Foon is a masterfully written novel of ideas about humans who are less and less able to stand the mysteries of existence, written by one of the most idiosyncratic authors writing in the Dutch language. She resolutely leads her reades to the edge of the woods, well knowing that sooner or later, something will happen to call forth the bears. It expresses a great love of science and a deeply felt understanding of the futiliy of human endeavour. The tragic attempts of man to control, comprehend and direct nature lie at the heart of her work. These poems keep on sizzling in your mind. Demets' big achievement is knowing how to tie up the language without constricing the reader. Paul Demets (1966) wins the Jan Campert Prize for his volume of poetry De Klaverknoop ( The Shamrock Knot), a smashing collection in which each image is loaded and meaningful without making the poetry impenetrable. He has also written theatre texts and published notable monographs about philosophy and visual art.

His prose comprises novels, stories, as travel book and essays. His collected poetry runs to about 1,000 pages, published as Muziek voor de overtocht (Music for the Crossing). According to the jury, since his 1981 debut with the experimental prose book Ruimte ( Space), he has built up a body of work that covers almost every genre. Hertmans has been a highly respected Dutch literary writer for much longer. The book is a delicate and intense ode to his grandfather, who grew up in poverty, fought at the front in World War I, and lost the love of his life too soon. Hertmans achieved his big breakthrough in 2013 with the novel Oorlog en terpentijn ( War and Terpentine). Writer, poet and essayist Stefan Hertmans wins the Constantijn Huygens Prize for his entire body of work. The audience determines which of the finalists wins this award for a young Hague poet this time.

Among them Mirle Wittekoek, who won the Young Campert Prize last year. The opening poem will be read by poet Jasper Albinus host will be Noraly Beyer.Ī regular feature is the finale of the educational project Spot on Young Poets: the finalists, secondary school students from The Hague, read poems they wrote during school workshops. Musical odes will be performed by classical accordeonist Oleg Lysenko, piano player and composer Tijn Wybenga and trumpet player Alistair Payne. As laudatio givers you will see and hear writer and philosopher Joke Hermsen, poet Tjitske Jansen and NRC literary editor Thomas de Veen.

The Schrijversfeest (Writers' Fest) is a festive program with readings and musical performances accompanying the awarding of the four literary prizes of the City of The Hague by Robert van Asten, alderman for Culture. With: Aad Meinderts, Alistair Payne, Gideon Samson, Jasper Albinus, Joke Hermsen, Marente de Moor, Noraly Beyer, Oleg Lysenko, Paul Demets, Robert van Asten, Stefan Hertmans, Thomas de Veen, Tijn Wybenga, Tjitske Jansen

Portrait by Jürgen Bauer