"The finest international literature festival of the Netherlands
celebrates its 20th anniversary"
by Ton van de Langkruis, director and founder of the festival
Writers Unlimited - international literature festival 15 - 18 January
Charles Atlas, né Angelo Siciliano, the self-made muscleman on the cover of the 20th edition of the literature festival in Den Haag: from a scrawny weakling to a popular idol - a metaphor?
The Writers Unlimited winternachten internationaal literatuurfestival: from an aside show of writers from Indonesia to the finest international literature festival in the Netherlands with an ample range of international writers? From the happenstance to a vibrant meeting of writers and audience?
Yes, that's it!
The original concept of 20 years ago still stands central at the festival: to bring writers from wide-ranging countries and backgrounds together to discuss and analyse (political) events. Selling books and titles is a welcoming side effect of the festival but the vital idea is to hear and listen to authors who dare to speak up and discuss with each other their point of view.
As usual the central idea is reflected at the opening night: it was more than ever important to start the festival with the award ceremony of the Oxfam Novib/PEN Awards for freedom of expression under the title: "Free the Word!". How significant to give writers the platform to speak up and be made known. Unfortunately, I couldn't be present the evening but you can find all information on the site of PEN international.
I had only two days this year to attend - still I enjoyed a wide variety of authors: Tao Yue from China, Witold Szabiowski from Poland, Muhammad Aladdin from Egypt, Dinar Rahayu form Indonesia, David Grossman from Israel, Karen Armstrong from the UK, and Leela Corman from the USA, to name just a few! And as many authors, as many approaches to the main theme of this year's festival: "At Home". For example a discussion between Israeli author David Grossman, Ethiopian author Maaza Mengiste and American/Mexican writer Jennifer Clement under the title "Home is Where the Hell is": a friend of mine was certain to not read the books by Maaza Mengiste or Jennifer Clement: the excerpts they've read where too much for her to bear. But then again, they only wrote about what people actually have to bear daily. How much can you endure - reading about it or living it?
And if you don't like the way things are - assimilate or walk off?
A lively discussion developed between two verbally well-versed Dutch authors: Nuweira Youskine and Adriaan van Dis. Muhammad Ali or Max Schmeling couldn't have been better with their fists compared to what the two authors did with words. Brilliant!
Actually, are these the only two options? Conform or leave? As David Grossman said in an interview with Lex Bohlmeijer: "I don't like how things are done in my home country and I am not particular happy but still I couldn't think of any other place to be".
But what to do if your 'home' blends various colours? Milena Michiko Flasar, born in Austria with a Japanese mother, Tao Yue, born in China, living now in Amsterdam, Karin Amatmoekrim, born in Suriname with a Javanese mother and a Chinese-Creole father living in NL. Adopt or leave? To where? What about the host country? I still remember grande dame Cynthia McLeod informing about holiday arrangements in Suriname the time a solemn Christian holiday coincided with a lively and joyous Hindu festival. How long will it take to have Bayram/the Sugar Feast acknowledged as an offical holiday in Europe? A daring, maybe outrageous, thought or a welcoming idea?
But still the literary aspect is as important to the festival as the discussions are. Most remarkable again (as last year) - the poetry events on Friday and Saturday night took place in the largest hall of the festival and were packed with attentive listeners. A wonderful opportunity to realise that poetry is vibrant and alive! Not to forget the various musicians who rounded up the festive programmes as Cristina Branko, Fado singer from Portugal interpreting Remco Campert, a Dutch poet, or Anna Montan with bassist Patrick Lauwerends and their mix of jazz and Indonesian kroncong. 
The festival has been again an impressive opportunity to have audacious remarks and ideas triggering your thinking. Even the most simple one as how to 'shorten' a name as Nii Ayikwei Parkes? Just call him 'Nii'? As happened with Belgian author David Van Reybrouck, making him a 'Mr. Van'?!
A wide range of alert authors shaping an awareness for each other's point of view, generating more questions than answers. This mix makes the festival definitely one of the finest literary meetings. One could actually rename it to a literary 'think tank' festival.
I am definitely looking forward to the 21st edition, 14 - 17 January 2016!
P.S.: For those who cannot wait that long: you actually have the option to join the 'Writers Series' at the public library in Den Haag or, newly established, the 'Science Series': a group of scientist in discussion at the library in DH. Find all information here on their website.
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