(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.

(India, 1963) in 2009 was elected by Business Week one of the fifty most influential men of India. He owes that to his pioneering work as an investigative journalist. In 2000 Tejpal started the webzine Tehelka which became the watchdog of Indian media. in 2001 Tehelka's inquiries led to the resignation of the Minister of Defence. Meanwhile Tehelka ('sensation' in Hindi) has developed into a leading weekly magazine-cum-news site with a staff of more than 100. In his spare time Tejpal found time to write two novels: The Alchemy of Desire (2005), and The Story of my Assassins (2009). Both novels portray the complexities of Indian society, but in his debut passion and a longing for love play a central role. V.S. Naipaul called Tejpal's debut ‘brilliant’.

(Bussum, 1963) as a stand-up comedian, tv maker and writer likes to mop the floor with – in his eyes – often stupid politicians and journalists. In 2009 he began his own talk show with VPRO, Heerlijk, eerlijk Heertje (delicious, honest Heertje). In this programme he showed that many seemingly spontaneous processes in tv programmes are actually precooked. In 1990 Heertje introduced the stand-up comedy in the Netherlands with the launch of the Comedytrain. He is also the initiator of Comedy Café Toomler in Amsterdam. Heertje is especially known as team captain of the tv programme Dit was het Nieuws (the Dutch version of Have I got news for you) cooperating sincs 1995. In addition he writes. He wrote columns and interviews for among others Vrij Nederland, Sportweek, NRC Handelsblad and Het Parool, which were published in book form. In 2009-2010 he made the VPRO programme Wintergasten (Winter guests). Raoul Heertje also performed in foreign comedy clubs and was a guest in various foreign tv programmes, such as Ruby Wax’ show. Right now he is working on a new book Circus Nederland (Circus the Netherlands), on the media and manipulation, which will appear in 2011.

(1957) is regarded as one of the best trombonists in the world. Wierbos is self-taught, he once started as a player of a wind instrument in a drum band. The unique sound he manages to get out of his trombone can be heard on more than 100 CD’s which earned him various prizes. The highlight in his career was the Boy Edgar award in 1996. Jazz is one of his main passions, but he also likes to play contemporary and improvised music and makes excursions to post-punk. Wierbos toured with various formations throughout Europe, Canada, the US and Asia, but also performs solo. Under the name Wollo’s World he takes part in musical experiments, performing with a tapdancer, among others. His sound can also be heard in numerous theatre and dance performances and tv en film projects. Right now he plays with Misha Mengelberg’s ICP, the Gerry Hemingway Quintet, Franky Douglas Sunchild and Bik Bent Braam.

Markha Valenta (1967) assistant-professor at the Radboud University, is especially interested in the interaction between global politics, democratic societies and questions of religion, citizenship, and belonging. Her articles in NRC Handelsblad on Dutch moralism and intolerance have caused a great deal of controversy. Ms Valenta argues in a reply to an article in the Gay Krant on Tariq Ramadan that inside a democracy there must be room to think and act differently. To her this not only applies to homosexuals (Ms Valenta is a lesbian) but to Muslims too, who have their own views on homosexuality.