(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.

(Vrede, 1935 - 2015) teached English at the University of Capetown. He spent some time in Paris as well. In his novels he experimented with themes as well as form matters. A Dry White Season (1979) was banned in South-Africa due to the similarities with the Steve Biko stories. International reactions were positive, and Brink was awarded the Martin Luther King Memorial Prize for his work. In South Africa he was awarded the important literary CNA Prize. He died in February 2015.