A black-and-white portrait of Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad smiling at the camera. Een zwart-witportret van Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad die naar een camera glimlacht.

Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (NLD)

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Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (NLD)

Since 1 February, Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (1977, NLD) has been the new Poet Laureate of the Netherlands. Anyone who hears her perform will immediately understand why. Mbarki Ben Ayad works with a rich palette of languages (Dutch, English, French, Arabic, Darija, Tashelhit) that coexist in her work as different ways of understanding the world. She looks at others with an empathetic, inquisitive gaze and dissects power structures and dominant narratives. During this edition of Poetry International we will revel in her performances and talk with her about the state of Dutch poetry.​

How you might know this poet

  • Poet Laureate of the Netherlands (2026–2027), the official national poet post of the Netherlands.​
  • Nominated for the C. Buddingh’ Prize (2022) for Oeverloos, the most important Dutch-language debut poetry award.​
  • Moves effortlessly between Dutch, English, French, Arabic, Darija and Tashelhit, connecting multiple literary worlds.​
A black-and-white portrait of Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad smiling at the camera. Een zwart-witportret van Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad die naar een camera glimlacht.
© Bart Grietens

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