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High Road to Culture in Flanders and the Netherlands
In his monthly column, Dirk Vandenberghe draws attention to literary debuts from Flemish and Dutch writers which garnered less notice upon release than they deserve.
Nadia de Vries has written an angsty debut about a young woman afraid of remaining in the shadows.
Petra Thijs grants us a glimpse behind the scenes in the art world, with the remarkable life story of the life model for Edouard Manet’s Le déjeuner sur l'herbe.
A young woman in search of meaning is inspired by the wanderings of a Japanese monk from the nineteenth century.
A novel about art, about cycling, but perhaps above all a story about the fear of an insignificant life.
In her debut novel, Katrien Scheir portrays the often very difficult position of women in a #MeToo situation.
Tülin Erkan has written a debut novel about trying to find the right words and about how difficult it is to say goodbye to places and people.
Lisa Weeda's excellent debut novel tells the story of a divided Cossack family.
In his debut novel, Koen Caris exposes just how difficult it is to be left behind, especially in an oppressive, village setting.
In his debut novel, Dirk Elst manages to describe a life of poverty without romanticising it.
In her debut novel "Ongehoord" (Unheard) Pascale Petralia tells the story of how a victim gradually becomes ensnared in the net of someone obsessed. And no one can save her.
De Afwijking by debutant Dries Muus is a beautiful coming-of-age novel against the backdrop of an urban football environment.
In Was (Wax), debut author Jilt Jorritsma eschews linear time, constructing a mysterious and fascinating story.
Loes Wijnhoven has written a funny debut novel about a millennial living life passing from hotel to hotel.
This debut is a dreamy novel about the love of trees and the loneliness of surviving in a new country.
In her debut novel, Wuck paints a portrait of her hippy parents. The detached tone makes the novel stand out all the more.
In a loud monologue full of metaphors and reflections on life and literature, Karel De Sadeleer tells the story of Ali, a bubbly Swiss with Palestinian roots.
A captivating debut about a son who may want to break away from his mother, but gradually understands that this is impossible.
In 'Meral', author Froukje Santing subtly unravels the entanglements of a Dutch-Turkish family.
