Maarten van der Graaff Awarded Frans Kellendonk Prize for 'Radically Hospitable' Oeuvre

Maarten van der Graaff, a 38-year-old Dutch poet and writer, will receive the prestigious Frans Kellendonk Prize for his literary oeuvre. The Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde announced the award on Monday, recognizing Van der Graaff for his "independent and original view on societal or existential problems," in the spirit of the prize's namesake, Frans Kellendonk. This literary honor is bestowed every three years upon a Dutch-language author. Previous recipients include notable writers like Joost de Vries, Hanna Bervoets, Maxim Februari, and Dirk van Weelden. Van der Graaff, born in Dirksland in 1987, has been lauded as "one of the most influential young poets" since the publication of his 2020 collection, "Nederland in stukken" (The Netherlands in Pieces). He previously won the C. Buddingh' Prize in 2014 for his debut collection, "Vluchtautogedichten" (Getaway Car Poems), and the J.C. Bloem Poetry Prize for his second collection, "Dood werk" (Dead Work) in 2015. His prose work includes the novels "Wormen en engelen" (Worms and Angels) in 2017 and "Onder asfalt" (Under Asphalt) in 2023. His most recent work, "Huishoudboekje van de verborgen dingen" (Household Book of Hidden Things) from 2025, was noted for its exploration of themes including Tata Steel and even former Prime Minister Dick Schoof as subjects for poetry. The collection reportedly conveys a sense of threat, with the Netherlands symbolizing "the skewed growth of power relations at a global level." The jury highlighted Van der Graaff's literary experimentation in exploring societal themes as a reflection of Kellendonk's legacy. They specifically pointed to his engagement with the political question of "how community is possible under contemporary neoliberal conditions of existence." The jury praised his prose for its "pointed sentences that bring entire worlds to life like impressionistic brushstrokes," describing his oeuvre as "welcoming, inviting, perhaps even radically hospitable; a feast for readers to inhabit."