A black-and-white portret of Kreek Daey Ouwens holding her own hands. Een zwart-witportret van Kreek Daey Ouwens die haar eigen handen vasthoudt.

Kreek Daey Ouwens (NLD)

Back to poets
Back to poets

Kreek Daey Ouwens (NLD)

Kreek Daey Ouwens (1942, NLD) has had a quiet yet persistent presence for some time. She debuted in 1991 and has more recently gained wider recognition, receiving multiple awards. Disarmingly personal, she works with short lines that are laid like colourful mosaic stones, one by one, sharing childhood memories that feel both archaic and startlingly alive. Her minimalism gives listeners space to associate freely, while rhythmic repetitions offer a sense of footing.​

How you might know this poet

  • Winner of the KANTL Prize (2023), a quadrennial award presented by the Royal Academy for Dutch Language and Literature in Flanders to an outstanding Dutch-language poetry collection.
  • Achieved her major breakthrough at the age of 82, which is exceptional in the literary field.​
A black-and-white portret of Kreek Daey Ouwens holding her own hands. Een zwart-witportret van Kreek Daey Ouwens die haar eigen handen vasthoudt.
© Bianca Sistermans

Programs