Writer in residence

Since the nineties, Amsterdam Vluchtstad (‘City Of Refuge Amsterdam’) has offered scope to foreign authors who wish or are forced to flee the regime of their country. They have the opportunity to live and work in the city for a specified time. With the opening of the Writers’ residence last summer, another two locations where foreign authors can stay have become available: one of these is above Boekhandel Athenaeum on the Spui in Amsterdam. Literary exchange is of vital importance in allowing literature and culture to flourish. For this reasons, both initiatives are supported by the NLPVF.

With a similar idea in mind, the NLPVF has organized a number of writer-in-residence programmes for Dutch authors at foreign universities in Europe and the United States for several years now. During their stay, the writers, who must have had their work published in the country in question, give (public classes) on literature.

For example, P.F. Thomése spent a few weeks in London and Sheffield last October, Willem Jan Otten is currently in Berlin for several months, and Anna Enquist and Jaap Scholten will teach in Paris and Budapest respectively at the beginning of 2007.

In conclusion, the Foundation supports a writer-in-residence post in Paramaribo (Surinam) where a Dutch writer can spend a few months. Anil Ramdas will be a writer-in-residence and will participate in cultural life there for a large part of the coming year.

If you would like to have more information on the writer-in-residence programme, please contact Tiziano Perez, Bas Pauw, or Maria Vlaar.

Published: December 1, 2006 news