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Marcel Möring
Marcel Möring (1957, Enschede) studied Dutch literature for two years, then went from one odd job to another. Since he had already decided to become a writer at the age of thirteen, he saw no point in further education. He wrote several plays in those years, producing and directing two of them, and moved to Rotterdam. Möring published novels, novella’s and poetry. His poetry is both lighthearted and profound, and written with the narrative power of a novellist.
He was awarded the AKO Prize, the Dutch equivalent of the Booker Prize, two Golden Owls and the Bordewijk Prize for the best Dutch novel. Marcel Möring's novels have been published in the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Hungary, Rumania, Turkey, Japan, Israel, Bangla Desh, and Australia. Photo Harry Cock
Jana Beranová
Jana Beranová is a writer, poet and translator. As a refugee from the communist regime in former Czecho-Slowakia, she first studied economics. For her translations – seven novels by Milan Kundera and work of many Czech poets – she was in 2005 awarded the Černin-medal. She wrote one book of prose, seven volumes of poetry and some historical anthologies. Her work is colourful, unusual and concerned.
In 2008 Beranová received the Erasmus badge; in 2009 and 2010 she was Rotterdam City Poet Laureate. In 2011 'Werkboek' was published, a selection of poetry 1983-2010, and a dvd with the well-known jazz trumpet-player Eric Vloeimans. Beranová likes to work with artists from other disciplines. She likes the unexpected. Some of her poems you can also find on special places in public.
Photo: Pieter Vandermeer
Jan de Bas
Jan de Bas is a poet and a historian. In 2014, his 6th collection of poems for adults was published. For children he published 4 collections of poetry, and, with Monique Veldhoven, a picturebook. His work is part of the important collections of dutch poetry composed by Komrij. (Dutch poetry of the 19th - 21th century in 2000 and a few poems, Dutch poetry for children in 1000 and a few poems) He also composed collections of poetry with Arie Bijl, Sinterklaas (2009, literary Sinterklaas poems) and En wat zij zong hoorde ik dat psalmen waren (2010), a collection with psalms of dutch poets.
De Bas disguises his words and confuses his public in a gentle, almost naive way. He concentrates on what seems unremarkable, showing its intriguing complexity. In his poems the influence of religion and philosophy is remarkable. Besides his poetry, Jan de Bas teaches history, writes scientific historic books and educational books.
Edwin de Voigt
Edwin de Voigt is a performance poet, a creative copywriter and a cultural organizer. Known as 'Voigt Moisturizer', he is the textproducer of the audiovisual collective 'Revolutie.TV', that has been performing at many festivals (Oerol, Camping Rotterdam, Boek& Bal, Now&Wow, Art Rotterdam) and for productions at Arminius, De Unie and Rotown (2008-2012).
De Voigt was a finalist at the Rotterdam Poetryslam competition (3 times), won the public price of the Delft Slam twice and the first Verzet je Zinnen battle. He publishes in several newspapers and (literary) magazines. He was 'residency poet' at 'Firma Zintuig' in BIRD, he published his proza-debut: 'Vers', took part of the project Tekst/Figuur(2013) for Poetry International, and presented with other Rotterdam poets 'Wij dragen Rotterdam'(2014). After the succes of 'De Voordeelbundel'(2011), he is proud of the awardwinning designbook 'Naar Inkt Vissen'(2014), with poetry from De Voigt and Smit and drawings by others, handprinted with cuttlefish ink. Photo Vassilles
Ernest van der Kwast
Ernest van der Kwast (1981, India) debuted in 2005 with the novel ‘Soms zijn dingen mooier als er mensen klappen’. He used the name ‘Sieger Sloot’ to publish the novel ‘Stand-in’.(2007) He was also the man behind ‘Man zoekt vrouw om hem gelukkig te maken’, short stories published by the fictive ‘Yusef el Halal’. He attracted a wider audience with his autobiographic novel ‘Mama Tandoori’ (2010).
His work is known for its humour and for the often used theme identity, in particular the loss of identity. Although not a poet, van der Kwast is closely related to the world of poetry. January 2015 his novel ‘De ijsmakers’ was published. This book is about a Rotterdam Poetry Festival, about the love for poetry and about icecream. Van der Kwast is also a well-known presenter of poetry-happenings. Photo Keke Keukelaar
Esther Porcelijn
Esther Porcelijn is a writer, a poet and is finishing her philosophy degree. She performs and reads her poetry and short stories all over the country and at big poetry-festivals like 'Het Tuinfeest' and the Tilt-festival. She is momentarily working on two books: a poetry book and a bundeling of her short stories, which will both be published at a big national publisher in Amsterdam.
She also publishes her work in literary magazines like Hollands Maandblad, from whom she has received the Hollands Maandblad stimulation-prize in the category of Poetry. She loves cats and dark cynical humor and has recently moved to Rotterdam. Photo Ernest Potters
Rien Vroegindeweij
Rien Vroegindeweij (Middelharnis, 1944) moved to Rotterdam at the age of 18. Vroegindeweij started to play an important role in the cultural life of Rotterdam, by writing about the city and the cultural scene in dutch newspapers ‘Het Vrije Volk’, ‘Het Rotterdams Dagblad’ and NRC Handelsblad’. He writes poems, press contributions, stories and theatre monologues. Vroegindeweij is known for his realistic poems; he does not create a new or fictive reality but transforms specific moments or simple events. In 2006 he received the Erasmus badge, and in 2007 he was awarded the Anna Blaman Prize. His son Victor Vroegindeweij, documentary filmer, made a biographic documentary about his father in 2009: 'Gaandeweg' (Gradually).
Rien Vroegindeweij also organizes the Rotterdam department of ‘Eenzame uitvaart’ (‘Lonesome funeral’). People who died lonely are guided to the grave by poets. The accompanying poet writes a special poem for the deceased.
Peggy Verzett
Peggy Verzett (1958) is a poet, a painter and a singer. Her debut 'Prijken die buik' (2005) was nominated for the 'Jo Peters Poëzieprijs' in 2006. Reviewer Ilja Pfeiffer praised the original, personal language of the collection, and called it 'the most debuting debut' he ever saw; it invites the reader to learn to read again, and to do that in an unconventional way.
In 2010 'Vissing' was published, a collection with several long proza-poems. Here, musicality and diverse depictions seem to dazzle the reader. The language of Verzett seems to endorse T.S. Elliots statement: 'Poetry can communicate before it is understood'. She is also a teacher in writing and poetry at the 'Schrijversvakschool' in Amsterdam.
Myrte Leffring
Myrte Leffring (1973) is poet, editor for poetry magazine 'Awater' and poetry teacher at various primary and secondary schools in Rotterdam and Delft. She regularly performs at literary events such as 'Dichters in de Prinsentuin' (Groningen) and ‘Het Tuinfeest’ (Deventer).
Her poetry debut 'Om je schouders hang ik de nachten' was published February 2015 and well received. "The most captivating element is the accuracy of her observations. I am impressed!" (Wim Brands)
Since 2009 she has been performing 'Dichter aan de vleugel' with musician Marijn van de Ven: a program combining music, poetry and singing. Tulips are her favourite flowers and she drinks her coffee with milk and sugar. And poetry.
Gino van Weenen
Gino van Weenen (1986) is a young writer born in Gouda. Somewhere in his teens he got caught up in theatre and writing poetry because he could finally reach audiences without playing instruments. He partook in Poetry Slams around the country and picked up some prizes here and there. Discovering the fading boundaries between performance and text he joined Poetry Circle Nowhere to further his experience.
In his early twenties he moved to Rotterdam and found a new life and passion in the city that never stops evolving. Here he crossed paths with likeminded people and got involved in blogs like Vers Beton and Bogue. Writing weekly columns and interviews expanded his horizon and gave him new alleys to walk down in. Being an organizer as well as a writer he gave other people a stage. Coaching and educating newcomers is another way for him to help others. Photo Timothy van Proosdij
Ester Naomi Perquin
Few Dutch poets have enjoyed such immediate success as Ester Naomi Perquin (1980). With her first two collections, Servetten halfstok (Napkins at Half-Mast) of 2007 and Namens de ander (On Behalf of the Other) of 2009 she won no less than six prizes and a nomination. Her third book, Celinspecties (Cell Inspections), published in 2012, brought her the prestigious VSB Poetry Prize.
As a poet, Perquin is seemingly able to get into the minds of others. Whether they are the delinquents presented to us in Celinspecties or the nameless, strange, but extremely recognizable figures in the appropriately titled Namens de ander, the reader always gets the feeling that she or he is being addressed by a person of flesh and blood. Text: Mischa Andriessen (Translated by Donald Gardner)
Peter Swanborn
Peter Swanborn (1963) is a Rotterdam based poet, short story writer, teacher and critic. His poetry debut, 'Bij het zien van zijn lichaam' (At the sight of his body) (2007), was nominated for the C. Buddingh' Prize (best poetry debut) in 2008. In 2009 'Een koud bad' (A cold bath) was published. This book with 24 songs about people who drowned, was nominated for the PZC Public Award. 'Tot ook ik verwaai' (Untill I also drift away) (2009), a poetry memoir about a mother with Alzheimers, was nominated for the J.C. Bloem-poëzieprijs. 'Het huis woont in mij' (The house lives in me) was published in 2013. 'Swanborn proves to be some sort of alchemist - someone who succeeds to derive gold from the clay of his experience' Juryreport C. Buddingh'-prijs 2008.
Poems by Peter Swanborn have been published in several international magazines. Swanborn is an editor of Tortuca, magazine for literature and visual arts. He also works as a literary critic for De Volkskrant, a leading Dutch newspaper.
Lennart Pieters
Lennart Pieters (1986) was born in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. During a yearlong surf trip through Oceania he developed a love for spoken word poetry, honing his performance on city streets along his route to supplement his budget. Upon return he settled in Rotterdam and enrolled in Cultural Science where he became the Erasmus University poet.
From the streets to the slams and on to larger venues and festivals. Over the last ten years Lennart has not only performed at, but also initiated or co-organized many literary and music events. Most notably arts platform Speyksessies at gallery Frank Taal and most recently Woordnacht Festival. Despite recent ventures into other forms of storytelling such as animated video’s, listening to and performing poetry is where he feels at home. Photo Hannah Broekhuizen
Anne Vegter
Anne Vegter is a very versatile poet and writer. Her debut (1989), children’s book The Lady and the Rhinoceros, was promptly awarded the Woutertje Pieterse Prize, an important prize for new Dutch literature for children.
Her first poetry collection, It Sprang (1991), showed that a poet of stature had risen. Several more children’s books and poetry collections followed, as well as a collection of erotic stories and several plays. In every genre the fact that she is first and foremost a poet glimmers through. In 2013 she was appointed Poet Laureate for the Netherlands. Text Jan Baeke (Translated by Megen Molé and Thomas Möhlmann).
‘Vegter writes daring, personal poetry that sometimes teases language to the limit.' Ron Rijghard in NRC / Handelsblad Photo Roger Cremers
Daniel Dee
Daniël Dee (1975) gained publicity with his debut ‘3D – schetsjes van onvermogen’ (‘3D – sketches of incompetence’). His poems were published in various literary magazines (for instance: Passionate, Het liegend konijn and Krakatau) and anthologies (for instance: ‘De Dikke Komrij’ and ‘Met dat hoofd gebeurt nog eens wat’). He wrote 4 collections of poems, and performed his poems throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, among others at festivals like ‘Lowlands’. He is one of the poets of ‘Eenzame uitvaart’. People who died lonely are guided to the grave by poets. The accompanying poet writes a special poem for the deceased.
Dee writes poetry and proza, and likes to work with other poets, writers and organizations. Furthermore, Dee likes to mention that he possesses all the records of ‘The Fuckups’.
Hans Wap
Hans Wap was born in 1943 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He travelled several times around the globe. He was educated at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam and works as a poet and as a visual artist. Wap published seven poetry collections. The first one in 1967, SCHOTEN EN FILTERSIGARETTEN (gunshots and filtercigarettes), the last, DE LAATSTE LEMMING (the last lemming) in 2008.
The poems of Hans Wap are published in various anthologies and magazines, like Gerrit Komrij's '1000 en enige kindergedichten' and De Tweede Ronde, Podium, Passionate and Maatstaf. Wap participated (with Bernlef, Deelder, Schippers and Waskowsky) on the anthology '5 Electrische dichters' (5 electric poets), for which poets sent their poems by telex. Hans Wap read his poetry at various literary festivals, like ‘Dichter aan Huis’, ‘Dichters in de Prinsentuin’ and the international poetry festival in Indonesia. Photo Elsbeth Cochius
