The Netherlands’s 76th book week will take place from Wednesday 16 March to Saturday 26 March. This time the motto is Curriculum Vitae – Written Portraits. This theme comprises a wide range of books: from journalism to literature, from fiction to non-fiction, and biography plays a central role. 

A ball

Traditionally book week begins on the Tuesday evening with the Boekenbal (Book Ball) which, incidentally, is by invitation only. For anyone who has anything to do with Bookland it is the place to be.

Those who buy Dutch books for a value of at least € 12.50 or become a member of a library during book week will receive the Boekenweekgeschenk (the book week gift). This year it is “The Crow” (De Kraai) by master storyteller Kader Abdolah.

The Persian writer Abdolah fled the Ayatollahs in Iran in 1985. His pen name is a pseudonym, a tribute to two of his fellow students who were executed by the authorities: Kader and Abdolah.

He ended up in the Netherlands by chance in 1988 and learned Dutch with the aid of “Jip and Janneke”, the famous children’s book by Annie M.G. Schmidt. Eventually, he claims, he went to live in the Dutch language; his home is still in Persia.

In 2001, he wrote about his new country and language in The Low Countries Yearbook. Read the article here.

One of Abdolah’s books, “The House of the Mosque” was selected as the next to best Dutch book after “The Discovery of Heaven”, by Harry Mulisch.

Found photography

During every book week a Book Week Essay is also commissioned. This year it is entitled Good luck and was written by the author Christine Otten and the artist Erik Kessels.  

Their starting point was a series of photos from Erik Kessels’ collection of ‘found’ photography, consisting of snapshots of nameless people in various situations. One series of photos in particular, featuring a man and a woman, struck a chord with both of them. And then they thought up a suitable story.

During book week a large number of events are held in dozens of libraries and bookshops all over the Netherlands.

The week will conclude with a session on Sunday 27 March at the Theater Carré in Amsterdam. Kader Abdolah will host this grand finale.