Hester Knibbe

(Harderwijk, NL, 1946) debuted in 1982 as a poet with Tussen gebaren en woorden (Between Gestures and Words). After that, she published another dozen volumes of poetry. Major themes in her work are transience and the loss of a child. Through the voices of mythical figures, or by allowing a garden, river, or dune to speak, she combines permanence and transience and gives meaning to the human struggle with fear and shame. Her latest volume Archaïsche dieren (Archaic Animals) wonderfully links reflection with everyday worries and needs; it is nominated for the 2015 VSB Poetry Prize. Her work has won awards including the Herman Gorter Prize, the Anna Blaman Prize, and the A. Roland Holst medal. From 2008 to 2010 she was president of the Dutch branch of PEN. Her poems have been translated into English, French, German, Spanish, Turkish, and Hebrew. Knibbe has been published in literary journals such as Raster, De Gids, and Maatstaf, and has participated in various poetry festivals at home and abroad.
(WU 15 GR)Archive available for: Hester Knibbe
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Ode to Remco's Coat
The spotlight shines on the poetry of Remco Campert in this festive programme. Portuguese fado singer Cristina Branco set Campert's Ode aan mijn jas (Ode to My Coat) to music especially for this event. She is accompanied by João Paulo. Mustafa Stitou, Hanneke van Eijken, and three poets nominated for the VSB Poetry PrizeHester Knibbe, Alfred Schaffer, and Peter Verhelsteach dedicate a poem to Remco or write a poem inspired by his poetry. The Blue Moon choir concludes the programme with a song about a passage from Het leven is verrukkulluk (Life is Delightful). Hosted by Alma Mathijsen. A collaboration with Poetry International and the VSB Poetry Prize. In Dutch.
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Antjie Krog Sestig
With: Ad Zuiderent, Adriaan van Dis, Anne Vegter, Antjie Krog, Anton Korteweg, Bas Kwakman, Christine Otten, Hester Knibbe, Ineke Holzhaus, Jan Baeke, Jan Klug, Jan van der Haar, K. Michel, Liesbeth Lagemaat, Mark Boog, Peter Swanborn, Raj Mohan, Rob Schouten, Robert Dorsman, Rodaan Al Galidi, Tom Lanoye, Tsead Bruinja
Dutch poets honoured the South-African poet and writer Antjie Krog. She celebrated her 60th birthday in The Hague. A festive evening, where Antjie Krog presented the audience her favourite poems in Afrikaans. Writers Adriaan van Dis interviewed her on the position of the Afrikaans poet in South-Afrika. Numerous Dutch poets read their poems for Antjie.