90th Book Week 2025: Your Mother Tongue

The traditional reading celebration in bookstores and libraries is celebrating a special anniversary this year. The 90th Book Week takes place from Wednesday, March 12 to Sunday, March 23, 2025. Readers will receive the Book Week gift during Book Week. The crater gift, written by the winner of the writing competition: Gerwin van der Werf. In a book, you can go on a journey, discover other worlds. But in language, you can also come home. When words feel familiar and real, when characters talk just like you: then language is your mother tongueThat is, therefore, the theme of the 90th Book Week. We know the concept of 'mother tongue' from a previous stamp and Book Week theme.

90th Book Week 2025

The traditional reading celebration in bookstores and libraries is celebrating a special anniversary this year. The 90th Book Week takes place from Wednesday, March 12 to Sunday, March 23, 2025. During Book Week, readers will receive the Book Week gift 'The cratergift, written by the winner of the writing competition: Gerwin van der WerfThe Book Week Gift is a gift from the bookstore with a purchase of €15 or more in books and, starting this year, will serve as the admission ticket to the museum on the last Sunday of Book Week. The themed edition 'Hehe – About what we say without realizing it' from Paulien Cornelisse It is available in stores for €5,25. This year's Book Week poem is by Sholeh Rezazadeh and will be announced on the weekend before Book Week. No stamp was issued for this 90th edition, but for the 75th edition in 2010, TNT Post went all out with a very special issue.

The Book Week essay *Hèhè – Over wat we zeggen zonder dat we het doorhebben* by Paulien Cornelisse is being reprinted due to high demand. This was reported by the Dutch book umbrella organization CPNB. Never before has a Book Week essay been reprinted during Book Week itself. Due to the rapid reprint, the new edition differs slightly from the original version. pink rim part of the book, called “color on snow” by Cornelisse, could not be produced on short notice. Instead, the reprint has a pink spine. “Unfortunately, printing with pink on snow takes too much time. Fortunately, there is always pink on the spine! I am honored that there will now be two versions of my essay in circulation,” says Cornelisse.   CPNB Director Eveline Aendekerk speaks of an exceptional situation. “We have never before experienced bookstores running out of stock after just two days. But it is entirely understandable, because *Hèhè – Over wat we zeggen zonder dat we het hebben* is brilliant. Everyone wants this book!” In the Book Week essay, Cornelisse explores the essence of the Dutch language. She studies words we use constantly, such as 'even' and 'gewoon', without being aware of it. With the reprint, the total print run reaches 61.000 copies. According to the CPNB, the essay will be available everywhere again early next week. Previously, the Book Week essays *Het warmtefort* by Lucas Rijneveld (2022) and *Arctisch dagboek* by Jelle Brandt Corstius (2014) were also reprinted due to great interest.  

75 years of Book Week (2010)

Renowned designer Richard Hutten has designed a unique stamp for TNT Post; or rather: a stamp booklet. The stamps are being released in the context of the 75th Book Week; Joost Zwagerman wrote the story on the stamps. It is the first time a postal company has issued a stamp in the form of a booklet. The Book Week stamp is a 3 by 4 centimeter booklet with 8 pages that can be detached and read. Richard Hutten was responsible for the design and photography, and Joost Zwagerman, the author of the Book Week gift 'Duel', wrote the 'bonus track'. A 500-word story that connects to 'Duel', but can also be read independently. Designer Richard Hutten formed the design team together with Damian Tatangelo, David Schäublin, Michaela Tomiskova, and Joep Huisinga. Hutten is known for his vital individuality and unstoppable drive for innovation. TNT Post, on the other hand, is a contemporary company that regularly releases very special stamps. Hutten therefore considered it an honor to be asked by TNT. 'The stamp suggests a sense of spatiality,' explains Richard Hutten. 'It features a photograph of a three-dimensional setup that we built in the studio using books. To represent the anniversary of the Book Week, we used Book Week gifts. We stacked them together to form bold letters that, when viewed from above, spell out the word Boekenweek. We painted the text 'Nederland' on the floor.'

The stamp has a print run of approximately 250.000 copies and is available for purchase starting today. And what can we do with it? The face value of the Book Week stamp is €2,20, intended for mail items up to 500 grams. Or a book, of course. Most books published in the Netherlands fall into this weight class. At most post offices, the Book Week stamp sold out in a short time. In Groningen, too, the stamp sold out quickly. The stamp was issued in a relatively small print run of 250.000 copies.

In addition, a special bookmark sheet was released featuring the 2010 Book Week gift, *Duel* by Joost Zwagerman, on the personalized stamp. I wonder how many collectors bought this issue in 2010.  

Jury verdict on winning story 'The Crater'

The nine-member jury consisted of former Book Week gift authors Hanna Bervoets and Tom Lanoye, literary experts Lidewijde Paris and Tiziano Perez, book buyer Jan Peter Prenger, and avid readers Noah de Campos Neto, Ernestine Comvalius, Liesbeth Rasker, and Rik van de Westelaken (jury chairman). From the 149 anonymized manuscripts, they jointly selected the story by Gerwin van der Werf. The jury's verdict is glowing: The winning manuscript of the writing competition for the 90th Book Week tells a layered story about a tragicomic road trip of three young people. The characters are completely authentic, believable, and moving. Almost effortlessly, the reader is drawn into their world. Their thoughts and remarks seem to reflect the spirit of the times, yet are universal in time and place. Although the setting is recognizable, the story could have unfolded in many places around the world. Yet here, it fits the characters, their experiences, and their thoughts perfectly. The writing style is sparkling and light; but behind the humor, nonchalance, and corny jokes of the young people lurks a great sorrow that—just like an overgrown crater millions of years after a meteorite impact—is barely perceptible to the naked eye. When the story ends, as a reader, you would have quite liked to travel with them a little longer… We wish all readers in the Netherlands just as much reading pleasure as we had with De krater by Gerwin van der Werf. The one-off writing competition to select a Book Week gift has been organized in honor of the anniversary edition and is inspired by similar high-profile competitions from Book Week's past. One of the most famous authors of a Book Week gift chosen through a writing competition is Hella Haasse. She achieved her breakthrough as an author in 1948 with *Oeroeg*. The National Book Week gift is once again being published in Frisian this year. The Frisian translation of 'De krater' was made by Jetske Bilker. Available in bookstores in Friesland and at bookstore Broese in Utrecht.  

Gerwin van der Werf

Gerwin van der Werf (1969) won the Turing National Poetry Competition in 2010. His debut novel, *Gewapende man*, was published in 2010. His second novel, *Wild* (2011), was on the longlist for the Libris Literature Prize. *Luchtvissers* was published in 2013, and *Een onbarmhartig pad* from 2018 was also on the longlist for the Libris Literature Prize and has been translated into German, English, and Arabic. *Strovuur* (2020) and *De droomfabriek* (2022) were shortlisted for the Best Book for Young People. *Wilgeneiland* was published in October 2024. In addition, he published two collections of columns and stories about education: *Schooldagen* (2014) and *Stampen en zingen* (2018). Gerwin van der Werf is the author of De krater, the 2025 Book Week gift. He submitted his manuscript to the competition organized by the CPNB on the occasion of the 90th Book Week. The novella was selected as the winner by the jury from the 149 submitted manuscripts. Gerwin van der Werf works as a music teacher at the Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest (RLO). His students have also read his previous books and are enthusiastic and delighted about his selection as the 2025 Book Week gift. Het Rijnlands has three primary schools and five secondary schools. Het Rijnlands provides education to more than 7500 students, from VMBO to Gymnasium. Characteristic of Het Rijnlands is its international educational offering, including bilingual education. The Rijnlandse Lycea in Oegstgeest and Wassenaar offer international secondary education. The International School of The Hague and the European School The Hague Rijnlands Lyceum also offer international primary education. The RLO, as the school is called, is a school for HAVO, Atheneum, and Gymnasium. In addition, Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest offers bilingual education (TTO) in Dutch and English, as well as an entirely English-language program. Famous alumni: Jet Bussemaker, Stine Jensen, Liesbeth Koenen, Kajsa Ollongren, Thomas Rueb, Gerard Spong, Diederik Stapel, Taekema.  

Sing your mother tongue (1976)

Zing je moerstaal is a Dutch album released by the CPNB on the occasion of the 1976 Book Week, as a special edition for young people. Various Dutch artists and bands perform Dutch-language poems by Dutch authors set to music. The concept was devised by Ad Visser, who also served as producer. The classic 'Terug naar de kust' by Maggie MacNeal is taken from this album.

Kant 1:

1. “Bosom” by Harry Mulisch by Kayak
2. “Fred” by Jan Kal by Lucifer
3. “Round” by Bert Schierbeek performed by Bots
4. “But One Month” by Kees Buddingh' by Alexander Curly
5. “Time Says Nothing” by Judith Herzberg performed by Earth & Fire
6. “Back to the Coast” by Theun de Winter by Maggie MacNeal

  Kant 2:

1. “The Children's Ballad” by Gerrit Komrij performed by Boudewijn de Groot
2. “The Village” by Wim de Vries performed by Fungus
3. “Perpetuum mobile” by Hans Dorrestijn by Peter Koelewijn
4. “Avondrood” by Jules Deelder by Focus
5. “Sober Leven” by Nico Scheepmaker, adapted by Drs. P
6. “Miss Nifterink” by Simon Carmiggelt, adapted by Robert Long

  The front of the fold-out cover features a drawing of a woman's head holding a frog in clogs in her mouth, holding a holder with a dip pen. The back shows men and women dressed in blue wearing clogs. The illustration is by Johan Ekkel, who also illustrated the accompanying booklet with lyrics.  

Book Week gift (1976)

Hermine Heijermans was the daughter of playwright Herman Heijermans and performed under the name Minny Heijermans with her father's company, the Tooneelvereeniging, from 1921 to 1938. After the Second World War, she remained active as a cabaret performer. Heijermans became best known as a writer, and she wrote, among other works, a biography of her father. In 1976, she compiled the Book Week gift 'Snikken en smartlapjes' (an anthology of Dutch sentimental songs). The theme for 1976 was 'Book and Music'. In the 60s and 70s, she was also a columnist for Sekstant, the magazine of the NVSH. On behalf of the CPN, Heijermans also served as a municipal councilor in Amsterdam. At a young age, she was briefly married to stage actor Henri Eerens. From December 17, 1941, to October 26, 1946, she was married to Wouter van Kouwen.  

Speak Your Mother Tongue (2006)

Do you recognize this stamp from 2006? It is an embroidered stamp. For the regional languages, embroidery is visible, featuring the text 'Spreek je… moerstaal' in classic cross-stitch. The last word is written one below the other in Twents, Limburgs, and Frisian. It is a design by Anthon Beeke. Beeke: “'Do you speak… your mother tongue?' is an obvious expression that emphasizes the importance and distinctiveness of regional languages. The choice fell on embroidery because it is pre-eminently something of home, of close to home, just like regional languages. After all, many people speak standard Dutch at work and the regional language at home.”  

Free entry to 200+ museums with the Book Week gift

If you are in possession of the Book Week gift 'The crater', then the next step follows. Choose from one of the 200+ participating museums. On Sunday, March 23, take your gift to the museum and show it at the entrance. You can now enter for free! 1 gift = free admission for 1 person. Some museums operate with time slots. You must also reserve a time slot at these museums for Sunday, March 23 to gain entry. Do you already have a Museum Card? Then bring a friend, family member, or other enthusiast to the museum for free with your gift! Which museums are participating in this promotion on March 23, 2025: https://www.hebban.nl/boekenweek/museum And if you are interested in art in various museums, read this book 'De lotgevallen' by Sacha Bronwasser: https://www.amboanthos.nl/boek/de-lotgevallen/ Hebban Review: In *De lotgevallen* (The Destinies), we see how the fate of the various main characters takes an unexpected turn. Each time, a work of art serves as the catalyst for a new story. A man holds an enigmatic object in his hand, which finally gives him the courage to declare his love. A woman is convinced that a six-hundred-year-old portrait reciprocates her feelings. After a visit to the geriatrician, a patient has new thoughts about his favorite sculpture. There is only one commonality between the stories: they take place in different locations, under very diverse circumstances, and extend from the present into the distant future. But one thing is certain: a work of art always plays a role. In vivid and crystal-clear language, Sacha Bronwasser brings people, events, and works of art to life. Thanks to Peter Janssen for the franking machine stamps. See www.frankeerstempel.nl for info. Sources used: Boekenweek.nl, CPNB, Berthi's weblog  

<strong> More info: </strong>

90th Book Week, March 12 to 23, 2025: https://www.hebban.nl/boekenweek https://cpnb.nl/nieuws/het-grote-geheim-onthuld-gerwin-van-der-werf-schrijver-boekenweekgeschenk-2025/ Gerwin van der Werf: http://www.gerwinvanderwerf.nl/ Publisher Atlas Contact: https://www.atlascontact.nl/2025/02/12/gerwin-van-der-werf-schrijft-het-boekenweekgeschenk-voor-de-90e-boekenweek/ https://www.atlascontact.nl/auteur/gerwin-van-der-werf/ Rijnlands Lyceum: https://www.rijnlandslyceum.nl/ Rijnlands Lyceum Oegstgeest: https://www.rlo.nl/ Paulien Cornelisse: https://www.pauliencornelisse.nl/ Expo 90x Book Week Gifts, through March 1, 2026: https://literatuurmuseum.nl/nl/kom-op-bezoek/tentoonstellingen-en-evenementen/tentoonstellingen/90x-boekenweek-literatuur-op-de-rode-loper Bate's blog about Hindeloopen: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/2020/05/10/hindeloopen-bekend-om-taal-kleding-en-schilderkunst/ Previous Book Week blogs: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/boekenweek/