ANPIlja Leonard Pfeijffer and Marieke Lucas Rijneveld during the Book Ball of 2022
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 14:10
Tonight, not only literary leaders and other prominent figures from the publishing world will be present at the annual Boekenbal. Telle van Beek and Tim van Zanten are also present. They are the winners of a writing competition and a scavenger hunt in which tickets for the writers’ festival were awarded.
It is the first time that the CPNB, the foundation that organizes the Book Ball, is giving away tickets for the ball. The ball, traditionally the kick-off of the National Book Week, is visited annually by the biggest names in the Dutch and Flemish world of writers. Tickets are normally available by invitation only.
This year the foundation decided to also make tickets available to others. A writing competition was organized in collaboration with book site Hebban in which writers could submit stories of up to 300 words. In addition, a treasure hunt was organized with publisher Das Mag in which participants had to solve four riddles as quickly as possible.
Hit every word
Telle van Beek is one of the lucky winners of the writing competition. The three-member jury found her short story ‘Debt’ the best of all 911 entries. As a reward, she received a cash prize of 1000 euros and two coveted tickets for the ball. “I’m ready for it,” she says. “My dress has been bought and my sister-in-law is coming along.”
The jury was very pleased with Van Beek’s story. “She builds up the tension well, avoids clichés, disturbs and arouses curiosity. And that while writing a short story is extremely difficult. Every word must hit the mark,” said jury chairman Chris Polanen to Hebban.
The news about the profit came at a special moment for the writer: “My mother passed away last February and my piece is about her. That made it special.”
Dress code
Tim van Zanten is also walking the red carpet tonight. He received two tickets after successfully completing Das Mag’s quest. He didn’t hesitate for long about who he would take with him: “That will be my girlfriend. I solved the riddles with her, so that’s fair too.”
The Boekenbal also has a dress code every year. This year’s theme is ‘Boundless’. Van Beek therefore had to make a few final adjustments to her outfit: “I had already gone shopping with a friend, but when I heard that the shades are pink and orange, I quickly went to get a bag and a scarf. And I also circles on my dress, for the theme.”
The 71st edition of the ball will take place tonight in the theater on Amsterdam’s Leidseplein. Guests of honor are book week authors Lize Spit and Raoul de Jong. Orgen, the National Book Week will start, this time with the theme ‘I am everything’. This year’s book week poem was written by Tsead Bruinja.
