Netherlands literary scene – April

Here’s our rundown of upcoming international literary events in the Netherlands for April 2019 and beyond. Events are in English unless otherwise noted. Most ask that you register; some require tickets.

• David Vann – the award-winning American novelist and short story writer will be speaking about his latest novel Halibut on the Moon on Monday, 1 April , 20:00 at the Bibliotheektheater, Rotterdam
• Open Mic Monday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on 1 April, 20:45, Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Kristen Roupenian, author of the viral short story “Cat Person” (it was read over 4.8 million times on the New Yorker website) will be giving a special master class especially for International Writers’ Collective students on Monday, 1 April, 12:00 at the International Writers’ Collective, Amsterdam. She will also be speaking on Monday, 1 April, 20:00 at the Centrale Bibliotheek in Den Haag courtesy of BorderKitchen and on Tuesday, 2 April, 20:00 at the Auditorium Goede Doelen Loterijen in Amsterdam courtesy of the John Adams Institute
• Murakami Unveiled – a lecture on Haruki Murakami’s masterpiece Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World on Wednesday, 3 April, 16:00 at Erasmus University College, Rotterdam
• Kate Mosse on Writing Women back into History  – a discussion between Kate Mosse and Dutch journalist Brenda Stoter Boscolo on telling stories of women from the past and present, through fiction and non-fiction on Thursday, 4 April, 20:30 at De Balie, Amsterdam
• Aimée de Jongh book launch – the award-winning animator, comics artist, and illustrator will be presenting her graphic novel Blossoms in Autumn. Friday, 5 April, 18:30 at the American Book Center, Amsterdam
• Wine & Poetry Tasting Vol. 3 / Wisdom and Foolishness on Friday, 5 April, 19:30 at Paper Fetish, Amsterdam
• Longing for, in the mud: Looking for liminality in abjection – an exploration of female desire and repulsion through poetry, essay, performance and film on Friday, 5 April, 20:00 at Perdu, Amsterdam
• Beyond the Sentence – Stein as Open Text – a daylong symposium on  Gertrude Stein, keynote by American poet Lyn Hejinian, on Saturday, 6 April, 11:00 at Perdu, Amsterdam
• Rough Night Press x Volta: Poetry Punks – a night of poetry, spoken word and music on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 20:30 at Volta, Amsterdam
• Reading for an Audience Workshop  – learn how to read your writing with confidence and verve (also great for anyone who has to speak or present before a group) on Sunday, 7 April at 14:30 at Boekhandel van Rossum, Amsterdam
• We The People… Presents: Vernacular, A Book Launch – celebrating the launch of the Dutch translation of UK poet Boston ‘The Orator’ Williams’ book followed by an open mic on Sunday, 7 April, 16:00 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Open Mic Monday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English, and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 8 April, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Int’l Open Stage – an open mic night with poetry, stories, songs and more in whatever language you want on the theme of “Cruelty” on Tuesday, 9 April, 20:00 at ACU, Utrecht
• Patrick White and Australian Literature – an hour-long lecture on the influential novelist Patrick White with drinks afterwards on Wednesday, 10 April, 17:00 at the University of Amsterdam Library
• Word Up. Edition Dream – an event promoting self expression, social inclusion and diversity on Thursday, 11 April, 19:00 at Checkpoint Charlie, Amsterdam
• Unplugged Last Episode of Season 1 – spoken word, art, poetry, dinner and drinks (includes an open mic segment) on Thursday, 11 April, 19:30 at Unplugged, Rotterdam
• ABC Open Mic –  your chance to go public with your book, song or poem on Friday, 12 April, 18:00 at the American Book Center, Amsterdam
• Open microfroon – for Perdu’s first open mic night they’re looking for performances of 5 minutes or less in English and Dutch or any other language if you can provide a translation, Friday, 12 April, 20:00 at Perdu, Amsterdam
• Sunday read-in – bring your book (or get one there) and make yourself comfortable with the soothing, live acoustic guitar by Julian Deleij on Sunday, 14 April, 13:00 at Paper Fetish, Amsterdam
• Rituals of the Mating Season – poetry, music, art & an open mic on Sunday, 14 April, 15:00 at Zamen, Amsterdam
• Lola Shoneyin – a lecture and conversation with the Nigerian novelist and poet on Sunday, 14 April, 18:00 at the Bijlmer Parktheater, Amsterdam
• VERSO live journal – guest edited by our Tuesday workshop teacher Karen Kao and featuring poetry by our new teacher in The Hague Megin Jimenez on Sunday, 14 April, 19:00 at Mezrab, Amsterdam
• Open Mic Monday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 15 April, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Kate Mosse – the British author of six novels and short story collections, will be speaking about her latest best-seller The Burning Chambers on Tuesday, 16 April, 19:00 at Waterstones, Amsterdam
• Michelle Obama will be discussing her memoir Becoming on Wednesday, 17 April, 20:00 at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
• Michael Ondaatje: Making Sense of Our Past – the award-winning Canadian-Sri Lankan author will be speaking with philosopher Stine Jensen about how we understand—and don’t understand—our own stories and what this means for our lives on 19 April, 19:30 at Novamedia, Amsterdam
• Kate Mosse & the Women’s Prize for Fiction – the British author will be discussing the Women’s Prize for Fiction (she’s one of the founders) and women and fiction generally on Friday, 19 April, 19:30 at the Athenaeum Bookstore & News Center, Amsterdam
• Michael Ondaatje – the award-winning Canadian-Sri Lankan author will be speaking about his latest novel Warlight on Saturday, 20 April, 15:00 at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
• Reading Evening at AstaroTheatro: Work/Consume – an opportunity to ready your story, poetry, essay in whatever language you prefer (advanced sign-up required) on the theme of work/consume or just listen, Saturday, 20 April, 20:30 at AstaroTheatro, Amsterdam
• Open Mic Monday – poetry, music and stories on the theme of nature and sustainability to celebrate Earth Day—in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 22 April, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• The Art of E.E. Cummings – a special evening of readings and commentary on Tuesday, 23 April, 19:00 at Waterstones, Amsterdam
• International Prize for Arabic Fiction debate – a panel of Arabists will discuss the six shortlisted novels followed by a Skype session with the judges in Abu Dhabi to discover the winner on Tuesday, 23 April, 17:00 at the Goethe Institute, Amsterdam
• Robot Poetry & Neural Narratives – explore the phenomena that blossom when language and computers meet with American poet and programmer Allison Parrish and artist and educator Tivon Rice on Tuesday, 23 April, 19:30 at the Sensor Lab, Utrecht
• Int’l Open Stage – an open mic night with poetry, stories, songs and more in whatever language you want on the theme of “Our Nature” on Tuesday, 23 April, 20:00 at ACU, Utrecht
• Level I Creative Writing Workshop, Thursday evenings – 8 weeks of inspiration and learning 25 April – 20 June, with a hiatus 30 May, taught by Inge Lamboo 18:30 – 20:30 at Boekhandel van Rossum, Amsterdam, taught by Inge Lamboo 18:30 – 20:30 at Boekhandel van Rossum, Amsterdam
• Willy Vlautin – the American singer-song writer and award-winning novelist will be speaking about his latest novel Don’t Skip Out On Me on Tuesday, 29 April, 20:00 at WORM, Utrecht
• Open Mic Monday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 29 April, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Literature Night with Murathan Mungan – the Turkish poet, novelist, essayist and playwright will be reading some of his work in Turkish (translation provided) followed by discussion and drinks as a part of the LUCIS Literature Series, on Tuesday, 30 April, 17:00 at INDEX Poetry Books, Leiden
• Special Open Stage: Duo’s – an open mic night with poetry, stories, songs and more in whatever language you want on the theme of “Duo’s” So come as a pair! On Tuesday, 30 April, 20:30 at ACU, Utrecht

May

• Bret Easton Ellis will be speaking about his first nonfiction book White on Monday, 6 May, 20:00 at the Delamar Theater, Amsterdam
• Level I Creative Writing Course, Tuesday mornings – 8 weeks of inspiration and learning from 7 May – 25 June, taught by Karen Kao, 10:00 – 12:00 at Boekhandel van Rossum, Amsterdam
• Willy Vlautin – the American singer-songwriter and award-winning novelist will be speaking about his latest novel Don’t Skip Out On Me on Tuesday, 7 May, 15:00 at Het Literatuurhuis, Utrecht. Note: the first hour will be in Dutch and the ticket price includes the Dutch translation of Vlautin’s novel.
• Level I Creative Writing Course, Wednesdays – 8 weeks of inspiration and learning from 8 May – 3 July with a hiatus 29 May, taught by Megin Jimenez, 18:30 – 20:30 at the American Book Center Treehut, The Hague
• Level I Creative Writing Course, Tuesday evenings – 8 weeks of inspiration and learning from 14 May – 2 July, taught by Rebecca Clyburn, 18:30-20:30 at Boekhandel van Rossum, Amsterdam

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