the NRC daily. She published books on French and European literature, on Hella S. Haasse and Cees Nooteboom. Her In de voetsporen van mijn grootvader (2021) is an autobiographical search for her literary genes. Before that, she published Met Parijse pen. Literaire omzwervingen (in collaboration with photographer Bart Koetsier, 2020), which takes readers to Paris for walks in the footsteps of famous Dutch and French writers. She was joint artistic curator of the Netherlands' Guest of Honour role at the 2024 Leipzig Book Fair with German journalist Bettina Baltschev.

Go to the website of Margot Dijkgraaf
Instagram: @margotdijkgraaf

Dr. C.S.I.J. Lagerberg is an expert on the Indonesian Archipelago and a former head lecturer at the Catholic University Brabant. He was also a governer in Dutch New Guinea.
WIN 2005

(Sumatra 1924) is a Poet of the generation of 1945. He worked in Indonesia as a journalist and as a teacher at the National Academy for Theatre in Jakarta. He was chairman of the National Council of Culture. From 1967 to 1976 he was imprisoned under Souharto's regime. From 1982 to 1990 he was a professor at Leiden University. After that he lived respectively in Pakistan, Paris and Jakarta. He now lives in the Netherlands. In 1990 Bloem op een rots (Flower on a Rock; poems) was published; in 1996 De oude tijger (The Old Tiger, short stories). The bilingual collection of stories Lembah Kekal/Eeuwige Vallei (Eternal Valley) was published in October 2004 in Jakarta on the occasion of his 80th birthday. At this moment a film portrait is being made. In October 2006 he was Awarded with the South East Asain Write Award in Bangkok.

(1934, Batavia - Den Haag 2016). Following the outbreak of the second worldwar the Ruebsamen family came to the Netherlands, only to have to go into hiding when the persecution of the Jews began. Helga Ruebsamen attended grammar school and after that went to work as a journalist. For several years she worked in Paris for the daily newspaper Het Vaderland. In 1964 she made her debut with De kameleon en andere verhalen (The chameleon and other stories). Downfall, impoverishment, hopelessness, death and alcoholisme play an important role in her stories and novels. The autobiographical novel Het lied en de waarheid (The song and the truth) (1997) was nominated for the Gouden Uil as well as the Libris Literature prize. Other important works of hers are: De heksenvriend (The witches friend(1966), Wonderolie (Castor oil)(1970), De ondergang van Makarov (The fall of Makarov (1971), Op Scheveningen (On Scheveningen (1988), De dansende Kater (The dancing tomcat) (1992) en Beer is terug (Bear is back)(1999), De bevrijding (The liberation) (1999), Jonge liefde en oud zeer (Young love and old pain) (2001), De verhalen (The stories) (2001-...). Helga Ruebsamen died in November 2016.

(Hengelo, NL 1962) is a radio journalist and a writer. His most recently published book is De Wadden (The Frisian islands; 2013), a poetic history of the Frisian islands. His book of short stories Brutus heeft honger (Brutus is hungry, 2011) was nominated for the AKO Literature Prize. Eating being the leitmotiv, Deen jumps through world history. The forty-four historical stories are fine miniatures of scarcely one and a half page long. After having studied Dutch in Groningen Deen worked for Radio Noord for some years. His radio columns from those days were collected in two publications. Since 2001 Deen has been programme maker with VPRO radio, hosting the historical radio programme OVT. A number of historical documentaries which he made for VPRO radio has been published as an audiobook. The radio series De lange weg naar Darwin (Long road to Darwin) appeared on cd and as a podcast. Deen was programme coordinator of the Winternachten Festival between 2009 and 2011.