{{short description|Dutch event dedicated to Dutch literature}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} In the Netherlands, the '''Boekenweek''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈbukə(ɱ)ˌʋeːk|-|Nl-Boekenweek.ogg}}; English: Book Week) is an annual "week" of ten days dedicated to Dutch literature.<ref name="Minnaard2009">{{cite book|last=Minnaard|first=Liesbeth|title=New Germans, New Dutch: Literary Interventions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=raQRx0LonncC&pg=PA253|accessdate=12 May 2012|year=2009|publisher=Amsterdam UP|isbn=9789089640284|page=253}}</ref> It has been held in March annually since 1932.<ref name="isgeschiedenis_geschiedenis">{{cite web|url=https://isgeschiedenis.nl/nieuws/geschiedenis-van-de-boekenweek|title=Geschiedenis van de Boekenweek|publisher=IsGeschiedenis|accessdate=26 January 2019|archive-date=26 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126170056/https://isgeschiedenis.nl/nieuws/geschiedenis-van-de-boekenweek|language=Dutch}}</ref> Each Boekenweek has a theme. The beginning of the Boekenweek is marked by the ''Boekenbal'' (''book ball''), a gathering that is attended by writers and publishers. Events are held across the country during the Boekenweek, such as book signing sessions, literary festivals and debates.
== Publications == [[File:Hella Haasse.jpg|thumb|upright|Hella Haasse, the only author who has written the ''Boekenweekgeschenk'' thrice, in 1948, 1959 and 1994.]] {{main|List of publications during the Boekenweek}} Each year a well-known writer, usually Dutch or Flemish, is asked to write a book, usually a novella, called the ''Boekenweekgeschenk'' (''book week gift''), which is to be given away during the festival. Book shops give a copy of the Boekenweekgeschenk when a customer buys a book in the Dutch language; libraries also give copies of these books when a new person becomes a member. The Boekenweekgeschenk is published by the Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (''CPNB'', ''Collective Promotion for the Dutch Book''). Some authors invited to write for this event have included Maarten 't Hart (1984), Hugo Claus (1989), Cees Nooteboom, and Harry Mulisch (2000).<ref name="books">{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.cpnb.nl/bw/bw_uitgaven.html Boekenweekuitgaven en thema's vanaf 1930] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327200523/http://www.cpnb.nl/bw/bw_uitgaven.html |date=27 March 2010 }}, Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek</ref> In 2001, the Boekenweekgeschenk was originally written in English by Salman Rushdie and later translated into Dutch.
In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the Boekenweekgeschenk was sometimes published anonymously, with a list of possible authors inside the book.<ref name="history">{{in lang|nl}} [http://historiek.net/Overig/Geschiedenis-van-de-Boekenweek.html Geschiedenis van de Boekenweek], Historiek, 10 March 2010</ref> As a competition, readers could submit their guess by postcard as to who the author was.<ref name="history" /> Since 2002, the Boekenweekgeschenk can be used as a ticket to travel for free by train with the Nederlandse Spoorwegen on the final Sunday of the Boekenweek.
Since 1987, an essay, the ''Boekenweekessay,'' has been written in addition to the Boekenweekgeschenk.<ref name="isgeschiedenis_geschiedenis"/> The Boekenweekessay can be purchased in book shops. Some authors include Jan Wolkers (1995), Gerrit Komrij (1997) and Adriaan van Dis (2004).<ref name="books" />
The curriculum vitae of the author of the Boekenweekgeschenk – called the ''Boekenweek-cv'' – is distributed by public libraries among their members.
== History == On 15 November 1930, the ''Dag van het Boek'' (''Day of the Book'') was held to protect books from new media, such as radio and cinema.<ref name="press2005">{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.cpnb.nl/persberichten/2005/cpnb_14-11.html Onderzoek Het boek in Nederland 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615031649/http://www.cpnb.nl/persberichten/2005/cpnb_14-11.html |date=15 June 2011 }}, Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek, 14 November 2005, press release</ref> The book ''De uitgever en zijn bedrijf'' by Johan Tersteeg was published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ''Nederlandsche Uitgeversbond''.<ref name="books" /><ref name="history" /> Publishers, booksellers and others interested in supporting books organized a longer event to promote Dutch literature.
In 1932, the first Boekenweek was held and the first Boekenweekgeschenk was published.<ref name="books" /><ref name="history" /> During World War II, the Boekenweek was not held in the years 1942 till 1945.<ref name="isgeschiedenis_geschiedenis"/><ref name="books" /><ref name="history" /> In 1941, a Boekenweekgeschenk was published but it was withdrawn from the stores due to German occupation of the country.<ref name="isgeschiedenis_geschiedenis"/><ref name="history" />
Despite competition from other media, including new technology since 1932, the Boekenweekgeschenk has grown in popularity over the years.<ref name="books" /> In 2010, during the 75th Boekenweek, 958,000 copies of the Boekenweekgeschenk were produced.<ref name="books" />
== Boekenbal == [[File:Boekenbal1985.jpg|thumb|Boekenbal in Carré in 1985]]
First held in 1947,<ref name="isgeschiedenis_geschiedenis"/> the Boekenbal (''book ball'') is an invitation-only event, with the Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek (CPNB) deciding the guest list. It is traditionally held in the Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam. The invitation policy of CPNB has sparked some controversy, and another group has organized the independent event called the ''Bal der Geweigerden'' (''Ball of the Refused'').<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/bal-der-geweigerden-voor-alle-schrijvers~bb3a9bb3/ Bal der geweigerden voor álle schrijvers], de Volkskrant</ref> It was first held in 2002<ref name="isgeschiedenis_geschiedenis"/> in Paradiso, which is nearby the location of the official Boekenbal, and it can be attended by anyone.
== Kinderboekenweek == Since 1955, a book week for children has been held, called the ''Kinderboekenweek''. It is held in October and it also lasts ten days. It opens with a social gathering, called the ''Kinderboekenbal''. Similar to the Boekenweek, a ''Kinderboekenweekgeschenk'' is written and published to be given away by book shops to clients purchasing literature for children. Some of the authors include Paul Biegel (1977), Annie M.G. Schmidt (1990) and Thea Beckman (1991).<ref name="books" /> Since 1986, a picture book is published for toddlers.
== List of publications == {{main|List of publications during the Boekenweek}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Boekenweek}} * [http://www.boekenweek.nl/ Boekenweek website] {{in lang|nl}} * [http://www.cpnb.nl Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek] {{in lang|nl}}
Category:Dutch literature Category:Dutch words and phrases Category:Festivals in the Netherlands Category:Literary festivals in the Netherlands Category:March Category:Recurring events established in 1932 Category:Festivals established in 1932 Category:Annual events in the Netherlands Category:1932 establishments in the Netherlands Category:Spring (season) in the Netherlands