The Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren ("Dutch Literature Prize") is awarded every three years to an author from the Netherlands, Belgium or, since 2005, Suriname writing in Dutch. It is considered the most prestigious literary award in the Dutch-speaking world, and the award is presented alternately by the reigning Dutch and Belgian monarchs.
The €40,000 prize is administered by the Dutch Language Union. The jury comprises three Dutch members, three Flemish members and one from Suriname. The chair alternates between a Flemish and Dutch jury member.
Until 2001 the prize was awarded alternately to a Flemish and a Dutch author. Subsequently, the four winners have all been Dutch; but the winner for 2012, Leonard Nolens, is Flemish.
List of winners
1956: Herman Teirlinck 1959: Adriaan Roland Holst 1962: Stijn Streuvels 1965: J.C. Bloem 1968: Gerard Walschap 1971: Simon Vestdijk 1974: Marnix Gijsen 1977: Willem Frederik Hermans 1980: Maurice Gilliams 1983: Lucebert 1986: Hugo Claus 1989: Gerrit Kouwenaar 1992: Christine D'Haen 1995: Harry Mulisch 1998: Paul De Wispelaere 2001: Gerard Reve (King Albert II of Belgium refused to present the prize to Reve because his partner was suspected of pedophilia) 2004: Hella S. Haasse 2007: Jeroen Brouwers (declined) 2009: Cees Nooteboom 2012: Leonard Nolens 2015: Remco Campert 2018: Judith Herzberg 2021: Astrid Roemer 2024: Tom Lanoye
Notes
External links Homepage of the Taalunie