Boekenweek
Encyclopedia
In the Netherlands, the Boekenweek (book week) is an annual "week" of ten days dedicated to Dutch literature
. It is held in March since 1932. Each Boekenweek has a theme. The beginning of the Boekenweek is marked by the Boekenbal (book ball), a gathering that is attended by writer
s and publishers
. Events are held across the country during the Boekenweek, such as book signing
sessions, literary festival
s and debate
s.
A well-known writer, usually Dutch or Flemish
, is asked to write a book, usually a novella
, called the Boekenweekgeschenk (book week gift). The Boekenweekgeschenk is given by book shops
upon the purchase of books in the Dutch language
or when someone becomes a member of a library
. The Boekenweekgeschenk is published by the Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (CPNB, Collective Promotion for the Dutch Book). Some authors include Maarten 't Hart
(1984), Hugo Claus
(1989) and Harry Mulisch
(2000). In 2001, the Boekenweekgeschenk was originally written in English by Salman Rushdie and later translated into Dutch.
In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the Boekenweekgeschenk was sometimes published anonymously with a list of possible authors inside the book. As a competition, readers could submit their guess as to who the author was by postcard. Since 2002, the Boekenweekgeschenk can be used as a ticket to travel for free by train with the Nederlandse Spoorwegen
on Sunday in the Boekenweek.
Since 1987, an essay
, the Boekenweekessay, has been written in addition to the Boekenweekgeschenk. The Boekenweekessay can be purchased in book shops. Some authors include Jan Wolkers
(1995), Gerrit Komrij
(1997) and Adriaan van Dis
(2004).
The curriculum vitae of the author of the Boekenweekgeschenk — called the Boekenweek-cv — is distributed by public libraries
among their members.
, the Boekenweek was not held in the years 1942 till 1945. In 1941, a Boekenweekgeschenk was published but it was withdrawn from the stores due to German occupation of the country.
The Boekenweekgeschenk has grown in popularity over the years. In 2010, during the 75th Boekenweek, 958.000 copies of the Boekenweekgeschenk were produced.
in Amsterdam
. The invitation policy of CPNB has sparked some controversy which has led to a separate event called the Bal der Geweigerden (ball of the refused). It was first held in 2002 in Paradiso
, which is nearby the location of the official Boekenbal, and it can be attended by anyone.
. Some of the authors include Paul Biegel
(1977), Annie M.G. Schmidt (1990) and Thea Beckman
(1991). Since 1986, a picture book
is published for toddler
s.
The Kinderboekenweek is also opened by a social gathering, called the Kinderboekenbal.
Dutch literature
Dutch literature comprises all writings of literary merit written through the ages in the Dutch language, a language which currently has around 23 million native speakers...
. It is held in March since 1932. Each Boekenweek has a theme. The beginning of the Boekenweek is marked by the Boekenbal (book ball), a gathering that is attended by writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
s and publishers
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
. Events are held across the country during the Boekenweek, such as book signing
Book signing
Book signing is the affixing of a signature to the title page or flyleaf of a book by its author. A book signing is an event, usually at a bookstore or library where an author sits and signs books for a period of time....
sessions, literary festival
Literary festival
A literary festival, also known as a book festival or writers' festival, is a regular gathering of writers and readers, typically on an annual basis in a particular city...
s and debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
s.
Publications
Flemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
, is asked to write a book, usually a novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
, called the Boekenweekgeschenk (book week gift). The Boekenweekgeschenk is given by book shops
Bookselling
Bookselling is the commercial trading of books, the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers or bookmen.-Bookstores today:...
upon the purchase of books in the Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
or when someone becomes a member of a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
. The Boekenweekgeschenk is published by the Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (CPNB, Collective Promotion for the Dutch Book). Some authors include Maarten 't Hart
Maarten 't Hart
Maarten 't Hart is a Dutch biologist who studied zoology and ethology at the University of Leiden and taught that subject before becoming a full-time writer in the 1980s. He is the author of many novels, including Het Woeden der Gehele Wereld and De kroongetuige...
(1984), Hugo Claus
Hugo Claus
Hugo Maurice Julien Claus was a leading Belgian author who published under his own name as well as various pseudonyms. Claus' literary contributions spanned the genres of drama, the novel, and poetry; he also left a legacy as a painter and film director...
(1989) and Harry Mulisch
Harry Mulisch
Harry Kurt Victor Mulisch was a Dutch author. He wrote more than 80 novels, plays, essays, poems and philosophical reflections. These have been translated into more than 20 languages....
(2000). In 2001, the Boekenweekgeschenk was originally written in English by Salman Rushdie and later translated into Dutch.
In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the Boekenweekgeschenk was sometimes published anonymously with a list of possible authors inside the book. As a competition, readers could submit their guess as to who the author was by postcard. Since 2002, the Boekenweekgeschenk can be used as a ticket to travel for free by train with the Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen , or NS, is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands.Its trains operate over the tracks of the Dutch national railinfrastructure, operated by ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003...
on Sunday in the Boekenweek.
Since 1987, an essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
, the Boekenweekessay, has been written in addition to the Boekenweekgeschenk. The Boekenweekessay can be purchased in book shops. Some authors include Jan Wolkers
Jan Wolkers
Jan Hendrik Wolkers was a Dutch author, sculptor and painter.Wolkers is considered one of the "Great Four" writers of post-World War II Dutch literature, along with Willem Frederik Hermans, Harry Mulisch and Gerard Reve...
(1995), Gerrit Komrij
Gerrit Komrij
Gerrit Jan Komrij is a Dutch poet, novelist, translator, critic, polemic journalist and playwright. From 2000 to 2004 he was the Dutch Dichter des Vaderlands .-Biography:...
(1997) and Adriaan van Dis
Adriaan van Dis
Adriaan van Dis is a Dutch author, with Indo roots, who debuted in 1983 with the novella Nathan Sid. He is also known as the host of his own television show.-Youth:...
(2004).
The curriculum vitae of the author of the Boekenweekgeschenk — called the Boekenweek-cv — is distributed by public libraries
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
among their members.
History
On November 15, 1930, the Dag van het Boek (Day of the Book) was held to protect books from new media, such as radio and cinema. The book De uitgever en zijn bedrijf by Johan Tersteeg was published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Nederlandsche Uitgeversbond. In 1931 the Boekenweek was not held. In 1932, the first Boekenweek was held and the first Boekenweekgeschenk was published. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Boekenweek was not held in the years 1942 till 1945. In 1941, a Boekenweekgeschenk was published but it was withdrawn from the stores due to German occupation of the country.
The Boekenweekgeschenk has grown in popularity over the years. In 2010, during the 75th Boekenweek, 958.000 copies of the Boekenweekgeschenk were produced.
Boekenbal
The Boekenbal (book ball) is an invitation-only event with the Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (CPNB) deciding the guest list. It is traditionally held in the StadsschouwburgStadsschouwburg (Amsterdam)
The Stadsschouwburg of Amsterdam is the name of a theatre building at the Leidseplein in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The building is in the neo-Renaissance style dating back to 1894, and is the former home of the National Ballet and Opera.-The Rederijkerskamers:The first rederijkers appeared at...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. The invitation policy of CPNB has sparked some controversy which has led to a separate event called the Bal der Geweigerden (ball of the refused). It was first held in 2002 in Paradiso
Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Paradiso is an iconic rock music venue and cultural center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.-History:It is housed in a converted former church building that dates from the nineteenth century and that was used until 1965 as the meeting hall for a liberal Dutch religious group known as the "Vrije...
, which is nearby the location of the official Boekenbal, and it can be attended by anyone.
Kinderboekenweek
Since 1955, a book week for children has been held, called the Kinderboekenweek. It is held in October and it also lasts ten days. Similar to the Boekenweek, a Kinderboekenweekgeschenk is written that is given by book shops upon purchasing literature for childrenChildren's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. Some of the authors include Paul Biegel
Paul Biegel
Paul Biegel was a successful and prolific Dutch writer of children's literature.-Biography:...
(1977), Annie M.G. Schmidt (1990) and Thea Beckman
Thea Beckman
Thea Beckman was a Dutch author of children's books.-Biography:At young age , Beckman knew she wanted to be a writer...
(1991). Since 1986, a picture book
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
is published for toddler
Toddler
A toddler is a young child, usually defined as being between the ages of one and three. Registered nurse, midwife and author, Robin Barker, states 'Any time from eight months onwards your baby will begin to realise he is a separate person from you...
s.
The Kinderboekenweek is also opened by a social gathering, called the Kinderboekenbal.