Netherlands literary scene – November

Here’s our rundown of upcoming international literary events in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht for November 2019 and beyond. Events are in English unless otherwise noted. Most ask that you register; some require tickets. If you’d like to receive our listing of local literary events by email, sign up for our Monthly Update.

Note: The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is featuring biopics on Margaret Atwood and Toni Morrison this November. See the IDFA website for showtimes and locations (click on the links:).

• Crossing Border Festival – panels, talks and performances with writers and musicians from around the world featuring Howard Jacobson, Carmen Maria Machado, Rebecca Makkai, Kayo Chingonyi and many others 1-3 November at various locations in The Hague
• OpenMicMonday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 4 November, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Word Up – Edition Flow – spoken word poetry for social inclusion and diversity promotion on Thursday, 5 November at Checkpoint Charlie, Amsterdam
• ABC Open Mic – your chance to go public with your book, song or poem on Friday, 8 November, 18:00 at the American Book Center, Amsterdam
• The Green Hour – Oscar Wilde – an evening of all things Oscar including absinthe, prose, poetry, drama and song on Saturday, 9 November, 20:30 at the Pianola Museum, Amsterdam
• OpenMicMonday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 11 November, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Int’l Open Stage: The Autumn Stage – an open mic night with poetry, stories, songs and more in whatever language you want on Tuesday, 12 November, 20:30 at ACU, Utrecht
• Literary History of Amsterdam – an overview of literary landmarks, books set in Amsterdam and more from the 14th century to present day on Thursday, 14 November, 18:30 at the American Book Center, Amsterdam
• Louis Theroux – the British documentary-maker will be discussing his memoir Gotta Get Theroux This on Thursday, 14 November, 20:00 at Janskerk, Utrecht
• Julian Barnes – the British novelist will be discussing his process and his work including his latest book The Man in the Red Coat, on Sunday, 17 November, 20:00 at Aula – Old Lutheran Church, Amsterdam
• John Grisham – the best-selling American author will be speaking on Tuesday, 19 November, 20:00 at Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Amsterdam
• OpenMicMonday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 18 November, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• Dutch Masterpieces: on translating Multatuli and Slauerhoff – award-winning translators Ina Rilke and David McKay discuss Multatuli’s Max Havelaar and J.J. Slauerhoffs Adrift in the Middle Kingdom on Wednesday, 20 November 19:30 at Athenaeum Boekhandel, Amsterdam. Note: some of this programme may be in Dutch.
• Literary Salon – Tolstoy’s Kreutzer Sonata – Actors read from the English translation of Tolstoy’s Kreutzer Sonata with musical accompaniment by the New European Ensemble on Wednesday, 20 November, 20:30 at CC Amstel, Amsterdam
• Wines and Words – listen to four literary texts while tasting four different wines, carefully selected and paired with the texts on Thursday, 21 November, 20:00 at Cafe Blossom, The Hague
• We the People…Poetry Night – an evening of poetry, spoken word, music, visual art including an open mic portion on 22 November, 19:30 at Heesterveld Creative Community, Amsterdam
• OutSpoken – spoken word poetry on Friday, 22 November, 20:00 at Doka, Amsterdam
• Printing Plant Art Book Fair 2019 – an intimate three-day art book fair featuring 80 independent publishers plus lectures, panel discussions, book launches and more from 22 to 24 November at Looiersgracht 60, Amsterdam. Note: some of this programme may be in Dutch.
• Black Magic Woman event: Toni Morrison tribute – includes a documentary screen and discussion of Morrison’s life and works on Saturday, 23 November, 19:00 at the Bijlmer Parktheater, Amsterdam
• OpenMicMonday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 25 November, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• The Int’l Open Stage: The Trashy Open Stage – an open mic night with poetry, stories, songs and more in whatever language you want on Tuesday, 26 November, 20:30 at ACU, Utrecht
• Labyrinth Poetry Night – an evening of spoken word, storytelling & music on Saturday, 30 November, 20:30 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam

DECEMBER

• Mongrel Tongue reading and launch party – a reading by 12 poets from around the world including Megin Jiménez, our teacher in The Hague, followed by a launch party for Megin’s prose poetry collection on Sunday, 1 December at Sexyland, Amsterdam
• OpenMicMonday – poetry, music and stories in Dutch, English and French (new performers welcome) on Monday, 2 December, 20:45 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam
• KNOCK KNOCK – #40 – an evening of spoken word, poetry, music and soul food on Friday, 6 December, 19:15 at Volta, Amsterdam
• ABC Open Mic – your chance to go public with your book, song or poem on Friday, 13 December, 18:00 at the American Book Center, Amsterdam
• Word Up the Wall launch night – the winning poets of Word Up the Wall project will strut their stuff on Sunday, 15 December, 16:00 at Labyrinth, Amsterdam. Note: some of this programme may be in Dutch.
• VERSO live journal – edited by Versal’s Anna Arov and featuring works by activist and poet Etaïnn Zwer, poet Jasper Albinus, and artist Annika Kappner on Sunday, 15 December, 19:00 at Mezrab, Amsterdam