Program

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

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The State of Poetry

Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad on poetry (and its future)
Poets:
Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Friday Type: Reading
Meet the Foyer

Discover the vibrant heart of the festival
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Friday Type: Collaboration
When the City Whispers

Poetic dialogues between Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Kortrijk
Poets:
Benzokarim (NLD)
Myriem El-Kaddouri (BEL)
Esohe Weyden (BEL)
Dutch

Dag: Friday Type: Collaboration
What a Thrill. The Writer’s Guide <3 Poetry International

Six emerging poets share their most intimate work
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Friday Type: Collaboration
Zomaargasten

Live festival talk show – with stories of visitors (you!)
Poets:
Zomaargasten (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Friday Type: Program
Hardop!

Readers bring their favourite poems to life
Poets:
Iya Kiva (UKR)
Dutch

Dag: Friday Type: Program
Workshop: Poëzieredactie

Learn to look at your own work and that of others through an editor’s eye (Separate ticket required)
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Workshop
VPRO Club Lees Hip-hop lecture: the sirens of rapper Ka

Mahat Arab on his favourite American rapper
Poets:
Mahat Arab (NLD+SOM)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
A conversation with Spinvis

What does poetry mean to one of the most poetic Dutch songwriters?
Poets:
Spinvis (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Meet the Foyer

Discover the vibrant heart of the festival
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Words on the Street Art Tour ‘The Beautiful South’

Join poet Wessel Klootwijk on a poetry discovery bike ride
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Tour
The Word Club Open Mic: Streetlife

Come listen to new voices (and share your own story!)
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Collaboration
Workshop: Poëzie schrijven

Turn everyday moments into poetry (Separate ticket required)
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Workshop
Local Voices

Rotterdam’s got (poetic) talent
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Buddingh’ Talent

Discover the four nominees for the 2026 C. Buddingh’ Prize
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
The Poetry Nail Salon

If poetry is everywhere, why not wear it on your nails?
Poets:
Dominique De Groen (BEL)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Rozen verwelken, schepen vergaan: over poesiealbums

A trip down poetic memory lane with Sophie Reinders and Iduna Paalman
Poets:
Iduna Paalman (NLD)
Sophie Reinders (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Switch Lit x Poetry International: Mystery Poet Collab

Two well-known poets, one collaborative poem
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Band: RABASA

Come dance to the Cape Verdean beats!
Poets:
Rabasa (NLD+CPV)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Music
The Poetry Barber

Come listen in while spoken word artist Benzokarim gets a fresh look from a Rotterdam barber
Poets:
Benzokarim (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Sunday Type: Program
in m’n buurt

Performance packed with young talent, curated by youth Poet Laureate Oumaima Yahiaoui
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Sunday Type: Collaboration
Main Reading: Kreek Daey Ouwens & Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad

Two distinctive poets share their best work (host: Jelle van Riet)
Poets:
Kreek Daey Ouwens (NLD)
Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Sunday Type: Reading
Words on the Street Art Tour ‘The Beautiful South’

Join poet Wessel Klootwijk on a poetry discovery bike ride
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Sunday Type: Tour
Uitreiking Johan Polak Poëzieprijs

Which poetry collection of the past three years will win the most prestigious poetry prize in the Netherlands?
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Sunday Type: Collaboration