Jan 29, 2026 • 4 Minuten Lesezeit
Last updated: January 2026
Poëzieweek is the annual poetry celebration of the Netherlands and Flanders. The week traditionally starts on the last Thursday of January and lasts seven days, with poetry in all its forms taking centre stage.
Each year, Poëzieweek revolves around a central theme and features a special Poetry Gift, written by a leading poet.
Gedichtendag is the poetry celebration of the Netherlands and Flanders. Every year, on the last Thursday of January, poetry is put in the spotlight for an entire day.
Across the Netherlands and Flanders, poetry lovers, libraries, bookshops, schools and cultural institutions organise a wide variety of poetry-related activities. Gedichtendag traditionally marks the start of Poëzieweek.
The purpose of Poëzieweek is to promote poetry and bring people together around the genre in both the Netherlands and Flanders. Poetry is deliberately presented in an accessible and approachable way for a broad audience.
Opening of the Poëziepad Sellingerbos (Sellingen) and the opening of the exhibition ‘Metamorphosis’ (Warffum).
Dickens Lecture in Haren and a book presentation by Bill Mensema at Vera, Groningen.
Monday: Poetry workshop ‘Metamorphosis’ – Script & Co, Groningen
Tuesday: Dichters voor het leven (Forum Haren) and Let’s Get Lyrical (Grand Theatre).
Wednesday: Silent Book Club, Workshop Dean Bowen and presentation by De Dichtclub (Kroeg van Klaas).
Additional events in Leeuwarden, Assen, Smeerling and Groningen.
The national closing event takes place on Wednesday 4 February 2026 at the OBA in Amsterdam. During this evening, the Awater Poetry Prize 2025 will be awarded posthumously to the heirs of Esther Jansma for the poetry collection We moeten ‘misschien’ blijven denken.
Location: OBA Theatre, Amsterdam (7:15–8:45 pm). Free admission with registration.
Ellen Deckwitz is the author of the Poetry Gift 2026. The gift is available free of charge from 29 January with the purchase of at least €12.50 worth of poetry at participating bookshops.
View the full agenda and any updates via noordwoord.nl/agenda.
