Take a seat at the main reading of poets Kreek Daey Ouwens and Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad. This is the moment to get to know both the poetry and the person behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kreek Daey Ouwens (1942, NLD) made her debut in 1991 and has recently reached a wider audience, receiving multiple awards. In her disarmingly personal poetry, short sentences lay down memories piece by piece, like a colourful mosaic. Her minimalism leaves room for association, while rhythmic repetitions offer a sense of grounding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2026, Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (1977, NLD) has been the Poet Laureate of the Netherlands. In her work, different languages (Dutch, English, French, Arabic, Darija and Tashelhit) exist side by side and in relation to one another as ways of understanding the world. With an empathetic, investigative gaze, she looks at others and dissects power structures and dominant narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Host Jelle van Riet opens the main reading with a short introductory conversation. After that, both poets will read from their own work, sharing a personal selection of brand-new poems, their response to the festival theme, or a surprising gem from their oeuvre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"event_date":"2026-06-07","footnotes":""},"venue":[265],"event_type":[97],"route":[],"class_list":["post-1133","event","type-event","status-publish","hentry","venue-lantarenvenster-1","event_type-reading"],"acf":{"event_location":265,"event_location_source":{"label":"Locatie","type":"taxonomy","formatted_value":265},"event_category":[97],"event_category_source":{"label":"Categorie","type":"taxonomy","formatted_value":[97]},"language":["dutch"],"language_source":{"label":"Voertaal","type":"select","formatted_value":[{"value":"dutch","label":"Nederlands"}]},"spoken_languages":"Dutch, Arabic","spoken_languages_source":{"label":"Gesproken talen","type":"text","formatted_value":"Dutch, Arabic"},"language_label":"spoken","language_label_source":{"label":"Label","type":"select","formatted_value":"Gesproken talen"},"subtitles":["english","dutch"],"subtitles_source":{"label":"Boventiteling","type":"select","formatted_value":["Engels","Nederlands"]},"has_interpreter":false,"has_interpreter_source":{"label":"Tolk NGT\/Schrijftolk","type":"true_false","formatted_value":false},"poets":[289,259],"poets_source":{"label":"Dichters","type":"relationship","formatted_value":[{"ID":289,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2026-02-19 16:20:54","post_date_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:20:54","post_content":"\n
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.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How you might know this poet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n How you might know this poet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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