CITIES OF LITERATURE

The Utrecht Psalter is the most famous medieval manuscript in the Netherlands—in 2015 it was included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

 

In 1473 the first book of the Northern Netherlands by Utrecht printers Nicolaas Ketelaar and Gerard de Leempt was printed.

 

Utrecht-born author Belle van Zuylen was one of the most prominent Dutch authors of the Enlightenment.

 

Utrecht is home to Dick Bruna’s world-famous character Miffy and to the Miffy Museum

 

Since 1980, Utrecht has hosted the biggest annual poetry event of the Netherlands, The Dutch Poetry Night.

​

​

COLLABORATION WITH
OTHER CITIES
 

POETIC ENCOUNTERS

​

Utrecht City of Literature has contributed to the project ‘Poetic Encounters’, initiated by Heidelberg Unesco City of Literature and Fabriano UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art to mark the XII UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Meeting in Krakow and Katowice. Together they produced a specially bound and printed anthology celebrating literature and its vital place in world culture. From Utrecht, poets Onno Kosters and Hanneke van Eijken contributed to the project.

 

 

TARTU PRIMA VISTA

​

Utrecht also participated in the Tartu Prima Vista Literary Festival.

​

​

BOOK FESTIVALS

​

​

As a result of receiving the UNESCO City of Literature title, Utrecht introduced a new international literature festival (ILFU) that lasts for a full two weeks. The first iteration took place from 15 - 29 September 2018 at various locations throughout Utrecht. ILFU combined successful existing formulas such as the Night of Poetry with brand-new events. 
The new festival is organised and produced by the House of Literature and offers a mixed programme, ranging from world classics to young adult books and poetry. The ILFU kicks off at the opening of the cultural season in Utrecht, with highlights including a book market at Vredenburg square and culminating in the biggest annual poetry event in the Netherlands, Night of the Poetry. During the two festival weeks there are a multitude of performances by (inter)national authors and poets, as well as musicians and playwrights.
n the first festival, John Irving was guest of honour and Salman Rushdie was special guest of the Humanities Night organised in close cooperation with Utrecht University.